i saw this baby first run and liked it so well that i told my old high school buddy about it and we went to see it and he loved it too! it kind of set the stage for the later spaghetti westerns i think. it was in an abstract form that sort of reminded me of the Day of the Painter which won the Cannes Film Festival in the late 50's. i always enjoyed John Vivyian in his TV series Mr.Lucky as the offshore gambling boat owner. It was similar to Peter Gunn in its "coolness". i always enjoyed The Untouchables where i think the co-star of R.O.A.D.H. played the role of Frank Nitti. oh well, either you will like this movie or you wont.
10 Reviews
The Gold, the Greedy and the Dust!!
elo-equipamentos15 January 2020
According my records, I never saw any movie starred by John Vivyan, the story is simple, but striking at least, the cast are summarized in few characters only, however all them colorful, here including a beauty Chinese girl Ming Kwai (Lisa Lu), three gold prospectors after found a substantial portion of gold on a Indian reserve at desert, they share the gold, suddenly the greed leader Barney Senn (Bruce Gordon) kills his black partner Taylor (Charles Lampkin) to great astonishment of the other partner Hayden (John Vivyan) as they had enough gold for themselves, henceforth Hayden tries figure out when and where he'll be the next to die, meanwhile the Apaches realize their presence and start pursuing them, Hayden plans misleading the Indians and run away thru the rock ground without horses, due the heavy gold bags he also decides buries the gold to return later, when they foil the Apaches once more Barney shot in Hayden that even wounded dragged nearest at railroad on construction, Ming Kwai finds him fell in the ground, she helps Hayden taking him to a little tent, they make a deal, if Ming Kwai takes care him and recovers his gold he'll pay a travel to her to San Francisco, get ready to a lot of upcoming surprise to next, unusual B-Western notwithstanding the low budge, really enjoyable!!!
Resume:
First watch: 2019 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD-R / Rating: 6
Resume:
First watch: 2019 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD-R / Rating: 6
A Fistful of Dead Apaches
osloj16 July 2023
Warning: Spoilers
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
*Plot and ending analyzed*
This Western was extremely difficult to find for many years. I have not seen it since when it was first released. But I caught it recently and found it interesting.
It is quite unusual. It almost seems strange and ambiguous in some ways. A very existential Western. I liked it, even though it is entirely average and ridiculous in a few places.
The introduction starts off fairly quickly with some double crossing betrayal. That sets the stage for the absolutely fantastic Western titular song, "Rider on a Dead Horse", sung by Millard Woods.
If you love Western movie songs like, "Gun Fight at OK Corral", sung by Frankie Laine, "The 3:10 to Yuma", sung by Frankie Laine, "5 Card Stud", sung by Dean Martin, then you will probably have "Rider on a Dead Horse", sung by Millard Woods, in your head for days.
The Arizona desert scenery is very bleak and austere, as if only the principle characters exist in the setting. The movie has the feel of a theatrical play since they did not have a budget for many extras.
I don't know why actor John Vivyan did not get any other Western movie roles, or why he did not go to Spain in the 1960s or 1970s to do Spaghetti Westerns. He was definitely capable, and was better than a lot of the wooden actors that they used.
The only other low budget Western that is similar to this one is, Five Bloody Graves (1969). Another strange Western movie.
I got a Portuguese VHS version and the song was not cut out. I've noticed a few English DVD versions without the song and introductory title and credits.
This is definitely a nice little Western movie to see.
*Plot and ending analyzed*
This Western was extremely difficult to find for many years. I have not seen it since when it was first released. But I caught it recently and found it interesting.
It is quite unusual. It almost seems strange and ambiguous in some ways. A very existential Western. I liked it, even though it is entirely average and ridiculous in a few places.
The introduction starts off fairly quickly with some double crossing betrayal. That sets the stage for the absolutely fantastic Western titular song, "Rider on a Dead Horse", sung by Millard Woods.
If you love Western movie songs like, "Gun Fight at OK Corral", sung by Frankie Laine, "The 3:10 to Yuma", sung by Frankie Laine, "5 Card Stud", sung by Dean Martin, then you will probably have "Rider on a Dead Horse", sung by Millard Woods, in your head for days.
The Arizona desert scenery is very bleak and austere, as if only the principle characters exist in the setting. The movie has the feel of a theatrical play since they did not have a budget for many extras.
