It pains me to say this because Jimmy Cagney is one of my favorite actors, but the whole time I watched him in this picture I kept thinking of Dan Blocker's Hoss Cartwright from "Bonanza". Cagney had added a fair number of pounds over the years, and no longer resembled the slim hoofer that he was back in the 1930's when he established himself as a top flight gangster in film. I'm sure that vest he wore added to my perception.
In the story, Cagney's character Jeremy Rodock was one mean a-- rancher and horse trader. He subscribed to the one man rule of law in the absence of legal authority, and I got a pretty good idea that he wouldn't have been in favor of our current president's redistribution of wealth agenda. I had never heard the term 'hangin' fever' in a fair share of Westerns I've seen before, so I'm guessing the term was made up for this picture, but it served pretty well for Rodock's brand of justice.
As always, Cagney's performance in the story is credible, but after seeing him in many other vehicles, it's hard to warm up to his presence in a Western. The same goes for his appearance in "The Oklahoma Kid', featuring another personal favorite, Humphrey Bogart. Both appeared in that picture as opposing outlaws, and though a largely forgettable film in each actor's repertoire, they did participate in one of the wildest bar room brawls you're likely to find, recommendation enough in my mind to check that one out.
Irene Papas also takes center stage in this story as the long time companion of Rodock. Her disillusionment with Rodock's personal code meets it's strongest test in the growing admiration of young Steve Millar (Don Dubbibs), who hires on after his role in an opening gunfight. It would have been interesting to see what would have happened if he attempted to run away with Jocasta (Papas) before that miles long walk through the desert.
Brilliantly filmed in gorgeous Eastman Color, "Tribute To A Badman" might not have been the best title for this story, as Rodock was as fair minded as they came when dealing man to man. Cross him though and there was hell to pay. That, I think, could have been a useful alternate title.
In the story, Cagney's character Jeremy Rodock was one mean a-- rancher and horse trader. He subscribed to the one man rule of law in the absence of legal authority, and I got a pretty good idea that he wouldn't have been in favor of our current president's redistribution of wealth agenda. I had never heard the term 'hangin' fever' in a fair share of Westerns I've seen before, so I'm guessing the term was made up for this picture, but it served pretty well for Rodock's brand of justice.
As always, Cagney's performance in the story is credible, but after seeing him in many other vehicles, it's hard to warm up to his presence in a Western. The same goes for his appearance in "The Oklahoma Kid', featuring another personal favorite, Humphrey Bogart. Both appeared in that picture as opposing outlaws, and though a largely forgettable film in each actor's repertoire, they did participate in one of the wildest bar room brawls you're likely to find, recommendation enough in my mind to check that one out.
Irene Papas also takes center stage in this story as the long time companion of Rodock. Her disillusionment with Rodock's personal code meets it's strongest test in the growing admiration of young Steve Millar (Don Dubbibs), who hires on after his role in an opening gunfight. It would have been interesting to see what would have happened if he attempted to run away with Jocasta (Papas) before that miles long walk through the desert.
Brilliantly filmed in gorgeous Eastman Color, "Tribute To A Badman" might not have been the best title for this story, as Rodock was as fair minded as they came when dealing man to man. Cross him though and there was hell to pay. That, I think, could have been a useful alternate title.