Directed by Oliver Drake
Produced by Charles “Buddy” Rogers
Written by Oliver Drake & John Mantley
Director Of Photography: Clark Ramsey
Film Editor: Warren Adams
Music by Joe Sodja
Cast: Anthony Dexter (Billy The Kid), Sonny Tufts (Jack Slade), Marie Windsor (Tonya), Charles “Buddy” Rogers (Rev. Jericho Jones), Jean Parker (Sarah Jones), Robert Lowery (Col. Jefferson Morgan), Bob Steele (Ace Jardine), Bob Duncan (Pat Garrett)
With Pat Garrett’s help, Billy The Kid (Anthony Dexter) fakes his own death so he can live out his life in peace. Traveling to the town of Four Corners, he plans to run his small ranch under an assumed name.
When a big rancher (Robert Lowery) brings in the gunman Jack Slade (Sonny Tufts) to help him take over Four Corners, The Kid stays out of it — even when he finds out they’ve been using his ranch as a hideout. The local preacher (Charles Rogers), who knows The Kid is The Kid, finally encourages him to strap on his guns again.
The Parson And The Outlaw (1957) is a fascinating, if ultimately not very good, Western. It brings together all sorts of things that make 50s Westerns so special to me.
The picture was produced by Charles “Buddy” Rogers, a silent actor (1927’s Wings) maybe best known for marrying Mary Pickford. At various times, Rogers also worked as a writer, gag man, director, bandleader and producer. After producing The Parson And The Outlaw, he did Hot Rod Gang and High School Hellcats (both 1958).
It was directed and co-written by Oliver Drake, who seemed to live a life almost completely saturated with making Westerns. Most of them are really cheap, some aren’t very good, but he made a lifelong career out of it. If nothing else, he co-wrote Riders Of The Whistling Skull (1937) and his story became Dragoon Wells Massacre (1957). His book Written, Produced & Directed: The Autobiography Of Oliver Drake needs to be reprinted somewhere, somehow.
Then there’s Marie Windsor, my favorite actress. Her fake accent is terrible, but it’s Marie Windsor — in Technicolor! Anthony Dexter is wretched, but you can always depend on Sonny Tufts and Bob Steele.
The cabin set you see Miss Windsor in (above) looks tiny and like it cost 37 cents to construct. But there’s a sincerity to the whole thing that really helps put it over.
Director Of Photography Clark Ramsey shot pictures like I Killed Geronimo (1950), Superman And The Mole Men (1951), Gold Fever (1952) and Hidden Guns (1956). Ramsey was from Palo Pinto County in central Texas (the tiny town of Brad, with just a couple dozen people). My grandparents lived in nearby (and also quite tiny) Strawn.
In short, The Parson And The Outlaw (1957) is a cheap Western that means well, but doesn’t quite deliver — mainly because it’s so obviously cheap. But given the folks involved, it has plenty of curb appeal for fans of 50s (or earlier) Westerns. It’s a real shame it hasn’t made its way to DVD or Blu-Ray.
50 Westerns From The 50s. 
This one is cheap, silly and dull. Concerning Oliver Drake I prefer the nasty LUST TO KILL -1960- (made in 1957)TV title: Border lust.
I like very much Marie Windsor, but not here.
I’m at a stage with these things where I’ll watch anything and find plenty to appreciate about it. While this one’s pretty bad, the personnel keeps me interested.
Chip, A LUST TO KILL(filmed 1957, released 1958 in USA, 1960 in Europe) is a rather hard-edged small budget Western Movie. You certainly wouldn’t view this kind of Western, uncut on USA tv in 1958.
Marie Windsor was great in HELLFIRE(filmed 1948, released 1949) and THE SHOWDOWN(filmed 1949-50, released 1950).
Toby, a good and fair write-up of THE PARSON AND THE OUTLAW(filmed 1956, released 1957). Yes, it isn’t the best it could have been, but it could have been far worse. It has always intrigued me to see how much moviemakers can put on the screen with so little money. Also, the subject matter involved for the storyline.
I think this may have been the first time that the subject of Billy the Kid’s fake death was portrayed in a movie. Yes, I realize that Billy the Kid rode off free at the end of BILLY THE KID(1930) and THE OUTLAW(filmed 1940-41, released 1943), but in THE PARSON AND THE OUTLAW the fake death was shown, the funeral, and Billy’s life afterwards. I’m almost sure that screenwriters Oliver Drake and John Mantley were aware of C. L. Sonnichsen and William V. Morrison’s book ALIAS BILLY THE KID(1955), which claimed that William “Brushy Bill” Roberts was the real Billy the Kid and was living in Hico, Texas in 1950, where he died later that year. Historians scoffed at this claim and just added it to more folklore concerning Billy the Kid. Although, the claim has persisted over the decades since. In YOUNG GUNS II(1990) Brushy Bill Roberts(Emilio Estevez) tells the story in flashback of his days as the real Billy the Kid.