I don't know why actor John Vivyan did not get any other Western movie roles, or why he did not go to Spain in the 1960s or 1970s to do Spaghetti Westerns. He was definitely capable, and was better than a lot of the wooden actors that they used.
The only other low budget Western that is similar to this one is, Five Bloody Graves (1969). Another strange Western movie.
I got a Portuguese VHS version and the song was not cut out. I've noticed a few English DVD versions without the song and introductory title and credits.
This is definitely a nice little Western movie to see.
Hilariously bad
michael_chaplan9 September 2004
I saw this movie when it came out. It was a black and white western.
Can't remember the plot, except that Bruce Gordon (who had acted as a mafia guy in the Untouchables) was the villain, and John Vivyan (with a marvelous chin, similar to that of Kirk Douglas) was the hero. And they were fighting about gold or something, and Lisa Lu, (a Chinese girl who had been imported to build the railroads[!]) kept getting between them, and at various times in the movie had pulled a knife on both of them more than twice. I laughed every time she pulled her knife... I don't remember if she had a speaking part or if she just had a knife pulling part.
This film was unintentionally one of the funniest I have seen.
Can't remember the plot, except that Bruce Gordon (who had acted as a mafia guy in the Untouchables) was the villain, and John Vivyan (with a marvelous chin, similar to that of Kirk Douglas) was the hero. And they were fighting about gold or something, and Lisa Lu, (a Chinese girl who had been imported to build the railroads[!]) kept getting between them, and at various times in the movie had pulled a knife on both of them more than twice. I laughed every time she pulled her knife... I don't remember if she had a speaking part or if she just had a knife pulling part.
This film was unintentionally one of the funniest I have seen.
Is A Spaghetti Western Before They Became Popular Antepasto?
boblipton9 August 2022
John Vivyan and Bruce Gordon kill their partner. But there are Apaches about, so they have to bury their $200,000 in gold dust to come back for it later. When they reach a town, they part ways in more ways than one. Vivyan takes up with dance hall girl Lisa Lu, and Gordon tries to recruit bounty hunter Kevin Hagen to kill his ex-partner. Meanwhile, Miss Lu dreams of a rider on a dead horse.
This movie looks like what you'd get if you remade the second half of THE TREASURE OF SIERRA MADRE as a spaghetti western, which is remarkable considering America was unaware of the subgenre. Nonetheless, some cheap co-productions were being made in Europe, and they were a lot more violent than the traditional B westerns. It looks like they cast Miss Lu to ease American minds about the sequence in which she is raped.
Miss Lu made a late entry to the movies in Borzage's CHINA DOLL. Since then she has appeared in a lot of big and little screen efforts; she was in the recent CRAZY RICH ASIANS and is still appearing in movies at the age of 95.
This movie looks like what you'd get if you remade the second half of THE TREASURE OF SIERRA MADRE as a spaghetti western, which is remarkable considering America was unaware of the subgenre. Nonetheless, some cheap co-productions were being made in Europe, and they were a lot more violent than the traditional B westerns. It looks like they cast Miss Lu to ease American minds about the sequence in which she is raped.
Miss Lu made a late entry to the movies in Borzage's CHINA DOLL. Since then she has appeared in a lot of big and little screen efforts; she was in the recent CRAZY RICH ASIANS and is still appearing in movies at the age of 95.
Strock delivers a crock!
hitchcockthelegend2 July 2017
Rider on a Dead Horse is directed by Herbert Strock and adapted to screenplay by Stephen Longstreet from a story by James Edmiston. It stars John Vivyan, Bruce Gordon, Kevin Hagen and Lisa Lu. Music is by Fairlane - with title song by Millard Woods - and cinematography by Frank Philips.
It's a great title, the sort of title that would be more suited to a Spaghetti Western, sadly the film is very poor. Plot revolves around two gold prospectors on a collision course after the one kills another member of the original gold digging trio, and promptly puts the word out that the other man did the dirty deed. Into the mix comes a Chinese girl and a bounty hunter. Et voila!
In among the "greed is bad" fable, there's some interesting attempts at racist observations here, where the colour of a persons skin - and the attitudes to such - is desperately trying to make a point. Unfortunately the whole is badly performed and is quite frankly dull as dishwater. Some of the goofs are laughably bad, the musical score is atrocious, like it was composed by some rinky-dink pot head, and there's one of the best fake dives in a fight ever. What action there is is just about passable as entertainment, with a dynamite offensive against the pesky Apaches briefly raising the pulse. But by the time that arrives, and the twist that comes with it, you would be forgiven for having fallen asleep by then.
