"Day of the Bad Man" opens with two rough-looking gunhands, Charlie Hayes (Robert Middleton of "The Law and Jake Wade") and his hot-headed brother Howie (Skip Homeier of "Tomorrow the World") riding past a hangman's gallows and into a quiet dusty western town in the early morning hours. They spot Cora Johnson (Marie Windsor of "Two Gun Lady") in blue jeans near a tent behind the town buildings and inquire her about their brother Rudy (Christopher Dark of "Johnny Concho") who has been on trial for the murder of a local rancher. Initially, Howie thought that they'd be late getting into town, but Cora advises them that the judge won't pass sentence on Rudy until 11 AM.
Meanwhile, the judge, Judge James Edward Scott (Fred MacMurray of "Double Indemnity"), pretty much already knows that he is going to sentence Rudy to swing, and everybody in town supports him to the hilt . . . that is . . . until the Hayes brothers start bullying citizens on the jury about their guilty verdict and what Rudy's punishment is going to be. In fact, Scott doesn't have his mind much on the sentence that he intends to pass because he is concerned with matters closer to his heart. After six years of riding the circuit as a judge, Scott is looking forward to settling down with the girl of his dreams, Myra Owens (Joan Weldon of "Them"), and he plans to surprise her with a proposal of marriage. Moreover, Scott has bought a little ranch himself that he intends to call home and has his longtime friend Sam Wyckoff (Edgar Buchanan of "Shane") clearing the spread up before he brings Myra out to see it. Little does Scott know the trouble that is brewing in town and even worse that his ladylove is in love with the local lawman, strapping young Sheriff Barney Wiley (John Ericson of "Bad Day at Black Rock") who looks a lot tougher than he is smarter. Scott learns about the Charlie and Howie and sends Wiley to disarm them, but they get the better of the lawman. Incredibly, these villains don't kill him when they have the chance. They get the drop on Wiley when another brother, Jack Hayes (Lee Van Cleef of "The Big Gundown"), enters town and hooks up with them. Cora warns Scott about the unsavory Hayes brothers and what they may do to her since she feels responsible for Rudy ending up in jail.
By the time that Scott gets around to sentencing Rudy, the entire town has changed their collective minds about the Rudy's fate, even the widow Mrs. Marv Quary (Peggy Converse of "The Accidental Tourist"), and they want Scott to banish Rudy. Meantime, Wiley has begun to show his true coloryellowbecause he fears that the Hayes will single him out from everybody else because he has to escort Rudy to the gallows. Furthermore, Mrs. Quary holds Wiley responsible for the murder of his husband because he didn't keep Rudy from gunning his late spouse. Matters have grown a bit more complicated for Scott when Myra confesses to him her deep love for Wiley. Of course, Scott is understandably upset and isn't too friendly toward Wiley after this revelation. Nevertheless, he is willing to support Wiley as long as the upstart young sheriff will perform his duties. At one point, Wiley balks and Sam threatens to spread the word that he is yellow. At the sentencing both the townspeople and the Hayes brothers hold their collective breaths in dread anticipation of the verdict. Scott pulls a fast one that serves justice, but at the same time forces him into a deadly gunfight with the Hayes brothers.
"Day of the Bad Man" qualifies as a traditional 1950's western in the vein of "High Noon." Indeed, both of these westerns as well as a number of others produced during the Eisenhower years relied on a time deadline to drive the drama in the plot. In fact, scenarist Lawrence Roman of "Slaughter on 10th Avenue" as well as "McQ" derived his screenplay from John W. Cunningham's story. Previously, Cunningham had written a western novella for The Saturday Evening Post magazine called "The Tin Star," no relation to the Henry Fonda western, that producer Stanley Kramer bought the rights to because the original "High Noon" script seemed close enough to warrant a lawsuit. Nevertheless, "Day of the Bad Man" is nothing like "High Noon" aside from the time element. Judge Scott never flinches from his duty and his showdown with the Hayes brothers at the finale when they corner him in a cross-fire in his burning house. Predictably, Myra changes her mind about Wiley, but she never wields a six-shooter and comes to Scott's rescue. Although it doesn't top the Gary Cooper classic, this solid, entertaining, and somewhat dour Fred MacMurray western is still entrancing enough to watch. There is drama to spare in Roman's script and the Hayes brothers operate just at the edge of crime in their efforts to change the minds of the townspeople about the fate of their worthless brother.
Veteran western director Harry Keller, who had helmed his share of oaters before "Day of the Bad Man" and later went on to edit blockbusters like "Stripes" and "Stir Crazy," handles the drama, the gunplay, and the fistfights, with competent assurance in this neat little 82-minute horse opera. The fistfight between the Hayes brothers and Sheriff Wiley looks pretty tough even for a 1950's western, and Keller keeps the suspense and tension brewing until the bang-up finale. Mind you, this isn't a John Ford or Howard Hawks masterpiece, but "Day of the Bad Man" has more than enough going for it if you enjoy westerns and how Roman manipulates the staple plot elements of westerns to craft this example. MacMurray himself is ideally cast as the highly moral judge who refuses to shirk his duty.
