Best of the Badmen (1951)

The outlaws of the Clanton and Younger gangs are the heroes of this fictionalized biography.

Director:

William D. Russell

Writers:

Robert Hardy Andrews (screenplay), John Twist (screenplay),

Stars:

Robert Ryan, Claire Trevor, Jack Buetel

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Robert Ryan	...	Jeff Clanton
Claire Trevor	...	Lily
Jack Buetel	...	Bob Younger
Robert Preston	...	Matthew Fowler
Walter Brennan	...	'Doc' Butcher
Bruce Cabot	...	Cole Younger
John Archer	...	Curley Ringo
Lawrence Tierney	...	Jesse James
Barton MacLane	...	Joad
Tom Tyler	...	Frank James
Robert J. Wilke	...	Jim Younger (as Bob Wilke)
John Cliff	...	John Younger
Lee MacGregor	...	Lieutenant Blaine
Emmett Lynn	...	Oscar
Carleton Young	...	Wilson

Storyline

After the Civil War, Union Major Clanton captures survivors of Quantrill's Raiders, and gets them clemency at the cost of shooting a mob member. Convicted of murder by a kangaroo court, Clanton escapes and joins the former raiders in a gang devoted to robbing everything protected by the corrupt detective agency of his enemy Fowler; culminating in a personal showdown.

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Plot Keywords:

husband wife relationship | bartender | henchman | held at gunpoint | post civil war | 

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Taglines:

Here they come!

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Genres:

Western

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 November 1951 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

Der Rächer

Filming Locations:

Iverson Ranch - 1 Iverson Lane, Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

RKO Radio Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

84 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

Clanton is seen pouring bourbon under his bandage. He pours for about seven seconds, yet his pants, the bandage and his leg never show signs of getting wet. When he takes the bottle out from behind the bandage, it does not appear to have any less liquid in it.

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Quotes

Doc Butcher: Step back, gents, and reflect on the joys of living.

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Connections

Follows Return of the Bad Men (1948)

User Reviews

Fun and lively western

Don't mistake this for a great or even good movie for a second. It's full of clichés, unrealistic situations, fudged history, characters whose motives and emotions seem to change at the drop of a hat and the ability to travel great distances at light-speed. In short there's absolutely nothing to cement it to anything resembling the real West. What saves it is the fact that it doesn't aspire or even pretend to be a great or good movie. The actors appear to have a good time delivering their silly dialog and hamming it up for the camera. And there's lots of action. People running around, either on foot or on horseback, lots of fistfights, gunfights, chases, robberies, standoffs, etc. etc. etc. And let's not forget the glorious Technicolor. This is one of my favorite parts of the early Technicolor movies. The color wasn't really true to life but boy was it ever brilliant. Claire Trevor never looked better in her red dress, cut low with plenty of cleavage and shoulders exposed. Every one of her outfits was so brilliant it literary jumped off the screen. How such a gorgeous woman ever survived intact in the midst of a bunch of ruffians is a mystery to me but like I said this movie doesn't try to be realistic. So put aside logic and have fun when you watch this. Bear in mind that my low score reflects its artistic merits not its fun factor. Highly recommended.