This would have just about passed muster as a half hour TV episode, maybe a Rod Serling throw away for contract obligation. Poor on almost all levels. Nice black and white print mind... 2/10
It's a great title, the sort of title that would be more suited to a Spaghetti Western, sadly the film is very poor. Plot revolves around two gold prospectors on a collision course after the one kills another member of the original gold digging trio, and promptly puts the word out that the other man did the dirty deed. Into the mix comes a Chinese girl and a bounty hunter. Et voila!
In among the "greed is bad" fable, there's some interesting attempts at racist observations here, where the colour of a persons skin - and the attitudes to such - is desperately trying to make a point. Unfortunately the whole is badly performed and is quite frankly dull as dishwater. Some of the goofs are laughably bad, the musical score is atrocious, like it was composed by some rinky-dink pot head, and there's one of the best fake dives in a fight ever. What action there is is just about passable as entertainment, with a dynamite offensive against the pesky Apaches briefly raising the pulse. But by the time that arrives, and the twist that comes with it, you would be forgiven for having fallen asleep by then.
This would have just about passed muster as a half hour TV episode, maybe a Rod Serling throw away for contract obligation. Poor on almost all levels. Nice black and white print mind... 2/10
Rider on a dead horse
coltras3530 April 2023
Three prospectors divide and bury their gold to safeguard it from warring Apaches. Cue a series of double crosses, triple crosses, chases, and shoot-outs as greed drives the three men to murder and betrayal.
Double-crosses, triple crosses, shootouts over gold? Sounds like a spaghetti western. The action occurs largely in stark, rugged, inhospitable terrain like Euro-westerns in Spain. But of course this is an American western released two years before the man with no name reared his head. Raw and vital with a stark, monochromatic cinematography and alluring camerawork. The music is surf board music. There's an unusual edge to the proceedings. There is an interracial romance. Lisa Lu plays an interesting character - a young Chinese gal used as a pawn, a plaything, a love interest, a captive and a bargaining chip. She's tough, smart and just wants to get to San Francisco. Fistfights, an Indian attack, a manhunt, a jailbreak and a dynamite-fueled denouement add to the sagebrush thrills. It's quite watchable and even compelling. Uneasy alliances between men and women who don't trust each other shift back and forth throughout this gritty western. Worth checking out.
Double-crosses, triple crosses, shootouts over gold? Sounds like a spaghetti western. The action occurs largely in stark, rugged, inhospitable terrain like Euro-westerns in Spain. But of course this is an American western released two years before the man with no name reared his head. Raw and vital with a stark, monochromatic cinematography and alluring camerawork. The music is surf board music. There's an unusual edge to the proceedings. There is an interracial romance. Lisa Lu plays an interesting character - a young Chinese gal used as a pawn, a plaything, a love interest, a captive and a bargaining chip. She's tough, smart and just wants to get to San Francisco. Fistfights, an Indian attack, a manhunt, a jailbreak and a dynamite-fueled denouement add to the sagebrush thrills. It's quite watchable and even compelling. Uneasy alliances between men and women who don't trust each other shift back and forth throughout this gritty western. Worth checking out.
Bleak and Negative Low Budget Western
Freedom06028623 August 2023
Warning: Spoilers
This is not an entertaining western. Parts of the movie are tedious, so despite it being short, it was rather dull in parts.
The characters are not interesting with the exception of Ming Kwai, played by Lisa Lu. The rest of the cast are neither capable nor charismatic actors. Actors like Bruce Gordon, John Vivyan and Kevin Hagen would be okay in a smaller roles as part of a criminal gang, but were not suitable for leading roles.
The scenes with the Apache were not directed properly. Their behavior of advancing into the dynamite explosions until they were all killed did not make sense.
The single redeeming quality of this movie was the satisfying ending.
The characters are not interesting with the exception of Ming Kwai, played by Lisa Lu. The rest of the cast are neither capable nor charismatic actors. Actors like Bruce Gordon, John Vivyan and Kevin Hagen would be okay in a smaller roles as part of a criminal gang, but were not suitable for leading roles.
The scenes with the Apache were not directed properly. Their behavior of advancing into the dynamite explosions until they were all killed did not make sense.
