The love triangle between widower, David Harvey (William Holden), his indentured servant, Rachel (Loretta Young), and David’s friend, Jim (Robert Mitchum), would cause Rachel and the Stranger to easily fit into the category “romance.” However, as John DiLeo suggests in Screen Savers, the movie’s integration of many genres makes it a cornucopia of styles, the effect of which draws the viewer into its genuine, relatable world. Its cohesive cast makes the characters’ relationship endearing, and the film drives towards its conclusion with the passion and determination to please any movie-goer.

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