Finding Friendship and Fortitude, Even in a Flop
“Cattle Queen of Montana” was a project that brought joy to Ronald Reagan and Barbara Stanwyck, expanded their already formed friendship, and continued the mutual warmth and kind regard.
Ronald Reagan and Barbara Stanwyck only starred in one motion picture together, the 1954 Western “Cattle Queen of Montana.” Aesthetically speaking, it’s a weak film. It had unimaginative dialogue, primarily made up of Western clichés, not to mention unintentionally comical stereotypes of Native Americans, who were actually played by Italians. Not even the talent and star power of its main actors, Reagan and Stanwyck, could bring more depth to the film. Even given its obvious mediocrities, however, and all these years later, it still proves to be a fun movie.
At this point in his career, Reagan had been in about 60 movies. It was also around this time that he began acting in “General Electric Theater” short films. Reagan loved the West so much that he and Nancy purchased a 688-acre ranch in California, which they named “Rancho del Cielo.” He felt home in the West; its expansiveness and freedom were an extension of his political philosophy.
The images of Reagan on the horseback and in cowboy outfits were not affected photo-ops but something really quite authentic and deeply felt in his life. It’s hardly surprising then that he would be drawn to playing both major and minor roles in Westerns. He didn’t always have a pick of the roles, and there was no guarantee that a film’s script or direction would result in an excellent picture. Still, Reagan moved smoothly and with a good attitude through his Hollywood journey.
“Cattle Queen of Montana” tells the story of Sierra Nevada Jones (Barbara Stanwyck) who along with her father leaves Texas for Montana. As a family, they have inherited a large portion of the land, and they wish to continue to raise cattle. Sierra ends up fighting both the Indians and Tom McCord, a local man who uses the violent faction of the Indian tribe in order to steal the land from Sierra.