The single redeeming quality of this movie was the satisfying ending.
Progressive Low-Low Budget Western...Anticipating the "Spaghetti" Migration
LeonLouisRicci19 October 2022
With its Roots Firmly in "TV-Land", this Progressive Little Western Gets Its "Quirk-On" with an Interracial Romance, Artsy Camera Angles, and Blowing Up Apaches with Dynamite.
From the "Tube" We Get Director Herbert L. Strock, besides Directing Episodes of Almost Every TV-Western that Ever Was, did Make a Slight Mark with Low-Budget Cult Films Like "Gog" (1954), "I Was a Teen-Age Frankenstein" (1957), and "Blood of Dracula" (1957).
Leading Man "John Vivyan", Best Known for His TV-Stint as "Mr. Lucky" (1959-60), but also was in, as Support, the Big-Budget "Imitation of Life" (1959) with "Lana Turner". He and His "Dimpled Chin" Continued on TV Until the 80's.
"Bruce Gordon", had a Mostly TV-Career, Famously as "Frank Nitti" on "The Untouchables" (1959-63), a "Quinn Martin Production". But Can Also be Seen on the Big-Screen in "Piranha" (1978), "The Tower of London" (1962), and "The Buccaneer" (1958).
"Lisa Lu", is Another Story Altogether. She Employs, to This Day, "Crazy Rich Asians" (2018), Her Heritage, in a Career with almost 90 Credits, Including "The Last Emperor" (1987).
She is Quite a "Cookie" in This One and Sparkles On-Screen Stealing the Show From Everyone, Including the "Dead Horse".
That isn't Really Dead (it's the rider), as can be Seen in the Very Last Shot, Grazing Away, Waiting to Carry the Live Survivors into the Sunset.
"Kevin Hagen", Another TV-Vet, "Little House on the Prairie (1974-83), and "Yancy Derringer" (1958-59), Continued His Stint on the "Boob-Tube" Until 1988,
It's a Low-Budget Western that was Ahead of its Time, and is Well...
Worth a Watch.
From the "Tube" We Get Director Herbert L. Strock, besides Directing Episodes of Almost Every TV-Western that Ever Was, did Make a Slight Mark with Low-Budget Cult Films Like "Gog" (1954), "I Was a Teen-Age Frankenstein" (1957), and "Blood of Dracula" (1957).
Leading Man "John Vivyan", Best Known for His TV-Stint as "Mr. Lucky" (1959-60), but also was in, as Support, the Big-Budget "Imitation of Life" (1959) with "Lana Turner". He and His "Dimpled Chin" Continued on TV Until the 80's.
"Bruce Gordon", had a Mostly TV-Career, Famously as "Frank Nitti" on "The Untouchables" (1959-63), a "Quinn Martin Production". But Can Also be Seen on the Big-Screen in "Piranha" (1978), "The Tower of London" (1962), and "The Buccaneer" (1958).
"Lisa Lu", is Another Story Altogether. She Employs, to This Day, "Crazy Rich Asians" (2018), Her Heritage, in a Career with almost 90 Credits, Including "The Last Emperor" (1987).
She is Quite a "Cookie" in This One and Sparkles On-Screen Stealing the Show From Everyone, Including the "Dead Horse".
That isn't Really Dead (it's the rider), as can be Seen in the Very Last Shot, Grazing Away, Waiting to Carry the Live Survivors into the Sunset.
"Kevin Hagen", Another TV-Vet, "Little House on the Prairie (1974-83), and "Yancy Derringer" (1958-59), Continued His Stint on the "Boob-Tube" Until 1988,
It's a Low-Budget Western that was Ahead of its Time, and is Well...
Worth a Watch.
A Smart, Literate, But Low-Budget Western
zardoz-131 January 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Herbert L. Strock directed enough episodes of television shows like "Cheyenne," "Sugarfoot," "Bonanza," "Maverick," "Colt. 45," and "Bronco" to know his way around westerns. The low-budget oater "Rider on a Dead Horse," starring John Vivyan, Bruce Gordon, Kevin Hagen, and Lisa Lu, is an ironic, entertaining, black & white sagebrusher about avaricious prospectors, savage Apaches, a cunning bounty hunter, and a desperate Asian woman who wants to go to San Francisco. Some critics have compared it with a Spaghetti western because the villain shoots first and doesn't ask questions afterwards. One of characters is a bounty hunter without compunctions. The action occurs largely in stark, rugged, inhospitable terrain like Euro-westerns in Spain, and greed is a pervasive theme as it is in Italian westerns. The title tune is rather lame. Frank V. Phillips' cinematography is crisp, clear, and evocative. Like Strock, Phillips confined himself primarily to television shows for the most part of his career. He lensed his share of western television shows, too. Lucy Lu plays an English speaking girl from Canton who claims that he knows how to handle men. She has been living out west for three years. A current of racism courses through this western.
