Directed by Harmon Jones
Produced by Leonard Goldstein
Written by George W. George and George F. Slavin
Director Of Photography: Charles G. Clarke, ASC
Musical Direction: Lionel Newman
Film Editor: George A. Gittens
CAST: Jeanne Crain (Linda Culligan), Dale Robertson (Brett Stanton), Richard Boone (Johnny Ringo), Lloyd Bridges (Gar Stanton), Carole Mathews (Cynthia Castle), Carl Betz (Phil Ryan), Whifield Connor (Jim London), Hugh Sanders (Bill Gifford), Rodolfo Acosta (Mendoza), Pascual Garcia Pena (Pig), Don Haggerty (Bob Thrailkill), Leo Gordon, John Doucette, Frank Ferguson, James Best.
__________
On March 17, 1897, in Carson City, Nevada, Bob Fitzsimmons knocked out “Gentleman” Jim Corbett in 14 rounds to become the World Heavyweight Champion.
This historic boxing match is the basis of City Of Bad Men (1953), as bandits are drawn like flies to the event’s box office. Among those ambitious outlaws are Brett Stanton (Dale Robertson) and his outfit, which includes his brother Gar (Lloyd Bridges), along with the gangs of Johnny Ringo (Richard Boone) and Bob Thrailkill (Don Haggerty). Complicating matters is that Brett is no stranger to Carson City, and he has some unfinished business with Linda Culligan (Jeanne Crain). It’s not long before Brett is torn between Linda and the money.
The story goes that Dale Robertson stayed away from acting classes in the early days of his career, and there’s a naturalism to his work that serves his Westerns well. While he’s known for Tales Of Well Fargo on TV, his feature work like City Of Bad Men is worth seeking out. If the part calls for it, he can drop his easygoing charm with ease. The more of his films I see, the more I like him.
Harmon Jones didn’t direct many features before heading to TV. His five Westerns — The Silver Whip (1953), City Of Bad Men, A Day Of Fury (1956), Canyon River (1956) and Bullwhip (1958) — are perfect examples of what a medium-budget studio Western could be. A Day Of Fury is a fantastic film, one of the best Westerns to come out of Universal in the 50s — and that’s saying something. If Jones had made more Westerns, I’m sure we’d be grouping him with directors like George Sherman, Gordon Douglas and Phil Karlson.
City Of Bad Men was produced by Leonard Goldstein, who produced many, many films for Universal (including the Ma And Pa Kettle series) and 20th Century-Fox. He clearly understood the importance of a strong cast and filled this one with pros like Frank Ferguson, John Doucette and Don Haggerty. He also gave a stage actor named Leo Gordon his first film work.
Leo Gordon: “They asked me could I ride a horse. ‘Yes. If I can’t ride it, I’ll carry it.’ So I came out to Hollywood. They put me on a horse, and I was on a horse for 35 years.”*
Much of the film was shot on the Fox lot, with the titles and opening scene making good use of Vasquez Rocks. This was a common location for Goldstein’s Westerns — his Cave Of Outlaws (1951) and Duel At Silver Creek (1952) also used them.
One of the utility stunt men on the film was Jack Young.
Jack Young: “I doubled Lloyd Bridges on that. I did the saddle fall when they shot him. I doubled Richard Boone for the fall into the boxing ring — and that hurt! It was a fake ring and they didn’t have any give in it. It was only about eight or nine feet, but it hurt! Knocked the coon-dog crap right outta me.”**
City Of Bad Men is yet another solid middle-budget 50s Western, with a good script, great cast and handsome production values. Director of Photography Charles G. Clarke, who spent the bulk of his career at 20th Century-Fox, makes sure everything look terrific.
All of this is nicely preserved and presented on the DVD-R from Fox Cinema Archives. There’s a blemish here and there, but the Technicolor is as eye-popping as you’d expect — and the audio is impressive. I preferred Jones and Robertson’s other films, The Silver Whip and A Day Of Fury, to this one, but have no qualms about recommending it highly.
* The Astounding B Monster by Marty Baumann; ** Interview with the author.
“knocked the coon-dog crap right outta me!”
Love It!
Not quiet up there with the legendary Bill Monroe’s much quoted comment
“that ain’t no part of nothin'” but a goodie anyway!
