The Desperadoes (1943)

Director:

Charles Vidor

Writers:

Max Brand (story)
Robert Carson (screenplay)

Release Date:

25 May 1943 (USA)

Genre:

Romance | Western

Tagline:

Red-Blooded Action

Plot:

A wanted outlaw arrives in town to rob a bank that has already been held up! His past and his friendship with the sheriff land them both in trouble.

Plot Keywords:

Friendship | Stable | Frameup | False Accusation | Gunfire

Cast

Randolph Scott	...	Sheriff Steve Upton
Claire Trevor	...	Countess Maletta
Glenn Ford	...	Cheyenne Rogers
Evelyn Keyes	...	Allison McLeod
Edgar Buchanan	...	Uncle Willie McLeod
Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams	...	Nitro Rankin
Raymond Walburn	...	Judge Cameron
Porter Hall	...	Banker Stanley Clanton

Runtime:

87 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #8653) | USA:TV-PG (TV rating) | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Kanab, Utah, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

This was Columbia's first Technicolor feature.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The story takes place in 1863, during The Civil War. Just before the horse stampede through town a character says, "...they'll think they're riding into Custer's Last Stand." Custer's Last Stand happened in 1876.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Holiday (2006)

Soundtrack:

Red River Valley

Mix of western and comedy that doesn't totally work but is OK

When the bank is robbed in town the result is murder. However behind closed doors the whole robbery was organised by the bank manager and several other important townsfolk – the murder happening because their first choice man for the job didn't show up. When the man does turn up it is too late, but it turns out Cheyenne is also a friend of the sheriff, Steve. When Cheyenne meets Alison, he turns over a new leaf and decides to go straight, however not only does his past start to catch him up, but the real robbers decide to frame Cheyenne for the crime. The whole thing puts stress on the friendship between Steve and Cheyenne.

With the veteran Randolph Scott in the lead role I decided this western was worth a try. The plot starts out quite serious – a top level plot to swindle money out of the bank's customers but the plot is a little complicated by a series of rather convoluted plot devices (the most unlikely of which being the man who was meant to do the job, turning up late, being a friend of the sheriff and then changing his ways). This unlikely events sort of mess the film around a little bit but not too badly. After a while the film develops a sense of mocking humour that almost makes it a spoof of sorts – this is best seen in the bar fight where poker players continue regardless of one of their players being knocked out and the barman desperate to keep his business in good condition just long enough to sell it! These little comic touches are quite unexpected and pretty welcome as it really helps lighten up the film and make it more enjoyable.

The cast are OK but are also helped by the humour of the film. For leading man, Scott has almost a supporting role to play and does very little. Glenn Ford's Cheyenne has more screen time and is really the leading character. He does well with it and is quite charismatic in the role. Support is not great but is pretty enjoyable – especially those characters whose roles are more about laughs than anything else. Added to the comedy are a couple of good fight scenes, a stampede and a final shoot out. Not all of these work that well but they help keep the light-hearted tone of the film.

Overall, not a great western but quite fun to watch. It may not all work but the tone of gentle, almost self-mocking humour really helps it to be enjoyable.