“Fella just likes to know if he can still do it.”

Co-written by hardboiled novelist Horace McCoy and future Bonanza creator David Dortort, Nicholas Ray’s outstanding Western The Lusty Men is a classic tale of hubris rewarded…for a while. 

Champion bronco buster cum incapacitated saddle tramp Jeff McCloud (Robert Mitchum) limps to his childhood home on a whim, leading to a chance encounter with young ranch hand Wes Merrill (Arthur Kennedy) who—along with his dedicated wife Louise (Susan Hayward)—is slowly saving his wages to purchase the place. Recognizing Jeff straightaway, Wes secures him employment at a nearby ranch with an eye toward getting some covert rodeo training. Soon enough the two men form a partnership and the trio takes to the regional circuit in search of a quick payday, despite the sensible objections of the motherly Louise. Wes wins the day by unconvincingly promising to quit once they’ve earned enough to buy the house.

The money and renown come fast, but Louise’s anxiety ratchets up even further with the brutal death of a fellow rider. Meanwhile becoming a local celebrity goes directly to Wes’s head, and while he’s out gallivanting like a jackass Jeff makes an incredibly persuasive play for Louise. She somehow turns him down but can’t deny him a single kiss, which precipitates a calamitous confrontation of male egos.

Anyone who peeps my stats or reads my reviews already knows I’m ride or die for my man Mitchum, and he comes through big time with one of his finest performances—equal parts virility and pathos. 

Points deducted for Louise pouring a drink over Babs rather than throwing it in her face.

Some stray notes:
-I NEVER MET A MAN WHO DIDN’T DO A LITTLE LYING
-THAT’S A WIFE’S PROFESSION—FORGIVING HER HUSBAND