The Ballad of Josie (1968)

In the harsh landscape of the Wyoming Territory, Josie Minick is suddenly thrust into widowhood. Her late husband, Whit Minick, was a man of unkind disposition, but whispers of foul play still surround his untimely death. Despite the suspicion, Josie's primary struggle lies in the custody battle for her young son, Luther, against the rigid will of his paternal grandfather, Alpheus Minick. Amidst this turmoil, Josie yearns for the abandoned farmland she once shared with Whit, dreaming of a life raising cattle instead of the drudgery branded as women's work by the men in her life. Unbeknownst to the well-meaning but traditional Jase Meredith, his advice sparks a rebellious plan in Josie. She decides to challenge the unspoken rules of the territory and transform her neglected farm into a thriving sheep ranch. This bold move ignites a range war, led by her neighbor Arch Ogden, upsetting the fragile balance in the cattle-dominated region. Despite the escalating conflict, Josie remains fiercely committed to her vision, willing to risk everything to regain her son and secure her independence. As the stakes rise, Josie's determination unknowingly endangers her closest friends and threatens the political aspirations of the territory's leaders, including Jase and Arch, who dream of Wyoming becoming the forty-fourth state of the union. In "The Ballad of Josie," one woman's quest for self-reliance becomes a riveting saga of defiance, sacrifice, and the pursuit of an unconventional dream amidst the rugged beauty of the Wild West.

The Ballad of Josie is a comedy movie featuring Doris Day and directed by Andrew V. McLaglen.

The Ballad of Josie is currently streaming on fuboTV.