The 1950s was a great decade for the western. While the masterpieces may have belonged to John Ford and Fred Zinneman, the two directors that had the best body of work in the genre that decade were Anthony Mann and Budd Boetticher. These two made many great westerns with their stars of choice -- Jimmy Stewart for Mann and Randolph Scott for Boetticher. These weren't simple horse operas or mindless actioners. These westerns were smart, tense stories driven by the psychology of their characters instead of the plots, which were often deceptively simple.
This film is one of the Boetticher/Scott westerns and it's one of the best. The plot, again, seems simple enough: a bounty hunter (Randolph Scott) is bringing in a killer (James Best) whose ruthless brother (Lee Van Cleef) is expected to try and stop him. Along the way he is joined by two criminals (Pernell Roberts of Bonanza fame and James Coburn in his film debut) and a beautiful blonde (Karen Steele). Roberts and Coburn join Scott in hopes of taking the prisoner themselves in return for an offer of amnesty for his capture. Scott has another reason for bringing Best in besides the bounty.
Wonderful cast with a standout performance from Pernell Roberts, an actor better known for his television work. The support from Best, Coburn, and Van Cleef is nice. Karen Steele looks lovely and does fine but her brassiere is most definitely from the 1950s. You'll know what I mean when you see her. Hopefully she didn't put anybody's eye out. Scott doesn't have lots of lines as his character is the silent type. But he was an underrated actor who said a lot with very little. Great direction from Boetticher with his favorite screenwriter Burt Kennedy turning in a good script. Relatively short runtime ensures the movie doesn't overstay its welcome. It didn't feel too short at all. Fans of westerns will definitely want to check this one out.
This film is one of the Boetticher/Scott westerns and it's one of the best. The plot, again, seems simple enough: a bounty hunter (Randolph Scott) is bringing in a killer (James Best) whose ruthless brother (Lee Van Cleef) is expected to try and stop him. Along the way he is joined by two criminals (Pernell Roberts of Bonanza fame and James Coburn in his film debut) and a beautiful blonde (Karen Steele). Roberts and Coburn join Scott in hopes of taking the prisoner themselves in return for an offer of amnesty for his capture. Scott has another reason for bringing Best in besides the bounty.
Wonderful cast with a standout performance from Pernell Roberts, an actor better known for his television work. The support from Best, Coburn, and Van Cleef is nice. Karen Steele looks lovely and does fine but her brassiere is most definitely from the 1950s. You'll know what I mean when you see her. Hopefully she didn't put anybody's eye out. Scott doesn't have lots of lines as his character is the silent type. But he was an underrated actor who said a lot with very little. Great direction from Boetticher with his favorite screenwriter Burt Kennedy turning in a good script. Relatively short runtime ensures the movie doesn't overstay its welcome. It didn't feel too short at all. Fans of westerns will definitely want to check this one out.