More on the way from Sony’s MOD series April 1st I do believe:
LIGHTNING GUNS
A later Charles Starrett picture also with Jock Mahoney
THUNDER AT THE BORDER
A “Bratwurst” Western (or Bratwurstern) with Rod Cameron taking
over from Lex Barker and Stewart Granger as “Old Shatterhand” Old
Surehand-Old Firehand in the popular German series of Euro Westerns.
This one sounds like it’s one for die hard Cameron fans only.
I think you liked this one more than I did Toby. It’s not a bad movie but I agree with you that Jones and Robertson did better work.
Last time I saw it i couldn’t quite get into it and it may be that my expectations were set too high. We get Boone, Robertson, an interesting and unique backdrop, and I suppose I was just hoping for something stronger.
What put me over the top on this one was Robertson — I’m becoming a big fan. His presence was really strong in this one, and his conflict between the heist and Jeanne Crain really worked for me. I also thought using the actual fight was a cool device. I did some reading on it and it was very interesting.
The downside was how little much of the cast had to do, particularly Lloyd Bridges. He could’ve been worked into the job/Crain struggle I just mentioned. And to relegate Frank Ferguson to a single shot was shameful.
But really, in the end, I’m just a sucker for a medium-budget 50s Western like this.
On Sat, Feb 15, 2014 at 10:03 AM, 50 Westerns From The 50s. wrote:
>
Yes, I think you were able to focus more on the positives – and I certainly don’t deny them – which is something I generally try to do myself.
I certainly didn’t dislike the film and will give it a go again to see if it works better with my expectations adjusted.
Lately, I’ve been trying to revisit films like these in some sort of context, and lately, I’ve been on a Dale Robertson kick, started up by how much I was knocked out by A Day Of Fury. I’ve really come to appreciate his work.
Next up: a Guy Madison binge — Reprisal!, The Hard Man and a few others. Like A Day Of Fury, Reprisal is one that is shamefully overlooked, an opinion I think I share with Blake.
On Sat, Feb 15, 2014 at 10:52 AM, 50 Westerns From The 50s. wrote:
>
I was interested by this review, Toby. I have seen this film though so long ago I cannot remember anything about it really. Having read your review though I would certainly like to – Dale Robertson is one I definitely follow. I would agree with the assessment that “A Day Of Fury” and “The Silver Whip” are superior westerns. I quite like Robertson in “Devil’s Canyon” too (1953), directed by Alfred Werker and co-starring Virginia Mayo and Stephen McNally (good Ole Horace).
I get so much enjoyment out of these medium-budget westerns, some better than others obviously, but Universal-International produced some minor gems, also Allied Artists.
I shall certainly look forward to a Guy Madison binge, Toby. He was very good in “The Command” though my 3 favourites are “Charge At Feather River”, “The Hard Man” and “Reprisal”. The last two in particular are adult and gritty.
Do you know, I have been wanting to raise the subject of Fred MacMurray for quite a while, an actor I like very much (I absolutely love each of the westerns he made in the 50s, except “The Oregon Trail”) BUT I should have looked deeper – it’s all been done already (August 2012) and so much better than I could have put it. Toby, John K, Blake – I find so much to discover via you guys.
I guess I like it better than either you or Colin–maybe seeing in a theatre in 1953 at a time when I still enjoyed these kinds of movies as a kid but was also starting to have some real appreciation of them helped.
Not to say it’s better than “A Day of Fury” or “The Silver Whip” but just that it works well for me (and have seen again in recent years). It’s partly the excellent idea of the Corbett/Fitzsimmons fight as background and also the well-done atmosphere. I only partly agree that some of the supporting actors are not as well-used as they could be. Richard Boone is always a strong and credible bad buy but here has none of the shading of roles from these years in “Way of a Gaucho” or “The Raid” (to name two, the second not a villain)) and which he would bring to his character in “The Tall T” to such telling effect, but I thought Lloyd Bridges registered well as the brother who winds up against Robertson and always liked the swaying punching bag, leaking grain from bullet holes, as he tries to focus to get off another shot in his final scene.
How much talent did Harmon Jones have?–hard to say from this small group of movies. My impression of him is good and I still haven’t caught up with “Canyon River” or “Bullwhip” among the Westerns. We have a lot more to go on with Sherman, Douglas and Karlson and I’m comfortable estimating their (considerable) gifts and having some definite feelings about their styles and sensibilities.
