An unexpected surprise – the quality of Alan Ladd’s films dropped off during the 50s but this one, made over at MGM, was produced with a bit more care and effort, seemingly with the desire to actually make a good film. It’s in colour and cinemascope, has a strong story – The Asphalt Jungle, transformed into a Western setting… but not a traditional Western (Arizona 1898).There is also a good ticking clock (Ladd has to make the robbery before sundown), strong characters, impressive production value. It helps the director was Delmer Daves and Ladd doesn’t have to carry for the whole film himself – equal hero is Ernest Borgnine, as a former prison mate of Ladd’s who gets involved in the robbery.
The story does gets bogged around the half way mark, a few too many mawkish scenes between Borgnine and Kate Juarando and the robbery is a bit dull (lots of digging and collapsing rocks). Another debit is, it must be said, Ladd himself. By this stage he was deteriorating physically quite markedly, with a puffy face and pale hair. Sometimes an actor’s descent into alcoholism and seediness to work in the right role eg Errol Flynn in one of his drunk parts. But Ladd hasn’t disintegrated in an interesting way – when he flirts with the baddy’s mistress, you don’t believe she’s genuinely attracted to him for a second.
Still, its one of the best films from the later period of his career. There are an imposing array of villains (some corrupt lawmen) and a pleasing liberal tone to the story, with a very sympathetic depiction of Mexicans (who come to the rescue at the end). Extra fun is from seeing Borgnine do love scene with Kate Juarando, who became one of his wives.
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