The Violent Men (1955)

Director:

Rudolph Maté

Writers:

Harry Kleiner (screenplay) and
Donald Hamilton (novel)

Release Date:

January 1955 (USA)

Genre:

Western

Tagline:

VOLCANIC! VALIANT! VICIOUS! Violence and Passion the Screen Has Seldom Seen!

Plot:

A Union ex-officer plans to sell up to Anchor Ranch and move east with his fiancee, but the low price...

Plot Keywords:

Ranch | Brother | Villain | 1800s | Drink

Cast

Glenn Ford	...	John Parrish
Barbara Stanwyck	...	Martha Wilkison
Edward G. Robinson	...	Lee Wilkison
Dianne Foster	...	Judith Wilkison
Brian Keith	...	Cole Wilkison
May Wynn	...	Caroline Vail
Warner Anderson	...	Jim McCloud
Basil Ruysdael	...	Tex Hinkleman
Lita Milan	...	Elena
Richard Jaeckel	...	Wade Matlock
James Westerfield	...	Sheriff Magruder
Jack Kelly	...	De Rosa, Parrish Rider
Willis Bouchey	...	Sheriff Martin Kenner
Harry Shannon	...	Purdue

Also Known As:

Rough Company (UK)
The Bandits (USA) (alternative title)

Runtime:

96 min | Germany:95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.55 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (Western Electric Recording) | Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Norway:16 | UK:PG | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | West Germany:12 | Sweden:15 | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, California, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

'Edward G. Robinson' may seem oddly cast in a western, but he was a rush replacement for 'Broderick Crawford' who early on in shooting fell off his horse and was injured. Robinson would later appear in the western Cheyenne Autumn (1964), this time replacing the ill Spencer Tracy who had to bail out.

Quotes:

Martha Wilkison: I've lived with half a man for 12 years. I have myself and him. I've played the part of a loving wife when i can't bear the touch of his hands.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The James Dean Story (1957)

Good Strong Western

A western through and through. As the title character portrayed by Glenn Ford says, "No, I don't want to fight, but I will if it's forced on me." This movie is about being intelligent, strong, and fighting for one's beliefs. With courage, never stop striving for what you feel is right. Great action and mostly quick paced. Good to see Brian Keith in this role and Edward G. Robinson as an older western man. Glenn Ford lives up to his western image. Thoroughly enjoyable film includes strategic non-military warfare. Of course it's violent, like the title states, but not too graphic like in the computer-generated era films. It's mostly about strong personality clashes.