"Ride the Man Down" was one of Republic Pictures "A" prestige westerns of the period in Trucolor of course. It has a larger than normal cast of familiar faces.
Big time cattle rancher Phil Evarts (Stanley Andrews) perishes in a winter snow storm leaving his ranch, Hatchet to his brother John (James Bell) and his daughter Celia (Ella Raines). Foreman Will Ballard (Rod Cameron) tries to keep the ranch together. You see, the ranch is composed of several pockets of free grazing land that neighboring ranchers covet .
Rival ranchers Bide Marriner (Brian Donlevy), Sam Danfelser (Forrest Tucker), Harv Garrison (Douglas Kennedy), Ray Cavanaugh (Paul Fix) and Kennedy (Jack LaRue) plan to move onto Hatchet land with their cattle. Danfelser is engaged to Celia Everts while Ballard is romancing Lottie Priest (Barbara Britton) daughter of storekeeper Lowell Priest (Taylor Holmes). Sheriff Joe Keen (J. Carroll Naish appears to be sitting on the fence between the two sides. John Evarts is murdered and the ranch falls to Celia. Sam Danfelser hopes that now he will be able to control Hatchet.
Saloon owner Red Courteen (Jim Davis) also has an interest. He convinces Priest to invest in Garrison's herd. Ballard meanwhile continues his efforts to save Hatchet with only crusty old Ike Adams (Chill Wills), the ranch cook Chris (Chris Pin Martin) and two young rawhiders Mel and Jim Young (Al Caudebec, Royden Clark) to help him.
Danfelser becomes jealous of Ballard and sides with the other ranchers led by Marriner. Ballard meanwhile, has shifted his attentions from Lottie to Celia. The other ranchers pursue Ballard forcing him to hide out. Finally there is a showdown between Ballard and Danfelser and.........................................................................
Competently directed by Republic's in house director Joe Kane, the film has plenty of action and excellent performances from the principles. Donlevy is given top billing over Cameron probably because of his name value. Also in the large cast are western regulars Roy Barcroft, Harry Woods Marshall Reed, Harry Cheshire and Claire Carleton.
Big time cattle rancher Phil Evarts (Stanley Andrews) perishes in a winter snow storm leaving his ranch, Hatchet to his brother John (James Bell) and his daughter Celia (Ella Raines). Foreman Will Ballard (Rod Cameron) tries to keep the ranch together. You see, the ranch is composed of several pockets of free grazing land that neighboring ranchers covet .
Rival ranchers Bide Marriner (Brian Donlevy), Sam Danfelser (Forrest Tucker), Harv Garrison (Douglas Kennedy), Ray Cavanaugh (Paul Fix) and Kennedy (Jack LaRue) plan to move onto Hatchet land with their cattle. Danfelser is engaged to Celia Everts while Ballard is romancing Lottie Priest (Barbara Britton) daughter of storekeeper Lowell Priest (Taylor Holmes). Sheriff Joe Keen (J. Carroll Naish appears to be sitting on the fence between the two sides. John Evarts is murdered and the ranch falls to Celia. Sam Danfelser hopes that now he will be able to control Hatchet.
Saloon owner Red Courteen (Jim Davis) also has an interest. He convinces Priest to invest in Garrison's herd. Ballard meanwhile continues his efforts to save Hatchet with only crusty old Ike Adams (Chill Wills), the ranch cook Chris (Chris Pin Martin) and two young rawhiders Mel and Jim Young (Al Caudebec, Royden Clark) to help him.
Danfelser becomes jealous of Ballard and sides with the other ranchers led by Marriner. Ballard meanwhile, has shifted his attentions from Lottie to Celia. The other ranchers pursue Ballard forcing him to hide out. Finally there is a showdown between Ballard and Danfelser and.........................................................................
Competently directed by Republic's in house director Joe Kane, the film has plenty of action and excellent performances from the principles. Donlevy is given top billing over Cameron probably because of his name value. Also in the large cast are western regulars Roy Barcroft, Harry Woods Marshall Reed, Harry Cheshire and Claire Carleton.