Directed by William Witney
Screen Play by John K. Butler & Richard Wormster
Based upon an Esquire magazine story by Todhunter Ballard
Music: R. Dale Butts
Cast: John Derek (Jeff Cosgrave), Joan Evans (Judy Polsen), Jim Davis (Major Linton Cosgrave), Catherine McLeod (Alice Austin), Ben Cooper (The Kid), Slim Pickens (Boone Polsen), Bob Steele (Dude Rankin), Harry Carey, Jr. (Bert), Frank Ferguson (Chad Polsen), James Millican (Cal Prince)
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I am delighted to be able to take part in a The Republic Pictures Blogathon and would like to thank our host, Toby, for making it possible.
Having been formed from a merger of several small film companies in 1935, Republic Pictures hit the ground running, immediately scoring huge success with their Gene Autry Western series. They followed this success with The Three Mesquiteers the next year and into the 40s with popular series heroes Don Barry, Wild Bill Elliott, Rocky Lane and, especially, Roy Rogers.
Right from the start, Republic was making a cross-section of film types even though their specialty was the Western. I often feel that Republic was at its very best with their B-Western series – their ‘comfort zone’, if you like. Some of their later, bigger-budgeted Westerns seem a little ’overblown’ by comparison with the smaller, tighter-budgeted action fests. Jubilee Trail comes to mind. This was certainly not always the case, however, and one film that I certainly feel has the spirit and the energy of their smaller fry is 1954’s The Outcast.
The fact that the film was directed by action-ace Wild Bill Witney would have had a lot to do with it certainly. The action is captured beautifully in Republic’s Trucolor hues by expert cinematographer Reggie Lanning. The screenplay was co-written by John K. Butler and Richard Wormser from an Esquire Magazine story by Todhunter Ballard. The story concerns the return to Colorado of Jet Cosgrave (John Derek) after years away with the strong intent of reclaiming his rightful heritage, the vast Circle C Ranch, from his uncle Major Cosgrave (Jim Davis) who had forged Jet’s father’s will to gain control.
Into this main thread we find the arrival of the Major’s new intended (played by Catherine McLeod) whose affections gradually turn away from the Major when she sees how vicious and crooked he really is, towards Jet. There is another woman on the scene though who has set her sights firmly on Jet! Essentially this is a ‘range war’ western (I like those) and whilst you can always say ‘this plot is familiar’ where westerns are concerned, it is really all about how that plot plays out and how well it is dealt with.
For me, this is a Western I am always happy to re-watch every few years as it just ‘ticks all the boxes’ for me. The storyline and the attendant action are not contrived but natural and the action which is plentiful is expertly-handled by Witney. The supporting cast reads like a “Who’s Who” of the western – Bob Steele, Harry Carey jr, James Millican, Ben Cooper, Frank Ferguson, Hank Worden… I am again struck by how good John Derek is in the leading role. He made a number of good Westerns for different studios and it struck me that he would have been a terrific Western lead for one studio, along the lines of Audie Murphy (and just as good). Good actor and he handles the gunplay and horseback stuff like a real seasoned westerner.
The Outcast is sadly one of those many fine Republic films that are not available on DVD in the US market. The only option is an Italian release that is on sale on Amazon UK for around $200! Thankfully, the BBC transmitted the movie some years ago in the UK and I recorded it. The print is fine and the Trucolor comes across OK. This is one of those films we need to see released by someone who cares.
If a solid, well-made western made by folks who knew how to do it is your thing then this one is worth seeking out (if you can).
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Jerry Entract does not run his own blog or have any involvement in the film industry, but is an English lifelong movie fan and amateur student of classic cinema (American and British). Main passions are the western and detective/mystery/film noir. Enjoys seeking out lesser-known (even downright obscure) old movies.
I haven’t seen this one but that’s a great cast.
Thanks for being the first to comment, Vienna. It is a great cast and a fine little movie. If ONLY it were readily available.
Not seen this one either, Jerry, but the combination of Witney and that cast of performers who all had plenty of experience in the western sounds mightily effective. Actually, I think I’ve only seen Derek in a handful of movies overall and I always thought he was fine as an actor.