Meanwhile, the judge, Judge James Edward Scott (Fred MacMurray of "Double Indemnity"), pretty much already knows that he is going to sentence Rudy to swing, and everybody in town supports him to the hilt . . . that is . . . until the Hayes brothers start bullying citizens on the jury about their guilty verdict and what Rudy's punishment is going to be. In fact, Scott doesn't have his mind much on the sentence that he intends to pass because he is concerned with matters closer to his heart. After six years of riding the circuit as a judge, Scott is looking forward to settling down with the girl of his dreams, Myra Owens (Joan Weldon of "Them"), and he plans to surprise her with a proposal of marriage. Moreover, Scott has bought a little ranch himself that he intends to call home and has his longtime friend Sam Wyckoff (Edgar Buchanan of "Shane") clearing the spread up before he brings Myra out to see it. Little does Scott know the trouble that is brewing in town and even worse that his ladylove is in love with the local lawman, strapping young Sheriff Barney Wiley (John Ericson of "Bad Day at Black Rock") who looks a lot tougher than he is smarter. Scott learns about the Charlie and Howie and sends Wiley to disarm them, but they get the better of the lawman. Incredibly, these villains don't kill him when they have the chance. They get the drop on Wiley when another brother, Jack Hayes (Lee Van Cleef of "The Big Gundown"), enters town and hooks up with them. Cora warns Scott about the unsavory Hayes brothers and what they may do to her since she feels responsible for Rudy ending up in jail.
By the time that Scott gets around to sentencing Rudy, the entire town has changed their collective minds about the Rudy's fate, even the widow Mrs. Marv Quary (Peggy Converse of "The Accidental Tourist"), and they want Scott to banish Rudy. Meantime, Wiley has begun to show his true coloryellowbecause he fears that the Hayes will single him out from everybody else because he has to escort Rudy to the gallows. Furthermore, Mrs. Quary holds Wiley responsible for the murder of his husband because he didn't keep Rudy from gunning his late spouse. Matters have grown a bit more complicated for Scott when Myra confesses to him her deep love for Wiley. Of course, Scott is understandably upset and isn't too friendly toward Wiley after this revelation. Nevertheless, he is willing to support Wiley as long as the upstart young sheriff will perform his duties. At one point, Wiley balks and Sam threatens to spread the word that he is yellow. At the sentencing both the townspeople and the Hayes brothers hold their collective breaths in dread anticipation of the verdict. Scott pulls a fast one that serves justice, but at the same time forces him into a deadly gunfight with the Hayes brothers.
"Day of the Bad Man" qualifies as a traditional 1950's western in the vein of "High Noon." Indeed, both of these westerns as well as a number of others produced during the Eisenhower years relied on a time deadline to drive the drama in the plot. In fact, scenarist Lawrence Roman of "Slaughter on 10th Avenue" as well as "McQ" derived his screenplay from John W. Cunningham's story. Previously, Cunningham had written a western novella for The Saturday Evening Post magazine called "The Tin Star," no relation to the Henry Fonda western, that producer Stanley Kramer bought the rights to because the original "High Noon" script seemed close enough to warrant a lawsuit. Nevertheless, "Day of the Bad Man" is nothing like "High Noon" aside from the time element. Judge Scott never flinches from his duty and his showdown with the Hayes brothers at the finale when they corner him in a cross-fire in his burning house. Predictably, Myra changes her mind about Wiley, but she never wields a six-shooter and comes to Scott's rescue. Although it doesn't top the Gary Cooper classic, this solid, entertaining, and somewhat dour Fred MacMurray western is still entrancing enough to watch. There is drama to spare in Roman's script and the Hayes brothers operate just at the edge of crime in their efforts to change the minds of the townspeople about the fate of their worthless brother.
Veteran western director Harry Keller, who had helmed his share of oaters before "Day of the Bad Man" and later went on to edit blockbusters like "Stripes" and "Stir Crazy," handles the drama, the gunplay, and the fistfights, with competent assurance in this neat little 82-minute horse opera. The fistfight between the Hayes brothers and Sheriff Wiley looks pretty tough even for a 1950's western, and Keller keeps the suspense and tension brewing until the bang-up finale. Mind you, this isn't a John Ford or Howard Hawks masterpiece, but "Day of the Bad Man" has more than enough going for it if you enjoy westerns and how Roman manipulates the staple plot elements of westerns to craft this example. MacMurray himself is ideally cast as the highly moral judge who refuses to shirk his duty.