My college professor W. C. Jameson and novelist Fred Bean wrote THE RETURN OF THE OUTLAW BILLY THE KID(1998), which retold the Brushy Bill Roberts claims. Dr. Jameson continued the subject with his BILLY THE KID: BEYOND THE GRAVE(2005) and BILLY THE KID: THE LOST INTERVIEWS(2012). Dr. Jameson believes that William “Brushy Bill” Roberts was the real Billy the Kid.
Emilio Estevez is in pre-production of his GUNS 3: ALIAS BILLY THE KID. Looks like the never ending movie versions of the Billy the Kid story rides on. There is another recent movie along these lines, that was released on September 7, 2021 at the Venice International Film Festival. I’m reluctant to give the name of this Western Movie, because that would ruin it for the viewers. This movie is on dvd and Blu-ray.
I’ve chased rabbits into the brush with this one, but getting back to THE PARSON AND THE OUTLAW, I can go along with your statement that the movie, “is a fascinating, if ultimately not very good, Western. It brings together all sorts of things that make 50s Westerns so special to me.” It does that, indeed.
I think this is an unusual Western and it does have a few things going for it. First of all the good technicolor photography of Clark Ramsey. The breathtaking Burney Falls of Northern California’s Shasta County is really made of good use. Also, the good old Melody(formerly Monogram) Ranch set used in so many Western Movies and tv shows. The acting isn’t that good, but if you like redemption there is a good scene between Parson Jericho Jones(Charles “Buddy” Rogers) and Bill Antrim aka Billy the Kid(Anthony Dexter) with a different twist to it, on the Parson’s part. I thought the dialogue of that scene was well written by Oliver Drake and John Mantley.
I don’t think any movie with Marie Windsor in it is ever a total waste of time, regardless of her exaggerated Romani accent in this one. She was always the good trooper in both good and so-called bad movies. In an interview for the LOS ANGELES TIMES she said in regards to being in bad movies, “I think those films added to my luster, I think people said, ‘She can even do that and survive’.” I think Marie Windsor was a luminous survivor.
What a great response, Walter! You’re right, we can’t seem to leave poor old Billy The Kid alone.
I find it hard to believe there’s a Young Guns 3 in the works. Yikes. Things are not getting better for the Western, are they?
You really hit on what makes pictures like The Parson And The Outlaw appeal to me — the redemption theme. I’m a real sucker for a redemption story, and 50s Westerns are full of ’em.
Toby, I’ve always been interested in Billy the Kid Historically and in Folklore. Also, in movies and tv shows. Its hard to believe that Emilio Estevez, Lou Diamond Phillips, and Christian Slater are now “Old Guns.”
I’ll always prefer the Western Movies of the Post World War II Era(1946-62) over whatever they put out today. There is a lot that can be said for redemption.
If you have $325.50 to spend, there is a signed copy of Oliver Drake’s autobiography WRITTEN. PRODUCED, AND DIRECTED BY OLIVER DRAKE(1990) listed on eBay. It was listed at $465.00. There are nine photographs from the book shown on the site.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/AUTOBIOGRAPHY-of-WESTERN-FILM-Writer-Director-OLIVER-DRAKE-SIGNED-by-HIM-/383872740433
Imprint have released their May releases on their website.
Well, this is one western I’ve not seen and, honestly, probably never will.
But I do have a copy of that Oliver Drake book. Yikes! Crazy prices for it. Not selling my copy though. Drake was a confirmed ‘westernista’!
Jerry, there are a lot worse Western Movies out there than THE PARSON AND THE OUTLAW, but there are also a lot of Western Movies out there, that are much better.
The price for Oliver Drake’s signed autobiography is quite high, needless to say. I wonder if his daughter Lisa has any plans to have the book republished anytime soon. I know Toby has been in contact with her in the past.
Do you have STUNT MAN: THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF YAKIMA CANUTT(1979) written with Oliver Drake, with a Forward by Charlton Heston and an Afterward by John Wayne? A signed copy on Amazon.com is listed at $355.49. Although, an unsigned hardback is listed at $39.95.
This is why I love coming here, to see reviews and talk about these great but unknown real ’50’s westerns. After seeing the interesting talk here I pulled out my copy of this movie that I never watched till now. So happy I did, it was a lot better than I expected after reading about how cheap it is, it didn’t seem any more cheaply made than your standard ’50’s western TV show. And I really enjoyed seeing an uncredited Richard Reeves playing Pat Garrett (though very briefly). But still his name should have been in the credits. The what must have been film stock shots of a burning house and a cattle sort of drive and an Indian formation.
The only thing bad about the film was the pretty bad acting by “star” Anthony Dexter and some of the town folk. Buddy Rogers even looked like a silent film star in his stoic shots of his stalwart face. The blonde in the movie was nice looking but couldn’t act either, but was enjoyable to watch. But the main attraction in this movie has to be Marie Windsor in her most Marie Windsoriest. Her shot of lying on the bed with her legs showing and in beautiful living color (the same as pictured above but for some reason the still is in drab b/w) in this movie was worth watching the whole thing. Sonny Tufts was amusing, never bad in any movie but never very good either.