The two gritty prospectors—Barney Senn (Bruce Gordon of "The Buccaneer") and Adam Hayden (John Vivyan of "Imitation of Life")--are pretty handy with their six-shooters. Barney is particularly good with his revolver. After he pays off their African-American partner, Sam Taylor (Charles Lampkin of "Twilight of Honor"), Barney brandishes his Colt's revolver and shoots Sam in the back without a qualm as the unsuspecting African-American rides away with two bags of gold. Barney doesn't display a shred of remorse for murdering poor old Sam in cold blood. This western draws its grim title from its title sequence that depicts Sam's corpse clinging to its horse as the steed gallops throughout the credits before gravity detaches Sam's body from the animal. Afterward, a cautious Hayden inquires if he is next. Barney seats his six-gun in his holster and reminds Hayden that he would be lost without Hayden. "Why I couldn't go ten miles in this broken country without getting lost." They carry out forty pounds of gold a piece. Hayden and Barney break camp. Hayden explains that Apaches have been watching them since they came out to prospect for gold. He points out smoke signals rising from mountain tops between them. Hayden recommends that they strip everything that they can live without to stay ahead of the savages. They unload their rifles and smash them. I didn't think that was very smart. Not only do these hombres shatter their long guns, but they also turn their horses loose and set off on foot to the town of Lost River.
Later, greed gets the best of them during their journey to evade the Apaches. They tangle with each other in a tough fistfight when they spot Sam's horse. The fistfight is imaginatively staged with perspectives from each man's point of view during the slugfest. After their fight, Barney wings Hayden, leaves him for dead, and rides off to town. A thirsty, woebegone Hayden stumbles through the desert and encounters a friendly Asian girl, Ming (Lucy Lu of "One-Eyed Jacks"), at a railway work camp. She is an entertainer. She nurses him back to health because Hayden assures her that he has money. Ming wants half of Hayden's money. She tells him that her name means 'Perfect Flower.' Meantime, murderous Barney cuts a deal with Jake Fry (Kevin Hagen of "Gunsmoke in Tucson"), a bounty hunter of sorts, to help him capture Hayden and see him strung up. Barney double-crosses Hayden, frames him for Sam's death, and tells Jake that Hayden has a thousand dollars on his head. Jake decides to set out in pursuit of Hayden. Hayden tells Ming, "A man with a gun is all the law he needs." Reluctantly, Hayden agrees to buy Ming a ticket for San Francisco. What sets Ming apart from most women in westerns is her ability to stand up for herself and take what she wants. Before Ming and Hayden set off for Lost River, Hayden demands that she return his firearm. What Hayden doesn't know is that Ming has removed the bullets from his gun.
As they are trudging through desert, Hayden sneaks up on Jake and gets the drop on him. Unfortunately, Hayden discovers that he is packing a pistol without bullets, and Jake—"just a business man"—takes Hayden into custody. Ming knows that money is the only thing that "impresses" Jake. Hayden explains that they extracted $200-thousand out of their gold mine and Barney back-shot Sam. Jake cuts another deal with Hayden and decides to ride out after Barney and the gold with dynamite as their secret weapon to use against the Apaches. At the same time, he lights a fuse to a stick of dynamite that will blast Hayden to death. Resourcefully, Hayden manages to defuse the TNT and reconfigure it to blast open his cell block door. When Ming tries to stab Jake, the bounty hunter forces her to leave, and she finds Hayden who has escaped from Frye's calaboose. Hayden gets the drop again on Frye and leaves him with one bullet but enough dynamite to blow half of the Apaches off the mountain.
"Rider on a Dead Horse" reminded me of existentialist westerns like Budd Boetticher's Randolph Scott oaters and Monte Hellman's two Jack Nicholson horse operas. The finale is reminiscent of "Treasure of the Sierra Madre." "Silver River" scenarist Stephen Longstreet derived his savvy screenplay from James Edmiston's story who wrote the westerns "Day of Fury" and "Four Fast Guns." The dialogue is serviceable and sometimes clever. Uneasy alliances between men and women who don't trust each other shift back and forth throughout this gritty western that turns out to far better than you'd think.
