"The Outriders" takes place near the close of the American Civil War. Three Confederate prisoners (with long scruffy beards), Will Owen (Joel McCrea), Jesse Wallace (Barry Sullivan) and Clint priest (James Whitmore) escape custody and flee. Wallace gleefully stabs to death a young Union soldier (William Phipps) on sentry duty. You have to know which member of the reb trio is going to cause trouble down the road.
The three rebels come upon a gang of Quantrill supporters led by Keeley (Jeff Corey) and Bye (Ted DeCorsia). Keely tells them of an upcoming Gold shipment from Mexico bound for the Union army at St. Louis Missouri. The Gold is supposed to be delivered to the confederacy but unbeknownst to Owen, Kelley and his gang plan to keep the loot for themselves.
The wagon train with the Gold concealed within is led by Don Antonio Chaves (Ramon Navarro). It is to travel 800 miles from El Paso Texas to St. Louis. Owen, Wallace and Priest are to join up with the train as outriders or protectors. Along for the ride are the beautiful Jen Gert (Arlene Dahl) and her nephew Roy (Claude Jarman Jr.). Owen takes a shine to Jen which leads him to change his view of their purpose to guide the train into an ambush. Wallace however, still plans to deliver the train to the raiders.
The romance between Owens and Jen continues to grow. During a perilous river crossing, young Roy drowns devastating Jen. With the train nearing the ambush point, Owen takes Wallace prisoner and plans to make a stand against Keeley and his gang. But Wallace escapes and......................................................
A great cast raises the level of this movie. McCrea as always is the pillar of strength. Dahl with her fiery red hair was never so beautiful. Sullivan plays against type as the main villain. Whitmore doesn't have enough to do as the grizzled Priest. Silent screen idol Navarro hardly looks as he once did but delivers a good performance anyway. Martin Garralaga as the ill Father Damasco is also good. One of my favorite bad guys Ted DeCorsia doesn't get enough to do with Jeff Corey playing the gang leader.
You've got to see McCrea, Sullivan and Whitmore with those long scruffy beards in the opening sequence. They look hilarious.
Good western.
The three rebels come upon a gang of Quantrill supporters led by Keeley (Jeff Corey) and Bye (Ted DeCorsia). Keely tells them of an upcoming Gold shipment from Mexico bound for the Union army at St. Louis Missouri. The Gold is supposed to be delivered to the confederacy but unbeknownst to Owen, Kelley and his gang plan to keep the loot for themselves.
The wagon train with the Gold concealed within is led by Don Antonio Chaves (Ramon Navarro). It is to travel 800 miles from El Paso Texas to St. Louis. Owen, Wallace and Priest are to join up with the train as outriders or protectors. Along for the ride are the beautiful Jen Gert (Arlene Dahl) and her nephew Roy (Claude Jarman Jr.). Owen takes a shine to Jen which leads him to change his view of their purpose to guide the train into an ambush. Wallace however, still plans to deliver the train to the raiders.
The romance between Owens and Jen continues to grow. During a perilous river crossing, young Roy drowns devastating Jen. With the train nearing the ambush point, Owen takes Wallace prisoner and plans to make a stand against Keeley and his gang. But Wallace escapes and......................................................
A great cast raises the level of this movie. McCrea as always is the pillar of strength. Dahl with her fiery red hair was never so beautiful. Sullivan plays against type as the main villain. Whitmore doesn't have enough to do as the grizzled Priest. Silent screen idol Navarro hardly looks as he once did but delivers a good performance anyway. Martin Garralaga as the ill Father Damasco is also good. One of my favorite bad guys Ted DeCorsia doesn't get enough to do with Jeff Corey playing the gang leader.
You've got to see McCrea, Sullivan and Whitmore with those long scruffy beards in the opening sequence. They look hilarious.
Good western.