I had never heard of this western until I found it on TCM (which should be declared a national landmark). Although not in the ranks of the greatest westerns (My Darling Clementine, The Man from Laramie, The Westerner, True Grit, The Shootist, etc. Etc.) it's definitely worth a see. All the traditional elements of westerns are present - revenge, jealousy, justice, lawlessness, love, etc. Etc. Etc., and although the script may sometimes be a bit prosaic and banal, it's a good story that involves us and makes us care about the characters. It also has some absolutely gorgeous cinematography of western vistas. It is also, as others have noted, a reminder of how great an actor James Cagney was. My only complaint was the conclusion, which opts for the usual "happy ending," but that's a quibble.
Review of Tribute to a Bad Man
