Screen Directors Playhouse (TV Series) Arroyo (1955) User Reviews

That's With Two Capital Gs

[boblipton · 6/10 · 6 April 2024]

Lola Albright staggers into the sleepy town, saying her wagon train was attacked, and her husband killed. Jack Carson, whose office of sheriff seems to run to complete control of everything, investigates as the fighting comes to town. But the fighting is over her.

George WaGGner -- as he liked to spell his name -- was a writer-director of mostly B western movies until he moved to TV in the 1950s. While not among the most distinguished of the directors of Hal Roach's TV series, he knew how to do his job, and has a good cast, including Lynn Bari, Lloyd Corrigan, William Schallert, and Bob Steele to act in it.

Nice Western from The Wolf Man Director

[Michael_Elliott · 8 November 2011]

Screen Directors Playhouse: Arroyo (1955)

*** (out of 4)

Nice Western about the sleepy town of Arroyo, New Mexico who is shaken up when a woman (Lola Albright) rides into town claiming that her wagon train was attacked by Indians. Pretty soon the Sheriff (Jack Carson) must try and figure out what really happened and the only other survivor (Neville Brand) has a murder wrap hanging over his head. Director George Waggner will always be best remembered for THE WOLF MAN but towards the later part of his career he spent most of his time with television. This here was the fourth film in the Screen Directors Playhouse series and it was certainly the best up to this point. The screenplay, also by Waggner, is at times a tad bit lost in its own twists and turns but for the most part it delivers a fairly good story and at least one that will keep viewers interesting. I think it's greatest strength is how it takes you down one path making you believe that the movie is going to be about this Indian attack but it quickly makes a few twists and turns and before long you're watching a good old-fashioned Western that doesn't follow your typical guidelines. Another strong aspect is Waggner's direction and he manages to keep the movie going at a nice pace and he also makes sure that the viewer never gets ahead of the story. Another strong point are the performances with Carson doing an extremely good job as the rather crooked Sheriff who plays judge, jury and executioner. He was very believable in the part and made for a good anti-hero. Brand, best remembered to horror fans for Tobe Hooper's EATEN ALIVE, steals the film as the dirty bad guy. We even have a nice turn by Bob Steele playing a deputy. At just 25-minutes the film doesn't feature any slow moments so fans of the genre should remain entertained.

Complex, But Entertaining

[dougdoepke · 31 January 2014]

Unpredictable little western probably too complex for own good, but keeps audience interest. So what's the true story of the Indian attack and who is this timid Dude guy who turns up mysteriously in town. It's a fine cast of familiar faces. For example, who's better at being amiably shifty-eyed than Jack Carson, as a sheriff who makes up his own rules. So, how far can he be trusted. Then there's ageing matinée hero Bob Steele picking up a paycheck as Carson's deputy, while Lynn Bari also gets a payday for a brief marquee appearance. Look quickly too for Peter Gunn's shapely songbird Lola Albright, unfortunately confined here under a ton of shapeless bedclothes. And, of course, the unmistakable Neville Brand as, surprise, surprise, a bad guy. Fans of scenic westerns can skip this one since the action never leaves the studio. Thus, it's a good thing the story manages to stay cleverly one step ahead of the audience. So, stay tuned.