I really enjoyed this movie, the helpless sheep townfolk (not one of them ever seemed to have heard of a gun), the fast draw who tries to give up his guns until the very end where he has to strap ’em on again. Each cliche more enjoyable to see one after another, just made the movie more of a happy experience for me.
Thanks Toby for bringing my attention to this one. I don’t seem to be able to post here anymore as Johnny Guitar as wordpress doesn’t recognize me anymore so posting now is a hit or miss business for me, some make it others don’t. But hope this one makes it.
Lee R,,I have had the same problem with WordPress not being able to log on,but I always enjoy visiting here and gathering and reading about westerns.
Every so often I hear of this same thing happening, not being able to post anything. Sorry about that, it’s nothing on this end!
I just watched ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST .When I first seen the film years ago ,I thought Ernest Borgnine was in it,however it was Lionel Stander.Anyone else think le looks a bit like Borgnine?
Graham, no, I never noticed the likeness between Lionel Stander and Ernest Borgnine, but now that you mention it, they do some.
ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST(1968) is quite a homage to many of the 1950’s Western Movies that we discuss.
I was hoping that THE PARSON & THE OUTLAW would turn up on
Sony’s “Choice Collection” DVD series now sadly discontinued.
Yes,it’s a bad movie but it does have a certain charm about it,
especially the veteran cast.
Yes, Marie chews up the scenery as never before, but we have all sat through
far worse.
Graham the new slate of Imprint releases (May) has nothing for me,I hope
they are not abandoning vintage movies ; say pre 1969.
Because Imprint’s transfers and packaging and extras are so fine and I’m
getting so desperate I’d even consider a Blu Ray of say CHUKA or BLUE,
both Paramount 60’s efforts.
I’d jump at a Blu Ray of THE DESERTER just for the cast alone, and
have pretty good memories of Kirk Douglas’ POSSE.
Just received Kino’s new Blu of VERA CRUZ and it’s a lovely new transfer
in Superscope 2.0 ratio.
I was most amused that Aldrich re-used the “now we’ve both got girls” line
in FOUR FOR TEXAS
I know BLUE is no classic and it lumbers Terence Stamp with the most
unlikely of lines………”don’t prod me boy” Charles Bronson could effortlessly
deliver a line like that ; Terry couldn’t.
I was in a very good place in ’68 and that’s why the film is fonder in my
memory than it should be-the scenery at least was lovely and shot by Stanley
Cortez no less.
To satisfy my “Westerns Fix” I’ve just ordered Kino’s new Blu Ray of
THE LAST SUNSET. There were a couple of pretty poor Euro official
releases but Universal have provided Kino with a new 2K scan and the
screen grabs look great on DVD Beaver.
I’m on a real Aldrich kick at the moment especially with Kino’s lovely new
scans of APACHE and VERA CRUZ.
Aldrich had a most odd filmography but at his best he was hard to beat.
Walter and myself have discussed THE LAST SUNSET at great length on
these pages and although I will admit it’s a flawed film there is also some
great stuff in the movie.
The three titles I’ve mentioned and ULZANA’S RAID are certainly the very
best of Aldrich’s Westerns, and like Nicholas Ray it’s interesting how little
creative control Aldrich had over some of his earlier films.
Certainly letting Burt Lancaster live at the end of APACHE was a mistake by
the producers,it made a nonsense of the whole film but I enjoy it for what it
is,anyway,at least the build up is stellar.
Mr Roan,are you sitting comfortably ?
I’ve almost given up looking at German websites due to the lack of
Westerns now being released there.
Explosive Media have a surprise in May as they are releasing SEVEN WAYS
FROM SUNDOWN on Blu Ray, a World first,I believe.
Still while perusing bluraydisc.de-kalender I note an outfit called
Mr Banker is releasing,also in May HELL CANYON OUTLAWS as a
DVD/Blu Ray combo and according to Amazon de it’s 2K remastered.
I know nothing regarding Mr Banker but other Westerns (Euro ones) they
have released have gotten good reviews regarding picture quality on
Amazon’s reviews.
I would say wait until the reviews appear before buying bearing in mind
HELL CANYON OUTLAWS seems to be a limited run of 500.
I might additionally add that this release ain’t cheap!
I must admit this Mr Banker Films seems to be a p.d. (bootleg) type imprint
their main market seems to be exploitation/soft porn and Kung Fu.
As mentioned above some of their other releases seem to be getting
positive reviews regarding picture quality and the packaging seems lavish
to say the least.
Having HELL CANYON OUTLAWS in 1.85 widescreen 2K remastered
sounds like a dream come true, but for now let’s wait and see.
Still SEVEN WAYS FROM SUNDOWN on Blu Ray in 1.85 widescreen
should be wonderful and Explosive’s discs are normally region free.
Heaven knows there are so few Westerns like this being released these
days.
Wow, that’s some news! Of course, Hell Canyon Outlaws is a favorite, one of Paul Landres’s best, I’d say, and Seven Ways From Sundown is one of the post-1959 films to be covered in my book.
That’s good news indeed, regardless of the price!