Synopsis:
After freeing a white woman (Nancy Gates) from capture by Comanches, a man (Randolph Scott) runs into a bounty hunter (Claude Akins) and his two assistants (Skip Homeier and Richard Rust), who inform Gates that her husband has offered $5,000 for her return. Will Akins and his team try to grab the bounty for themselves — and if so, at what cost?

Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:

• Budd Boetticher Films
• Native Americans
• Randolph Scott Films
• Westerns

Response to Peary’s Review:
Peary writes that this “last of Budd Boetticher’s seven ‘B’ westerns starring Randolph Scott” is “typical of Boetticher westerns” in that “the villain (Akins) is the flip side of the hero (Scott) — a man with a similar background (they were in the army together) and opportunities who chose an amoral way of life; Scott’s Cody has a code of honor.”

He adds that while “they are two interesting characters who are destined to fight with one another,” “neither will change” and “their function is simply to serve as role models for young Rust, who would like to lead a decent life if given the inspiration.”

Peary writes that “throughout [the film] we wonder when Scott will make the same advances to Gates that his character does with Maureen O’Sullivan in the similar plotted The Tall T,” and “only near the end do we learn why neither… attempt a relationship.” Scott is impressive from the wordless opening scenes:

… and the ending (which instantly helps explain so much about Gates’s character) will likely bring a lump to your throat:

This “solid, entertaining western” — which is “best seen on a wide screen” — remains worth a look by all film fanatics.

Redeeming Qualities and Moments:

• Fine performances across the cast
  
  
  
• Lovely Technicolor cinematography
  
  
• Burt Kennedy’s script
• Mischa Bakaleinikoff’s score

Must See?
Yes, as yet another good show by Boetticher, Scott, and Kennedy.

Categories

• Good Show

Links:

• IMDb entry
• Spinning Image Review
• DVD Savant Review (scroll down)
• TCM Article
• Time Out Capsule Review