6.3
A man and his partner arrive at a small Western town to kill its most powerful man because the former blames him for his wife's death.
Randolph Scott
Bart Allison
John Carroll
Tate Kimbrough
Karen Steele
Lucy Summerton
Valerie French
Ruby James
Noah Beery Jr.
Sam
John Archer
Dr. John Storrow
Andrew Duggan
Sheriff Swede Hansen
James Westerfield
Otis, the Bartender
John Litel
Charles Summerton
Ray Teal
Morley Chase
Vaughn Taylor
Mr. Baldwin
Richard Deacon
Reverend Zaron
H.M. Wynant
Spanish
Gordon Carveth
Clerk
Bill Clark
Morley's Henchman
Abel Fernandez
Pete
Duke Fishman
Barfly
Herman Hack
Stage Passenger
Al Haskell
Buggy Driver
Reed Howes
Morley's Henchman
Ethan Laidlaw
Townsman
Pierce Lyden
Morley's Henchman
Philo McCullough
Townsman
Frank Mills
Townsman
Frank O'Connor
Townsman in Church
Bob Reeves
Townsman
Loretta Russell
Townswoman
Bob Steele
Irv
Director
Budd Boetticher
Screenplay
Charles Lang
Story
Vernon L. Fluharty
May 1, 2016
8
This may not be as strong as other Scott/Boetticher Westerns, such as 'Buchanan Rides Alone' or 'The Tall T', but it's very strong, and would make a great double bill with 'High Noon'--another fine flick about someone being brave enough to stand against the tide of local cowardice, and get things done in cleaning up the town's garbage.
This is very unique in that Scott's character, Bart Allison, is determined for revenge, three years in the making, for the bad guy seducing his wife (who ended up killing herself in disgrace). He seemed to think his wife had the moral fibre not to do that sort of thing willingly--unfortunately, the entire town, even his best friend, seems to know otherwise.
A great look at the lengths some will go to right wrongs they come across in life. Allison's dismay at the community for allowing another wrong to happen, midway through the picture, is something that haunts and stays with you, long after the film concludes. I would have given this a higher rating, aside from an obvious, amateurish mistake that happens around ten minutes into the film, when one of the women talks, but an arm from one of the actors completely occludes her mouth, straight through her entire spiel. It's a minor thing, perhaps, but I'm very surprised no one caught it by the time it was released, especially a director of Boetticher's stature.
Status:
Released
Original Language:
English
Budget:
$0.00
Revenue:
$0.00