Thanks for your comments – as always – Colin. Funnily enough, I watched John Derek in another western a few nights ago….. “RUN FOR COVER”, one of Nicholas Ray’s fine movies. Derek was good again but I thought Cagney was terrific in it!
Yeah, that’s an excellent movie with good work from pretty much everybody.
And some stunning location shooting.
Jerry Entract ,good review .I have the Italian DVD and who ever is selling this for $200 has got to be kidding or just plain greedy .Amazon It sell this for around 6 euro .
Jerry ,I wish to make a correction .About May of this year I told you. that Wells Fargo was on a 10 DVD set called LEGENDS OF THE WEST .It was UNION PACIFIC that I mean’t .For some reason I get these 2 mixed up. Maybe it’s because they’re both McCrea movies .While on the subject of WELLS FARGO ,my copy of this movie arrived today from Germany. It’s a pretty good transfer.
Thanks for the nice comments, gcwe1, and for the extra info. I think it was on Amazon.com that I saw it selling at around $200.
It is those professional and familiar faces that make up the supporting casts of my favourite westerns that make them my favourites. If Bob Steele or James Millican (or those others mentioned) show up then I am definitely in my happy place. “The Outcast” sounds like one of “my” movies and I don’t know why we haven’t gotten together sooner.
Many thanks for reading and commenting, Patricia! Similar tastes in movies going on here……
Ah, this looks like a good one. Such a pity we don’t get to see so many of these wonderful films on DVD. Thoroughly enjoyed your write-up.
Many thanks for your kind comments. I wanted to comment on your excellent write-up of “ANGEL AND THE BADMAN” but couldn’t find a place to do it. This gives me the perfect opportunity!
Great choice Jerry!
I second your and Colin’s approval of Derek as a Western actor.
As we know, he found other “diversions” in his life.
One later Derek film I’d love to see again is NIGHTMARE IN THE SUN
(1965) a sort of modern day Western with Biker flick elements.
Directed by veteran heavy Marc Lawrence the film also features
Richard Jaeckel and Robert Duvall as bikers,as well as a top notch
supporting cast. Wonder who owns the rights to this one?
Thanks, John! Always good (nay, essential) to have your comments.
That Italian DVD is going for $20-$35 on amazon.com today. and the Republic Home Video VHS for $53.99.
I discovered THE OUTCAST in the early 90’s when a local TV station was showing a Republic package that showed black and white prints of the Trucolors. I later noticed and bought the color VHS edition at Movies Unlimited along with a color RIDE THE MAN DOWN.
THE OUTCAST is my favorite John Derek western. There’s that great line after the murder of the man at the line shack. When Derek says the man was pretty tough to go up against all Steele’s men, and Steele says, “He ain’t tough anymore”.
I enjoy the riding and shooting stunts performed by actor/stuntman Buzz Henry, as Zeke Polsen. Henry had a long western stunt career beginning as a child and appeared in many movies and TV series. As an adult he was the stunt coordinator and stunt double for Mike Conners on MANNIX.
Thanks for coming on to comment, Bob G.! One of the other little touches in the film I like is where John Derek’s relationship with Bob Steele is about done (he finds out Steele cannot be trusted), Derek takes his horse’s reins and pulls its head around to get ready to mount. It is obviously not meant to happen but the horse’s head only just misses whacking Steele and Witney decided to leave it in the cut as it looked just right (even if not intentional). Nice little piece of ‘business’.
As we are talking all things Republic;it would
seem some outfit in Germany (yet again!) called White Pearl
Classics are about to release THE MAVERICK QUEEN on DVD but
in 2.35 Widescreen according to Amazon de and we all know how
unreliable that can be!
According to Amazon de it’s also got an English soundtrack.
Isn’t anyone else as pissed off as I am about these lovely Republic
Classic Westerns appearing anywhere else but the Home Nation!
Furthermore was not THE MAVERICK QUEEN Republic’s first film in
widescreen Naturama?…..Toby? anyone?…..
You’re right, John – it was Republic’s first Naturama release. If only we could really hope for a proper, pristine ‘scope release with an English soundtrack! Too much,to hope for???
