Ramrod (film)

Ramrod is a 1947 American Western film directed by Andre DeToth and starring Joel McCrea, Veronica Lake, Don DeFore, and Preston Foster. It is based on the novel of the same name by Luke Short.

The film tells the story of Connie Dickason (Veronica Lake), a headstrong and ambitious woman who inherits her father's ranch. Determined to succeed in a male-dominated world, she clashes with local cattle baron Ben Dickason (Preston Foster), who is also her father's rival. Connie hires a "ramrod" (a foreman or straw boss) named Dave Nash (Joel McCrea) to help her manage the ranch and fight off Ben's attempts to sabotage her.

Dave is a tough and capable man, but he also has a complicated past and is torn between his loyalty to Connie and his friendship with Walt Shipley (Don DeFore), a lawyer who also has feelings for Connie. The film features a love triangle, themes of ambition, revenge, and the struggle for power in the Old West.

Ramrod is notable for its use of stark black-and-white cinematography and its focus on the complexities of its female lead character, a relative rarity for Westerns of the time. While not a widely remembered classic, it is considered a solid and well-made example of the genre with a strong cast and compelling narrative.