I'm not super familiar with the mid-period Randolph Scott cycle - the ones after his first Westerns, where he normally co starred with bigger names, and before the Renown cycle. This was a solid hit for RKO, who had a decent record making Westerns. The copy I saw had a gloomy feel to it but it may have been the print.
Scott is a marshall chasing outlaws into a lawless territory. The feisty local newspaper editor is a woman - Australia's own Ann Richards, who was under contract to RKO. I think this is the only movie she made for that studio. There is definite novelty seeing her introduced on a horse with a gun, She's not entirely comfortable but is at home in a newspaper office. I like how she had a character to play - brave, crusading editor; jealous of Belle Starr.
The gimick of the story involves Scott trgint to find his brother who has been taken by real life outlaws - the Jameses, the Daltons, Belle Starr. There's also some Indians.
Plenty of plot and action and spectacle. Shiny support cast including Lawrence Tierney, very good as Jesse James, and Tom Tryon as frank.
Gloomily shot but I enjoyed it more as it went on.
No comments:
Post a Comment