Solid western and nice opening entry! Thank you Jerry. I haven’t seen this western in almost 20 years. If my memory serves me right, I recall there being an excellent action scene involving Slim Pickens shooting a rifle on horseback at a gallop, or something along those lines, which stylistically reminded me of some action scenes in Seven Men From Now and Comanche Station when they were fighting the Indians on horseback. I remember thinking at the time, Budd Boetticher must have seen The Outcast.
Jim B
Many thanks for your nice comments, Jim B.
Yes, I think I inadvertantly missed Slim Pickens’ name from the great cast list. Thanks for the reminder – and the terrific rifle-related image.
As I wrote you, Jerry, I haven’t seen this yet, though have long been aware of it. I know it’s very highly regarded. Sure sounds like my kind of movie. Thanks for writing it up with such affection.
Generally, I think the Republic aesthetic traveled well from serials, series films and their most low-budget B movies to relatively more up scale movies. I don’t think art and commerce need ever be separate things and Republic is a pretty instructive lesson about all this. The same year as THE OUTCAST (1954) they came out with JOHNNY GUITAR, to me the acid test of how one watches and relates to movies but I guess I better not get started on this now.
A few comments about the people involved here–and yeah, I too, would probably want to watch it for the cast alone! Director William Witney is cherished as an action specialist and one of the key guys at the studio in all they did. One of his champions these days is Quentin Tarantino. Anyone here think Tarantino is as good as Witney? I don’t believe it’s even close. It only is if pretension makes a director better.
I too like John Derek in Westerns (and most movies he is in) even though I haven’t seen this one. But I’m thinking of the beautiful RUN FOR COVER (now I’ve mentioned two Nick Ray films in my brief reply) and the similarly neglected, very moving THE LAST POSSE, directed by Alfred Werker, in which Derek also has a key role.
Many thanks for the nice words, Blake.
(I’m not particularly a Tarantino fan but then I’m not a huge fan of many newer movies these days).
As I said above to Colin, I watched “RUN FOR COVER” only a few nights ago. A beautiful film to watch. Great location shooting.
I had wanted to see “THE LAST POSSE” for decades, finally got to see it about 3 years ago and just loved it. My sort of western.
What a fantastic cast, including faves like James Millican and Frank Ferguson! Like Caftan Woman (Patricia) says, faces like that put me in a “happy place.” Really enjoyed your write-up on a movie I don’t know at all, Jerry.
I got a book on Witney at the Lone Pine Festival last year but have yet to read it — I should see if it has anything in it on this movie.
Thanks for the heads up on what sounds like one of “my” kind of movies too!
Best wishes,
Laura
Thanks for your nice comments, Laura.
The Witney book (if it’s the same one I have) does not make mention of “THE OUTCAST” but it IS a very worthwhile read.
The Outcast is currently available to watch on Youtube.
Great job, Jerry. I’ve got the Italian DVD of THE OUTCAST (Il Cacciatore Di Fortuna) and it’s a good transfer. You can never be sure with the Jubal Classics releases.
Mike, is that with optional Italian subtitles? If they are not forced, I will get it–the price is real good on Amazon now. Very keen to see this one.
Blake Lucas and Jerry Entract ,I have the Italian DVD and I found that the sub titles come on in 1 or 2 scenes and only for a couple of seconds .I watched it last night and did not go to the set up menu to eliminate the subs .
Thanks for the tip, gcwe1.
Many thanks for reading and commenting so positively, Mike.
Yes, I would also be keen to know about the forced (or not) subtitles on the Italian DVD. My off-air copy is very good but a restored and pristine copy would be a worthwhile spend!
Well, it’s nearly all over (though thrillingly I have just spotted 2 more reviews added for reading).
It’s been such a ball, Toby. You must be over the moon. Thanks so much for putting all this enjoyment together – and the artwork has been amazing.
I know I suggested a Joel McCrea Blogathon for consideration previously. Now I want to add another one for your deliberation – an Allied Artists Pictures Blogathon. Throughout the 50s they matched and at times even outdid Republic with some cracking little westerns and crime dramas. Just a thought!……
A very entertaining western and one of the best from John Derek. Regards.