Bullet for a Badman (1964)

Director:

R.G. Springsteen

Writers:

Marvin H. Albert (novel)
Mary Willingham (writer)

Release Date:

1 September 1964 (USA)

Genre:

Western

Tagline:

He had to kill or be killed . . . as he fought the deadliest duel in frontier history!

Plot:

Murphy plays ex-lawman who must strap on the guns again to catch a former nemesis, McGavin, who happens...

Plot Keywords:

Based On Novel

Cast

Audie Murphy	...	Logan Keliher
Darren McGavin	...	Sam Ward
Ruta Lee	...	Lottie
Beverley Owen	...	Susan
Skip Homeier	...	Pink
George Tobias	...	Diggs
Alan Hale Jr.	...	Leach (as Alan Hale)
Berkeley Harris	...	Jeff
Edward Platt	...	Tucker
Kevin Tate	...	Sammy
Cece Whitney	...	Goldie
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Charles Horvath
Mort Mills
Bob Steele
Ray Teal

Also Known As:

Renegade Posse (USA) (alternative title)

Runtime:

80 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Finland:K-12 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Zion National Park, Springdale, Utah, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

It was while filming this movie that 'Alan Hale, Jr. (I)' got his casting call for "Gilligan's Island" (1964). He had to ride out of Zions National Park in St. George, Utah on horseback to the highway and hitchhike to Las Vegas to fly out to the interview.

Quotes:

Diggs: Nobody's gun is ever on anybody's side out of plain kindness of heart. A man's nature is too pure cussed for that.

Program western meets expectations.

The last of the Audie Murphy's are the best. The early ones are enough to put anyone off watching Budd Boetticher's work.

"Bullet for a Badman" is solidly crafted and, in the scenes of the posse holding off the "murderin' Pachees" that grizzled old timer Tobias warns about, has an effective set piece. The traveling shot where the riders lift above the moving camera, as they gallop up the ridge, must have gotten a cheer in the theatrical runs.

Murphy's character, the Texas Ranger who retired to look after the wife and child of his jailed chum, Darren McGavin, is too saintly for all but the most gullible but McGavin's study in vengeful, shaded macho is just what the film needs. He's surprisingly plausible in the saddle. The men are nicely chosen and effective, with Springsteen's experience showing in the way they

ride and handle weapons, used to build their characters - the best cowboy movie tradition.

The women get by in the scrubbed up manner which undermines these films' pretensions to realism.

The colour is OK but Joe Biroc did a lot better and the score, credited on the film to veteran Skinner, is on the glum side. The use of stunt doubles for the leads is too obvious too.

These Universal westerns were good value once they got a hint of production value, even if this one doesn't compare to the best of the Delmer Daves- John Sturges - Anthony Mann cycle.