This classic film is one I found out about because it was listed in the book 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, the majority of the time I agree with the entries, so I hoped it would be the same with this one, directed by Budd Boetticher (The Cimarron Kid, City Beneath the Sea, The Tall T). Basically Ben Brigade (Randolph Scott) is a bounty hunter, he captures wanted outlaw Billy John (James Best), he intends to take him to Santa Cruz County, Arizona to be hanged. Billy John brags that his fellow outlaw brother Frank (Lee Van Cleef) will not allow him to come to justice, Brigade is not worried, but he allowing the brother to catch up to him. Along the way, Brigade stops at a staging post, he comes to the rescue of Carrie Lane (Karen Steele) during an Indian attack, he is joined during the rescue by new partners, gunmen Sam Boone (Pernell Roberts) and his friend Whit (James Coburn), to continue the journey more safely. Brigade knows that Sam and Whit's arrival is motivated to Billy John for themselves and get the reward for his capture, and Frank is in hot pursuit to stop them. Scott is a good lead, Best has fun as the giggly criminal, and Van Cleef and Coburn are good snarling villains, it is a very simplistic but neatly crafted script, and there is plenty of material to get your attention, including shooting and chase sequences, a worthwhile western. Good!
Review of Ride Lonesome