Look forward to reading you on “The Hard Man” and “Reprisal!”–I like both and yes, Toby, I do especially agree with you about “Reprisal!” but I know there are folks like us who do care about it. I think it’s a fair statement that George Sherman got the best from Guy Madison, much as Harmon Jones had plainly appreciated Dale Robertson.
I may be wrong but I think that i first turned Toby on to REPRISAL!
ages ago and Toby having tracked the film down,remarked how many
“undiscovered” gems there were still out there as far as Fifties Westerns
go.We have all covered THE HARD MAN (also excellent) and REPRISAL!
many times before and it’s high time the Sony MOD series gave us lovely
remastered widescreen versions of these two great Westerns.
The “off air” copies that I have of these two films are in very good shape
which means that good elements do exist of these films.
Regarding Harmon Jones other Westerns I am not to impressed with
CANYON RIVER (sorry Laura) and BULLWHIP.
I do however like at least a couple of his other films especially TARGET
ZERO and WOLF LARSEN both excellent.
Some of the many Rawhide episodes that he directed are also very good
as well.
One of the Republic Red Ryder movies, “Vigilantes of Boomtown” (1947) also uses the Corbett/Fitzsimmons fight as a background to a western drama.
That sounds cool. It’s a Lane, not an Elliott Ryder picture, and I haven’t seen it. Might have to track it down.
http://www.vcientertainment.com/index.php?route=product/product&filter_name=red+ryder&product_id=329&path=59
I recently posted on the Warner Archive Facebook page to sort out my
“Peggie Castle Fix”
I ran a few titles by them;pictures Peggie was in that they might have
the rights to.
Anyway the good news is that they are remastering TARGET ZERO at
the moment. This is one of Harmon Jones’s best pictures.
As this a sort of Jones thread I thought that I would include it here.
Anyway TARGET ZERO is an excellent war picture with a great cast:
Richard Conte,Peggie,Charles Bronson,Richard Wyler (Stapley),
L.Q.Jones and Chuck Conners.
War flicks are not really my thing,Fuller and Siegel of course excepted.
TARGET ZERO is as much about relationships as it is about battle
action and offers a few new twists to the usual war film agenda.
Good script from James Warner Bellah (Liberty Valance and the
underrated A Thunder Of Drums) and Sam Rolfe (The Naked Spur)
Abel Fernandez is excellent as a Native American soldier who when the
platoon are surrounded by the enemy states “now I know how Custer felt”
Richard Wyler is a Brit with a chip on his shoulder and an anti-American
attitude. There is plenty going on in this taut little movie.
Wyler was an interesting actor who started his career in Hollywood and
moved back to the UK and got involved with the motorcycle racing circuit.
According to imdb he opened one of the first coffee bars in the UK.
I thought that he was a pretty decent actor and wish that he had made
more movies in Hollywood.
Anyway the forthcoming Warner Archive release is very good news for
me as it certainly is one of Harmon Jones very best films.
I am also happy to say that Warner Archive are also remastering
THE COUNTERFEIT PLAN which I mentioned on an earlier thread.
This one has Peggie and Zachary Scott heading up a good British cast.
As British B Movie crime films go this one is as good as it gets.
Really,really “stoked” that The Archive own the rights to this one.
As an add-on to the above I also asked The Archive about the classic
TV Series LAWMAN which also featured Peggie Castle.
The Archive have responded by saying that this show is plagued with
“clearance issues”
This is a shame because I was really looking forward to that show on
DVD;but these things happen.
A couple of other films that I really want that are caught up in this
“clearance issues” crossfire are Randy Scott’s SUGARFOOT and
Joseph Pevney’s PORTRAIT OF A MOBSTER.
Still, I for one am really thankful for all these great films that The Archive are
making available to us.
Harmon Jones:The Bottom Line
Harmon Jones never made that many films as a director and worked a lot in
TV as well. As far as “second string” directors go I kinda like him although
his work does vary in quality. Having said that there are at least six of
his films that I really like;and that includes the campy but irresistible
PRINCESS OF NILE.
There are lots of these second string directors with far greater output
than Jones that I would be hard pressed to find six of their films
to be of any interest..
Anyway hats off to Toby for bringing three of his best Westerns to
everyone’s attention.
Very excited about John K’s news that “The Counterfeit Plan” is to be released by Warner Archive. I have never seen it (as far as my memory goes back) but John’s high recommendation and description of the film makes it a must-see for me.
