Karry
Best movie of this year hands down!
Pacionsbo
Absolutely Fantastic
Dynamixor
The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.
ma-cortes
This thrilling western deals with an Union Mayor called Clanton (Robert Ryan) who is wrongly accused for a killing ,he is then condemned to death. He escapes and becomes involved with the most famous outlaws (Bruce Cabot, Walter Brennan, John Archer , Robert Wilke,Lawrence Tierney,Jack Buetel) from the wild west. Clanton is wanted for murders, reward : 5ooo dollars . He is wanted dead or alive . The nasty Fowler leads a bloody manhunt against Clanton . This is an epic as well as stirring thrill parade down banditry halls of infamy . Concerning the worst bushwackers of the untamed western who execute a rampage of murders and terror . There also appears the lady they called Lily (Claire Trevor). Meanwhile they execute a bank robbery protected by a detective agency run by corrupt enemy , Fowler (Robert Preston)An epic saga of a land beyond the law starred by star-studded, inclusive cowboy actors, great personalities and many other things. An exciting and explosive flick in which action and thrills are unstoppable . The tale starts with a prologue that explains the following : this story tells a forgotten chapter in the violent history of the west , months after the tragic war between The States had ended there was still no peace on the western frontier. The plot is plain and simple taking place post American civil War where bushwackers and Jayhawkers carry out real and violent rampages and ravages . Here shows up a lot of bandits as Cole Younger, Jim Jounger , Jesse James , Frank James , Ringo and Clanton . All of them starred by known actors who give compelling interpretations such as Bruce Cabot , Jack Buetel , John Archer , Lawrence Tierney , Tom Tyler, Robert Wilke , John Cliff , and Robert Ryan . And the comical relief for the sympathetic secondary Walter Brennan .This one belongs to a trilogy formed by the original Badmen territory 1946 by Tim Whelan with Randolph Scott , Anne Richards , Steve Brodie , George Gabby Hayes ,Return of the bad Men 1948 by Ray Enright with Randolph Scott, Robert Ryan , George Hayes . All of them starred by by notorious bandits of the wild west and performed by prestigious secondary players. The motion picture was compellingly directed by William Russell , though it has some flaws and gaps . Russell directed a few films as The Sainted Sisters, Our Heart were growing up, Ladies' man , Dear Ruth and a lot of television series .The picture will appear to western buffs . Well worth watching.
dbdumonteil
That was Jack Buetel 's first part since the infamous "outlaw" and he is a bit too old for the part of an ingenuous young man in love with star Claire Trevor.Robert Ryan portrays a good man,generous and loyal ,who wants to give a second chance to renegades ,but he thwarts a hateful corrupt detective 's plans,is arrested and sentenced to death after a travesty of a trial:his enemy's wife ,who hates her husband ,helps him to escape and he becomes an outlaw,joining the men he wanted to rehabilitate.This is an action-packed western ,with chases,treason and a love affair,short and compact:there's never a dull moment. The badmen did really their best.
Scarecrow-88
Robert Ryan is Jeff Clanton, a newly released Yankee Calvary hero, who is falsely imprisoned by carpetbagger Matthew Fowler(Robert Preston who always had the skill to play a mean sonofabitch)who has manipulated and bought his way into territories left dry by war. Fowler runs a "detective agency" which pretty much is an organization of hoodlums always ready for more power and prestige. Clanton had round up a renegade group of confederate refugees lead by Cole Younger(Bruce Cabot, a fine western character actor often appearing in John Wayne films)and was about to swear them into civilian life when Fowler smelled millions when his right hand man, Joad(Barton MacLane who has always played characters you'd like to punch in the face with a brick), saw Clanton ride those soldiers in. Several members of these refugees included the notorious James brothers and horse thief Doc Butcher(Walter Brennan, who is always a blast to watch)..plenty have nice, fat price tags for retrieval. When Clanton refuses to hand them over to Fowler, the carpetbagger enlists a large sum of men to swarm up trouble. One man tries to pull a gun and is killed by Clanton. Fowler finds out that Clanton had been released by the Army and therefore could be tried for "murder", though clearly Jeff was right in pulling his gun. Thanks to the disgruntled wife of Fowler(a quite dependable Claire Trevor), Clanton escapes, but is shot in the leg and could pass out any minute. Being found by Doc and Cole's younger brother Bob(Jack Beutel), Clanton is rescued from certain grim fate. In a little town called Kint, Clanton prepares revenge on Fowler..his obsession is the meat of the true drama of the story. This film might have been routine if it wasn't for a stellar cast who seem inspired. The film is wonderfully shot in Technicolor and Ryan's hero against Preston's villain is fun. The added storyline of John Archer's treacherous Curly Ringo, Trevor's Lily trying to keep her identity as Mrs. Fowler secret(only Clanton and Ringo know;Ringo's knowing provides some added suspense..how long would he conceal her identity from Cole and the gang?), & Clanton's growing bond with Lily provide much needed help to a rather unsatisfyingly weak(and actually a bit far-fetched)ending. Something happens between Cole and Clanton and this doesn't get a follow through one might desire. The audience get what they want though..a final showdown between Clanton and Fowler.I guess why I'm a bit disappointed is because I feel this could've been great for we had all the makings of a solid conclusion, but instead we're left with not knowing what truly came of Cole and his remaining gang.
MartinHafer
It's a shame this movie was as mediocre and forgettable as it was, as it COULD have been so much better. The basic idea for the plot as the film begins isn't bad and I generally love Robert Ryan because of his gritty performances. But, in both cases, the film starts well and just slows to a crawl. Too many clichés, plot problems and slow dialog curse this film to be no more than a time-passer. For example, the biggest weasel in the gang is obviously pre-ordained to betray his comrades--anyone can see this from a mile away. So, what is Robert Ryan's solution to this bad and unpredictable guy?! Yep, beat him up and send him away swearing his eternal vengeance!! Why didn't he just plug the guy? Yeah, I know, he couldn't do that because of the clichéd final showdown! I could go on and discuss the film further, but it was so bland it was like eating toast--not altogether unpleasant but something you would never look forward to!
