The Lawless Breed (1953)

After being released from prison, ex-gunfighter John Wesley Hardin hopes to have his autobiography published in order to rehabilitate his tarnished reputation.

Director:

Raoul Walsh

Writers:

William Alland (story), Bernard Gordon (screenplay),

Stars:

Rock Hudson, Julie Adams, Mary Castle

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Rock Hudson	...	John Wesley Hardin
Julie Adams	...	Rosie McCoy (as Julia Adams)
Mary Castle	...	Jane Brown
John McIntire	...	J.G. Hardin / John Clements
Hugh O'Brian	...	Ike Hanley
Dennis Weaver	...	Jim Clements
Forrest Lewis	...	Zeke Jenkins
Lee Van Cleef	...	Dirk Hanley
Tom Fadden	...	Chick Noonan, Undertaker
Race Gentry	...	Young John Hardin
Richard Garland	...	Joe Clements
Glenn Strange	...	Ben Hanley
William Pullen	...	Joe Hardin

Storyline

Released from jail, John Wesley Hardin leaves an account of his life with the local newspaper. It tells of his overly religious father, his resulting life of cards and guns, and his love for his step-sister replaced on her death during a gun fight with that for dance-hall girl Rosie.

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Plot Keywords:

prison | farm | singing | showdown | civil war | 

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Taglines:

He cut a swath of daring across the great southwest!

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Genres:

Action | Biography | Western

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 January 1953 (USA)

Also Known As:

Gefährliches Blut

Filming Locations:

Andy Jauregui Ranch - Placerita Canyon Road, Newhall, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

83 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The real Hardin was a brutal killer who claimed some 43 victims, some shot in the back and one for snoring too loud. The number of people he murdered is still unknown.

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Goofs

At the beginning of the movie, when Wes is practicing in the barn with his 6 shooter, he fires 8 consecutive shots without reloading.

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Quotes

John Wesley Hardin: I'm getting out of here, clear out of Texas, Jane, and we'll get that farm, Jane, just like I promised you: the well...
Jane Brown: Sure, I know. The place with the white painted fence, the green grass, and the water all year round. I don't believe that any more, Wes. I don't think you believe it! No, you'll never have that place, not now. You'll never have more than six feet of ground.

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Connections

Featured in Rock Hudson's Home Movies (1992)

User Reviews

Okay Western

An okay Western based loosely on fact. Viewers tuning in today are likely catching up with Hudson's first starring role, following several years in supporting parts. Now, when I think Western, I've got to admit Hudson doesn't spring first to mind. Nonetheless, whatever he lacks in frontier grit, he makes up for in energetic commitment. I also suspect that he and Adams are the best-looking twosome to appear in any oater, any time any place. In fact, Adams sports the sleekest array of supposed frontier fashion that I've seen.

The story itself is unexceptional and cheaply produced, never getting beyond LA area locations. Indeed, this may be the only Western where the indoors is more compelling to look at than the outdoors. The movie does come up with a bunch of up-and-coming supporting players, like Van Cleef, Weaver, Ansara—too bad they don't get more screen time. Then too, McIntire's unusual dual role, both with Old Testament beards, had me confused until I consulted IMDb. I expect there's a backstory to this duplicate casting.

Producer Alland went from here to producing some of the most entertaining sci-fi of the decade— e.g. It Came from Outer Space (1953), Crature from the Black Lagoon (1954). I'm just sorry he didn't insist here on sticking with the original ending (thanks, reviewer bkoganbing). A happy ending may have pleased audiences of the time, but the original would have been more memorable.