Get past the unlikely premise of "Gunsmoke" and you've got yourself a pretty good Western. Reb Kittridge (Audie Murphy) is a hired gunslinger who arrives in Montana on an as yet unknown job prospect. Unknown that is, except to most of the rest of the town, including intended victim Dan Saxon (Paul Kelly). Heavy Matt Telford (Donald Randolph) wants Saxon's ranch, and needs him out of the way so he can take over the entire valley basin. So far, it's a pretty typical set up, but Kittridge isn't biting just yet, particularly since he's already met Saxon's pretty daughter Rita (June Cabot). In an unusual turn of events, Reb wins the Saxon ranch by cutting cards with the owner, now finding himself on opposite sides against Telford. To pay off the thirty day note due on the Saxon ranch, Kittridge must round up all the scattered cattle in the territory, and get it to railhead while Telford does all he can to prevent it from happening.
It was more than a surprise to see this film had been recorded in Trucolor, the print I viewed was outstanding. Another surprise was the choice of song by saloon singer Cora Dufrayne (Mary Castle) - "See What The Boys in the Bathroom Will Have", to great applause by the cowhand audience.
For a 1953 oater, the film offers some great lines:
Jesse White as the Professor (camp cook on the cattle drive) - "Come and get it, before I throw it to the hogs."
Bill Radovich the bartender - "Just name your poison gentlemen, if we haven't got it, we'll make it!"
Charles Drake, as Reb's former partner Johnny Lake, later hired by Telford to take him out - "I never did like to shoot my friends.", in the movie's finale.
Keep your eyes peeled for brief appearances by a handful of "B" Western character actors and veterans - Edmund Cobb as the stage driver, William Fawcett as the crusty hotel clerk ("I can just see it now, blood all over my nice clean floors."), and Denver Pyle as a Saxon ranch hand, all in uncredited roles.
As a fan of the genre, I was prepared for a rather run of the mill story here, but it came across as rather well done and entertaining - recommended for Audie Murphy and Western fans of all types.
It was more than a surprise to see this film had been recorded in Trucolor, the print I viewed was outstanding. Another surprise was the choice of song by saloon singer Cora Dufrayne (Mary Castle) - "See What The Boys in the Bathroom Will Have", to great applause by the cowhand audience.
For a 1953 oater, the film offers some great lines:
Jesse White as the Professor (camp cook on the cattle drive) - "Come and get it, before I throw it to the hogs."
Bill Radovich the bartender - "Just name your poison gentlemen, if we haven't got it, we'll make it!"
Charles Drake, as Reb's former partner Johnny Lake, later hired by Telford to take him out - "I never did like to shoot my friends.", in the movie's finale.
Keep your eyes peeled for brief appearances by a handful of "B" Western character actors and veterans - Edmund Cobb as the stage driver, William Fawcett as the crusty hotel clerk ("I can just see it now, blood all over my nice clean floors."), and Denver Pyle as a Saxon ranch hand, all in uncredited roles.
As a fan of the genre, I was prepared for a rather run of the mill story here, but it came across as rather well done and entertaining - recommended for Audie Murphy and Western fans of all types.