Sorry though that there are likely to be delays (at least) with “Lawman” TV series, and perhaps others, as these should be out there. “Lawman” can be had in decent print quality if you look hard enough though – I have the complete series and it is a particular favourite.
Hi Jerry,
THE COUNTERFEIT PLAN was one of those Anglo-Amalgamated Merton
Park B Thrillers that was actually released by Warners in the USA.So
glad that they still own the rights to it.
It’s no classic of course, but as British B Movies go it’s hard to beat,fast
moving stuff-excellent supporting cast too.
I DO wish that Network in the UK would release some of these Anglo-
Amalgamated B thrillers that they could obtain
The “holy grail” of these things is MAN IN THE SHADOW (aka Violent
Stranger) with Zachary Scott and Faith Domergue. I don’t know anyone
who has a copy and sadly this one was not picked up by Warners in America.
Reputedly;it’s even better than THE COUNTERFEIT PLAN.
You could e-mail Network and request its release I have already done so
and they seem to like to receive customer feedback.
Faith Domergue did three British Bs-all excellent.
TIMESLIP (aka The Atomic Man) is a nifty spy thriller with a sci-fi subtext.
The film was released in a shortened version by Allied Artists in America
SPIN A DARK WEB with Faith and Martin Benson cast as Sicilian siblings
is out as a Sony MOD and is highly recommended,beautifully remastered
in widescreen.
Toby did you notice that Colin has tracked down an Italian DVD in widescreen
of CURSE OF THE UNDEAD-just thought I would let you know as I know
it’s on your wants list;that is of course if you have not already tracked it
down!
I love Jeanne Crain but haven’t seen this one yet. I actually think I’ve been kind of put off by the boxing angle so keep delaying, but I really need to see it.
I’ve got a rental of Robertson’s GAMBLER FROM NATCHEZ here. He hasn’t made much of an impression on me to date, though he was perfectly good in THE SILVER WHIP — I guess I just like Rory Calhoun more! I’ll be interested to see if he grows on me more as I see more of his films. I’m also more interested in catching the Guy Madison films mentioned above as he was really quite good as the sergeant in Anthony Mann’s THE LAST FRONTIER which I just saw last night. That was quite an interesting film and I’d love to know what Toby, Colin, John, Blake, Jerry, et al., have to say about it!
That’s a great Leo Gordon quote, Toby. The more I see of him the more I appreciate how talented he was. Loved him this week in a sympathetic role in THE TALL STRANGER.
I certainly agree about Harmon Jones’ THE SILVER WHIP and CANYON RIVER, both of which brought me great pleasure — after seeing borrowed/rented prints I bought my own copy of CANYON RIVER and I plan to get THE SILVER WHIP, as I know I’ll want to enjoy them again in the future. (I’ll forgive you for not being a CANYON RIVER fan, John! LOL.)
John, thanks for the great news on THE COUNTERFEIT PLAN. Zachary Scott, Peggie Castle, and a British cast sounds like just my cup of tea! Also interested in TARGET ZERO as Richard Conte is always good. MAN IN THE SHADOW with Scott and Domergue certainly sounds appealing, wish it were available too.
Was disappointed to hear of the legal issues holding back a release of LAWMAN, fortunately I recorded the show on VHS from Encore Westerns so I guess I’ll have to plan to work my way through those tapes instead of waiting in hopes of a DVD set! I’ve loved what I’ve seen of this show. John Russell and Peggie Castle do a nice job conveying their characters’ relationship between the lines of the script.
Best wishes,
Laura
Hi John,
I have sent an e-mail to Network, as you suggested, in the hope that they might come up with “Man In The Shadow”. I don’t think I have ever seen it but I would need to check right back in my lists (YES, another list-maker…..). Fingers crossed.
Jerry
Hi Jerry,
Thanks for the e-mail to Network,they normally do reply.
As they have access to the Anglo-Amalgamated vaults they should be able
to release MAN IN THE SHADOW. Other titles I would like them to release
of the same ilk are: DANGEROUS VOYAGE (Terror Ship) DIAL 999
(The Way Out) and TIMESLIP (The Atomic Man)
BTW Jack Arnold’s MAN IN THE SHADOW was called Pay The Devil in
the UK………..?confused?
Hi Laura,
I have included my feedback on THE LAST FRONTIER over on your blog
I do hope that it’s gone through.
