northfork be above all a masterpiece of widescreen cinematography . for this alone the film be well worth one time . the stark and wide open plain and badlands of eastern montana be capture in the spare and mute earth tone of autumn or early spring . the gigantic grey cement fort peck dam be the film protagonist . the film comment both subtly and not so subtly on about a dozen issue of western landscape . the dialogue can be try at time and yet the image and concept be powerful enough to lift the film . the 1950 period work so well here and be execute so well . i think that the passing year will be kind to this film .