The two gritty prospectors—Barney Senn (Bruce Gordon of "The Buccaneer") and Adam Hayden (John Vivyan of "Imitation of Life")--are pretty handy with their six-shooters. Barney is particularly good with his revolver. After he pays off their African-American partner, Sam Taylor (Charles Lampkin of "Twilight of Honor"), Barney brandishes his Colt's revolver and shoots Sam in the back without a qualm as the unsuspecting African-American rides away with two bags of gold. Barney doesn't display a shred of remorse for murdering poor old Sam in cold blood. This western draws its grim title from its title sequence that depicts Sam's corpse clinging to its horse as the steed gallops throughout the credits before gravity detaches Sam's body from the animal. Afterward, a cautious Hayden inquires if he is next. Barney seats his six-gun in his holster and reminds Hayden that he would be lost without Hayden. "Why I couldn't go ten miles in this broken country without getting lost." They carry out forty pounds of gold a piece. Hayden and Barney break camp. Hayden explains that Apaches have been watching them since they came out to prospect for gold. He points out smoke signals rising from mountain tops between them. Hayden recommends that they strip everything that they can live without to stay ahead of the savages. They unload their rifles and smash them. I didn't think that was very smart. Not only do these hombres shatter their long guns, but they also turn their horses loose and set off on foot to the town of Lost River.
Later, greed gets the best of them during their journey to evade the Apaches. They tangle with each other in a tough fistfight when they spot Sam's horse. The fistfight is imaginatively staged with perspectives from each man's point of view during the slugfest. After their fight, Barney wings Hayden, leaves him for dead, and rides off to town. A thirsty, woebegone Hayden stumbles through the desert and encounters a friendly Asian girl, Ming (Lucy Lu of "One-Eyed Jacks"), at a railway work camp. She is an entertainer. She nurses him back to health because Hayden assures her that he has money. Ming wants half of Hayden's money. She tells him that her name means 'Perfect Flower.' Meantime, murderous Barney cuts a deal with Jake Fry (Kevin Hagen of "Gunsmoke in Tucson"), a bounty hunter of sorts, to help him capture Hayden and see him strung up. Barney double-crosses Hayden, frames him for Sam's death, and tells Jake that Hayden has a thousand dollars on his head. Jake decides to set out in pursuit of Hayden. Hayden tells Ming, "A man with a gun is all the law he needs." Reluctantly, Hayden agrees to buy Ming a ticket for San Francisco. What sets Ming apart from most women in westerns is her ability to stand up for herself and take what she wants. Before Ming and Hayden set off for Lost River, Hayden demands that she return his firearm. What Hayden doesn't know is that Ming has removed the bullets from his gun.
As they are trudging through desert, Hayden sneaks up on Jake and gets the drop on him. Unfortunately, Hayden discovers that he is packing a pistol without bullets, and Jake—"just a business man"—takes Hayden into custody. Ming knows that money is the only thing that "impresses" Jake. Hayden explains that they extracted $200-thousand out of their gold mine and Barney back-shot Sam. Jake cuts another deal with Hayden and decides to ride out after Barney and the gold with dynamite as their secret weapon to use against the Apaches. At the same time, he lights a fuse to a stick of dynamite that will blast Hayden to death. Resourcefully, Hayden manages to defuse the TNT and reconfigure it to blast open his cell block door. When Ming tries to stab Jake, the bounty hunter forces her to leave, and she finds Hayden who has escaped from Frye's calaboose. Hayden gets the drop again on Frye and leaves him with one bullet but enough dynamite to blow half of the Apaches off the mountain.
"Rider on a Dead Horse" reminded me of existentialist westerns like Budd Boetticher's Randolph Scott oaters and Monte Hellman's two Jack Nicholson horse operas. The finale is reminiscent of "Treasure of the Sierra Madre." "Silver River" scenarist Stephen Longstreet derived his savvy screenplay from James Edmiston's story who wrote the westerns "Day of Fury" and "Four Fast Guns." The dialogue is serviceable and sometimes clever. Uneasy alliances between men and women who don't trust each other shift back and forth throughout this gritty western that turns out to far better than you'd think.
See also
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