Regarding CANYON RIVER I just think that I was expecting more from
a George Montgomery Western directed by Harmon Jones.
I DO hope that you get too see HIGHWAY 301 and I too really like
Virginia Grey and she is outstanding in the film. Wally Cassell is excellent
too and Cochran is at his most thuggish and brutal. This is one hard hitting
crackerjack Noir.
I’m on a real Gail Patrick fix at the moment re my comments on the Elliott
feature a few threads back. I just phone my supplier and say “got any
Gail Patrick?” he normally come up with the goods.
MAN IN THE SHADOW (Violent Stranger) is one of the few things that
he cannot locate!
I watched DISBARRED directed by Robert Florey and it’s excellent.
Gail plays a smart lawyer who gets duped into working for the mob.
The males in the film are constantly telling her that the legal profession
is no place for a woman. In the city she is based in there are all-male juries
too! A real time warp regarding attitudes but a great little film.
Also watched Gail in DANGEROUS TO KNOW;again Robert Florey and
again excellent. I also note that Warner Archive are releasing RENO with
Gail and Richard Dix. A very interesting actress who I am ashamed to admit
has only just appeared on my radar.
That’s the joy of collecting films always overlooked talents to discover.
Would love to know your impression of Gail Patrick; Laura.
Just back to Harmon Jones briefly;I have just posted on the Warner Archive
Facebook page to see if they own the rights to the 1958 Allied-Artists
picture WOLF LARSEN.
The trouble with lots of the Allied Artist stuff is that years ago many titles
were sold to Paramount/Republic
WOLF LARSEN is a great little picture that I have mentioned here before.
It stars Barry Sullivan and Peter Graves. I was kinda pleased to hear that
Richard W;over at Colin’s admires Sullivan as much as I do.
The thing was filmed on an actual boat,no mock-ups or rear projection
and is strikingly shot by the great Floyd Crosby.
A remastered version of that little epic in widescreen would really make my
day…..here’s hoping!
Hi John
I am not familiar with “Wolf Larsen” at all but I am also a big fan of Barry Sullivan (I put him in a similar bracket with Robert Ryan – excellent always, whether hero or villain).
Sullivan made four TV series in the 50s / 60s, one being “The Tall Man” which must have been quite successful as they made 75 episodes. I am getting to know it and like it increasingly, purely because of Sullivan really whose quiet authority is just right for it.
Of course he also made some cracking noirs.
Until now the only “Man In The Shadow” I was familiar with was the Orson Welles/Jeff Chandler film. Leonard Maltin says the American title to the “Man In Shadow” British movie is “Violent Stranger”, sadly I don’t have it under either title. (Do have the Orson Welles film though.)
I’m not that familiar with Guy Madison either, I have many of his movies but need to check them out. Rory Calhoun is one who I have become familiar with recently, as I’ve been watching his “The Texan” TV series (excellent, by the way). He’s a little like Palladin but not as brooding and less likely to wax poetic. He travels each week to a different place and thus to people’s problems. Sort of like a Western Fugitive or Route 66, I never understood why these type of wanderer shows and their main character’s just don’t mind their own business. They really do seem to always stick their noses in where they don’t belong. Nevertheless, these type shows are usually always interesting. Guess if they weren’t buttinski’s there wouldn’t be a TV show.
I have always picked up on background music and the theme of “The Texan” is one I remember, as a kid I used to imitate it when I played G.I. Joes. I would hear it used in the background of “The Untouchables” and even Hanna Barberra toons like Jinxy & Pixie & Yogi Bear. Dahn dahn dahn dahn, dahn-dahn, repeated over and over, it’s really effective for action scenes.
Another great TV western that is long overdue for a commercial release is “Gunslinger” st. Tony Young. I only have about 6 or 7 episodes of this, but they had really interesting stories and Young was a good tough guy. I wish I had more.
Found out Tony Young was the son of Carleton Young who I remember listening to in his British radio series “Sherlock Holmes”. These radio shows were very true to the original book. Sort of like a radio precursor to Jeremy Brett’s TV Sherlock.
That’s interesting that Tony Young was the son of Carleton Young, who was in the John Ford stock company and conspicuous in late Ford. Thanks for that info, Johnny G.
