This movie doesn't get much respect from the other reviewers on this board, but if you watched it back to back on the Encore Western Channel following 1960's "Gun Fight" like I just did, you'd think it was a pretty good Western. What made it for me was seeing John Dehner in his role as a greasy, bearded gang leader intent on looting the town of Casper, Wyoming. Man, that was some make up job on Dehner, he looked tougher in this role than any other I've seen him in. Trouble is, he was pretty inept when you come right down to it. He lost what, about fifteen men in the raid on the town? Makes you wonder how he ever made it that far as a career outlaw. He didn't make one right call, especially after having half of his gang taken out right at the entrance of town. Oh well.
For his part, Sterling Hayden's a pretty laid back gunslinger as he investigates the circumstances of his mother's death and the sale of her ranch to town big-wig Canby Judd (William Bishop). There's always some nitwit cowpoke gunning for the fastest draw in the territory, and this time it's Rod Taylor's turn to get his due from Rick Martin's (Hayden) fast gun.
I had to scratch my head over that phony mortgage business though, that deal whereby Judd hoodwinked Martin's mother into selling her ranch to him. It was explained that she signed a bill of sale that was somehow covered over by a mortgage note in a latter day cut and paste job. I realize the 1880's was a simpler time, but really, how does something like that work? I guess if you're not paying close attention to the picture this would blow right by you, but as you can see, I'm still thinking about it.
Well we've seen it before in picture's like "High Noon", a woman saves the day at the end of the story by getting the drop on the bad guy after coming to her senses. Martin made the right call by going after Quentin (Dehner) even with a gun pointed at his back. You just knew that somewhere off screen, Miss Mead (Karen Booth) was getting ready to break off the engagement to her slimy fiancée. Nice shooting there Laura.
For his part, Sterling Hayden's a pretty laid back gunslinger as he investigates the circumstances of his mother's death and the sale of her ranch to town big-wig Canby Judd (William Bishop). There's always some nitwit cowpoke gunning for the fastest draw in the territory, and this time it's Rod Taylor's turn to get his due from Rick Martin's (Hayden) fast gun.
I had to scratch my head over that phony mortgage business though, that deal whereby Judd hoodwinked Martin's mother into selling her ranch to him. It was explained that she signed a bill of sale that was somehow covered over by a mortgage note in a latter day cut and paste job. I realize the 1880's was a simpler time, but really, how does something like that work? I guess if you're not paying close attention to the picture this would blow right by you, but as you can see, I'm still thinking about it.
Well we've seen it before in picture's like "High Noon", a woman saves the day at the end of the story by getting the drop on the bad guy after coming to her senses. Martin made the right call by going after Quentin (Dehner) even with a gun pointed at his back. You just knew that somewhere off screen, Miss Mead (Karen Booth) was getting ready to break off the engagement to her slimy fiancée. Nice shooting there Laura.