As far was westerns go, this is a pretty good one. Despite some familiar story elements, there is enough new and different to set it apart from the crowd--even if it was a bit of a disappointment when it came to Randolph Scott (and I am a huge fan of this wonderful actor and his westerns).
When the film began, I was a bit surprised. While it was produced by Columbia, it surprisingly was in full-color--something you wouldn't expect from this second-string studio. This is surprising also because up until this film, Columbia hadn't made any color films--why they chose to do this with a western and not one of their prestige films is beyond me.
The film begins with a bank robbery in which several locals are shot. However, it turns out that the crooked bank owner (Porter Hall)actually staged it himself--so he could pocket much of the money himself. His friend (Edgar Buchanan) is in on this, but is angry that people were hurt and even killed in this staged holdup--but Buchanan can't tell anyone, as he was involved.
A short time later, the Sheriff (Randolph Scott) is on his way into town when he is jumped and his horse is taken. Eventually, Scott makes it into town and he catches up to the horse thief--who he never actually saw face-to-face (and vice-versa). They start fighting in a dark corral and after Scott is beaten, something cool happens that almost never happens in film--sweet Evelyn Keyes is standing nearby during the fight. Instead of just standing there looking scared (a typical cliché), she smacks the guy (Glenn Ford) over the head with a bucket--knocking him out in the process! I love a woman like this in a film! Well, despite this klunk on the head, it turns out Ford is an old friend of Scott! And, soon Keyes falls in love with Ford! Now this is all complicated by Ford's past--he's a gunfighter who was forced to a life on the run. However, he isn't BAD--he was just forced into this by circumstances. And, now that he's in town, the baddies figure he's a convenient scapegoat for the robbery--and they do their best to get Ford hung. Scott is in a bind--he IS the sheriff but he can't just let them hang a friend. How all this is worked out is for you to see--I really don't want to spoil it.
In the film, there are a few things to look for. First, as the stereotypical partner, we have Guinn Williams--a fella with an odd penchant for using nitroglycerin! Second, the film has one of the coolest shootouts I've ever seen between Hall and Buchanan. I certainly have NEVER seen a fight like this one and was probably more typical of a real old west shootout! Overall, not a great film but it looks nice in color, has some nice scenes and is enjoyable. The only major deficit is that although Scott receives top billing, he really is more of a supporting character and has little chance for character development--a definite negative for fans who want the Scott of his later westerns (where he has a lot more depth).
When the film began, I was a bit surprised. While it was produced by Columbia, it surprisingly was in full-color--something you wouldn't expect from this second-string studio. This is surprising also because up until this film, Columbia hadn't made any color films--why they chose to do this with a western and not one of their prestige films is beyond me.
The film begins with a bank robbery in which several locals are shot. However, it turns out that the crooked bank owner (Porter Hall)actually staged it himself--so he could pocket much of the money himself. His friend (Edgar Buchanan) is in on this, but is angry that people were hurt and even killed in this staged holdup--but Buchanan can't tell anyone, as he was involved.
A short time later, the Sheriff (Randolph Scott) is on his way into town when he is jumped and his horse is taken. Eventually, Scott makes it into town and he catches up to the horse thief--who he never actually saw face-to-face (and vice-versa). They start fighting in a dark corral and after Scott is beaten, something cool happens that almost never happens in film--sweet Evelyn Keyes is standing nearby during the fight. Instead of just standing there looking scared (a typical cliché), she smacks the guy (Glenn Ford) over the head with a bucket--knocking him out in the process! I love a woman like this in a film! Well, despite this klunk on the head, it turns out Ford is an old friend of Scott! And, soon Keyes falls in love with Ford! Now this is all complicated by Ford's past--he's a gunfighter who was forced to a life on the run. However, he isn't BAD--he was just forced into this by circumstances. And, now that he's in town, the baddies figure he's a convenient scapegoat for the robbery--and they do their best to get Ford hung. Scott is in a bind--he IS the sheriff but he can't just let them hang a friend. How all this is worked out is for you to see--I really don't want to spoil it.
In the film, there are a few things to look for. First, as the stereotypical partner, we have Guinn Williams--a fella with an odd penchant for using nitroglycerin! Second, the film has one of the coolest shootouts I've ever seen between Hall and Buchanan. I certainly have NEVER seen a fight like this one and was probably more typical of a real old west shootout! Overall, not a great film but it looks nice in color, has some nice scenes and is enjoyable. The only major deficit is that although Scott receives top billing, he really is more of a supporting character and has little chance for character development--a definite negative for fans who want the Scott of his later westerns (where he has a lot more depth).