A brief attempt was made to make Tony Young a star in Western features, under producer Gordon Kay, who handled Audie Murphy’s 60s movies (there are seven of these) at U-I/Universal. The two with Young are HE RIDES TALL and TAGGART (both 1964) and they are pretty decent Westerna at this level with Young just fine as the hero. He didn’t make it though; t think it was just too late for someone new at this programmer level. Helping these two was director R.G. Springsteen, who alternated with two good Audie Murphys, and also, in both the Tony Young ones, Dan Duryea was the villain, which helped a lot, needless to say.
Enjoyed all of the above. May I though make so bold as to issue a correction…. Carleton Young who was the father of Tony Young was Carleton G. Young who did radio, TV and movies but the Carleton Young who was in the Ford stock company was a different man. Incidentally, he was the bad guy in Bill Elliott’s “Bitter Creek” (things tend to circle, don’t they?).
And, I think it may be Carleton Hobbs who played Holmes on radio. He played Holmes 80 times on BBC radio 1952-69. Maybe Young did too (on US radio).
Hope I am not being pedantic here!
Thanks for clarifying that, Jerry. I just saw the name Carleton Young and assumed there was only one.
Wow! It’s just so cool that this great thread is still live.
Jerry,great to know there is another Barry Sullivan fan out there,and I
agree he made some “cracking Noirs” as well. LOOPHOLE recently
released by Warner Archive is one of his best and is presented in a lovely
re-mastered widescreen version.
I too like the two Universal Westerns starring Tony Young who should have
had a better career;he does however seem to have lots of admirers out
there. Do wish the Universal Vault series would give us a widescreen
version of the stark and brutal HE RIDES TALL.
TAGGART was released a couple of years back by Universal France in
a very decent widescreen transfer and no “forced” subs either.
Film has a great later role for Dick Foran as well.
Sadly Warner Archive have just informed me that they do not hold the
rights to WOLF LARSEN so a DVD release seems highly improbable.
This is a shame because Sullivan is great in the film and it’s one of Harmon
Jones’s very best.
On a more positive note,some of the Allied-Artists Westerns that we can
look forward to from The Archive are:COW COUNTRY,SON OF BELLE
STARR,ARROW IN THE DUST,OREGON PASSAGE and GUNSMOKE IN
TUCSON. Some of these may be a long time coming but at least they
will appear some day. Has anyone seen SON OF BELLE STARR,a great
little programmer and just about the only film where the mysterious
Dona Drake had the female lead. Film also features Peggie Castle and
both gals are terrific in this little gem.
A couple of Allied Artists sadly not owned by the Archive are JACK
SLADE and DRAGOON WELLS MASSACRE both directed by underrated
Harold Schuster.DRAGOON WELLS MASSACRE has yet another great
Barry Sullivan performance and I understand lots of us would like to
see this film released on DVD.
Yes, this strand keeps going, glad to say. I am sure Toby must be enjoying the fact.
“Loophole” is a 1954 Allied Artists film with three great stars that I have never heard of!! Shocked. This is one I MUST get.
No, John, I have never seen “Son Of Belle Starr” or “Cow Country” and would like to. DRAGOON WELLS MASSACRE, ARROW IN THE DUST & GUNSMOKE IN TUCSON are all in my collection but via TV so I am guessing they may be the wrong aspect ratio. Will have to check.
Yipe, you are right, Jerry. I got my Carleton’s mixed up. I listened to all the episodes of Sherlock Holmes w/Carleton Hobbs back in the ’70’s. (I was a big old time radio fan.) Should have looked it up to be certain before I relied on my Carleton memory bank. It was a very entertaining radio show that was truly based on the actual Doyle stories.
You cannot go wrong with LOOPHOLE Jerry a knockout little Noir.
It was great to see tough guys Don Haggerty and Richard Reeves in
sympathetic roles;especially Reeves who normally plays brutal thugs.
The film is interesting because it attempts to show the cops of America
becoming more humane.The only throwback to the bad old days is the
wonderful Charles McGraw who longs for the days of the rubber hose
treatment! This film has the three leads at the top of their game so
what’s not to like.(Sullivan McGraw,Dorothy Malone)
I am very impressed with director Harold Schuster who made some
great little Noirs/Thrillers like PORT OF HELL,FINGER MAN and PORTLAND
EXPOSE. An unheralded talent who could do a lot with very little.
Sadly PORT OF HELL and FINGER MAN are two of the Allied Artists films
not owned by Warners. If you are going to make a film about an atomic
bomb in L.A.Harbor;on a shoestring this is how it should be done.
