Man in the Saddle

I cannot really say which I like best, the book or the movie. The book is described as "the blazing novel of a man who fought his way back from hell--alone"--taken from the cover of the Signet paperback of 1972. Quite the exaggeration, but Owen Merrit lived in a hell mostly of his own making by letting Will Isham pretty much have his way--when it came to acquiring land or a woman--Sally Bidwell. There is another woman, Nan Melotte. This two woman thing was in nearly all of Ernest Haycox's books, and worked very effectively and well in them. Owen regrets his decision to let Isham have his way, and subsequently is accused by Isham of trying to steal his wife. Trouble erupts because of this, or at least that is the excuse Isham uses while his real ambition is to own and control all of the country for himself. The movie version starring Randolph Scott opens just as the book does--even using the exact dialogue. Tennessee Ernie Ford sings the title tune and has a small role as a cow hand. Guinn "Big Boy" Williams is Scott's sidekick, and plays the part as only he can do it. The movie is pretty faithful to the book. Ernest Haycox is one of the giants of western literature, and this novel is not to be missed, nor the movie.