Joel
McCrea was another extra given a major role in a movie. The tall
six-footer's good looks and quiet manner caught the attention of a lot of
people.
McCrea hoped to concentrate on westerns, but studio heads wanted him for
romantic dramas and comedies. It was years before he could convince
anyone to try him in a western, but as soon as he roped "Wells Fargo,"
others followed.
Terrific westerns like "Union Pacific," "Four Faces West," "Ramrod,"
"Buffalo Bill," "Wichita," "The Virginian," "Colorado Territory," and his
personal favorite, "Stars In My Crown."
Calling McCrea one of the best actors she ever worked with, Katherine
Hepburn lobbied for more important mainstream roles for him, but he stuck
with westerns. He liked working outdoors. So, "The Bat Masterson
Story," "The Outriders, "Cattle Drive, "Cattle Empire," "Gunsight Ridge,"
'Black Horse Canyon," "Saddle Tramp," and "The First Texan," among many
others, followed.
"People say I'm a one-note actor," he said. "But the way I see it,
those other guys are just looking for that one note."
"Ride the High Country" came along in 1962 with McCrea cast in the Gil
Westrum role and Randolph Scott playing Steve Judd. But the two stars
switched roles, and what we got, thanks in no small part to director Sam
Peckinpah, was something very, very special, one of the best westerns ever
made.