(PORT OF HELL)
Great performances by Dane Clark and Wayne Morris. The latter is
great fun as a tough Polish/American tugboat skipper.
I see I can get “Loophole” from Amazon Uk though price is steep. Thinking cap needed.
I recently picked up a decent copy of “Finger Man” at one of the Birmingham film conventions. Enjoyed it a lot.
Before we let Barry Sullivan go, since I mentioned Gordon Kay produced 60s Westerns already, SEVEN WAYS FROM SUNDOWN (1960), the second of these starring Audie Murphy, has Sullivan in one of his best roles ever, as a charming villain so likable that when he and Texas Ranger Murphy, with whom he has become fast friends, finally have to square off after all, it feels almost tragic. Sullivan was just wonderful in this lovely movie, which Harry Keller directed most of and is justly credited for, though George Sherman did the exteriors before falling out with Murphy.
Seven Ways From Sundown is one of my favorite Murphy’s, and one of the reasons I’ve cursed the 1950-59 confines of my book (1949’s Hellfire sits at the other end of the decade).
My admiration for Sullivan comes largely from Forty Guns (1957) — and continues on to Mario Bava’s Planet Of The Vampires (1965) and Peckinpah’s Pat Garrett And Bill The Kid. I’m dying to see The Maverick Queen (1956).
Though Murphy is really good in it, Seven Ways is Sullivan’s movie all the way.
On Fri, Feb 28, 2014 at 2:45 AM, 50 Westerns From The 50s. wrote:
>
I agree, Toby, that “Seven Ways…” is one of Audie’s best westerns, largely due to Barry Sullivan, but also very much to do with John McIntire. With those two in it, it had a lot going for it.
Does anyone remember Sullivan’s early entry “Woman Of The Town” (1944) from Harry Sherman? Haven’t seen that one in 50 years or more….
Count me well in to the SEVEN WAYS FROM SUNDOWN fan club.
WOMAN OF THE TOWN has a great early Sullivan performance
where he totally overshadows leading man Albert Dekker.
What was Harry Sherman thinking casting Dekker as Bat Masterson.
Film should have starred Joel McCrea or Randolph Scott as Masterson
then it would have been a classic. Both actors did go on to portray
Masterson in later films.
If you can get over the casting of Dekker it’s a very good mature
Western,years ahead of it’s time as far as portraying the darker
side of a Western legend.
Sullivan is outstanding in THE OUTRIDERS as well
Or Richard Dix as Masterson? He had been just great the year before for Sherman as John Bonniwell in “The Kansan” and could have made “Woman…” a classic also.
Jerry,I am becoming more interested in Richard Dix the more I see of
his work. I agree he would have been great as Masterson,certainly better
than Dekker. I thought Dix’s take on Wyatt Earp was interesting too.
Those Dix Westerns from the early Forties need a re-look.
I wonder if McCrea (who worked several times for Sherman) might have
turned the role down because the film gave us a more darkly textured Bat
Masterson.Perhaps that’s how we ended up with Dekker. I thought Dekker
was a fine actor but lacked the stature to play a legend like Masterson.
Interestingly enough Aeneas Mackenzie who wrote WOMAN OF THE TOWN
also had a hand in scripting BUFFALO BILL also produced by Sherman
and starring McCrea.
When William Wellman saw the first draft of the script he thought it was
the greatest script that up to that time he had ever seen.
In it’s initial form the script portrayed Cody as an S.O.B. and a total
charlatan.Wellman had regrets in producing a more “heroic” version of
Cody in his film;having decided that the time the film was made was not the
right time to deconstruct an American legend.
Fuirthermore it’s doubtful that McCrea would have had anything to do
with the original version of the script.
At any rate Wellman,Sherman and McCrea ended up making a damn fine movie.
I now have copies of all but one of those early 40s Dix westerns, John K, and like them very much. Dix was a fine actor and was adept at playing shaded characters. His final film series of “The Whistler” is a case in point.
I love those Whistler films. Wish Columbia would get around to a set of those. They’d make a swell volume in their Noir series.
On Mon, Mar 3, 2014 at 10:42 AM, 50 Westerns From The 50s. wrote:
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Fortunately, some years ago the BBC over here (that means no adverts) showed all “The Whistler” films in correct sequence and I recorded them. You’re right, Toby, they would make a great set for release by Columbia. Likely though???