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Such a frustrating disappointment

Memorable, crazy movie

A Masterpiece!

The acting in this movie is really good.

Jeff Clanton (Robert Ryan) a major in the Union army, captures the remnants of the Quantrill Raiders which include the James brothers as well as the Youngers. Clanton is disposed to let them all go if they take an oath of allegiance, but Mathew Fowler (Robert Preston), the head of the Fowler Detective Agency, a private law enforcement outfit that protects the moneyed interests, has his eyes set on the impressive rewards each of the "badmen" has accrued, setting up what looks to be a pretty good story when Ryan is arrested and faces hanging. He sides with the "badmen" against Fowler, who seems to represent the emerging new order. Claire Trevor, who is supposed to be a saloon girl, is actually married to Fowler, but falls for Clanton. Her character makes zero sense and the movie makes less and less sense as it goes along, a disturbing trend which even the great Robert Preston can't turn around, though he's always worth watching.

When I noticed this movie advertised on ABC TV, I looked up the story, checked the cast, noted it was an RKO IB Technicolor production, and thought this just has to be seen. It sounded like I was headed for an above average western that I'd somehow missed over the years. Fifteen Min's in, I began to realize why I'd not come across it before (or had forgotten I had!)It could offer some fun for the undiscerning or easily pleased, but both reviews by Robert Maxwell, and Plankton Rules (both IMDb) have summed it up perfectly (I should have listened to their warnings). With all the great and good classic productions out there, why waste time on sub standard writing like this! The cast is fine (especially Robert Ryan) Clair Trevor was easy on the eye in gloriously colorful dress, but direction and script fully lets them down. The overused, and under talented Barton Maclane simply became a bit of a put-off in these clichéd roles. Leonard Maltin calls it 'offbeat', but it tends to tread a rather conventional trail...and rather poorly. I like an 'off-beat' story, they can often give us a reason to think along different lines, a bit like James Clavell's early racially aware western: "Walk Like a Dragon" from 1960. I suppose for 'Best Of The Bad Men' I should have been more conscious of the date ~ by the early 50's the once great RKO had been eroded into the doldrums by it's fanatical owner, and was just a few years away from total collapse. The combination of a 'B' western writer, and a largely Television based director, in this case, did not help either. Worst of the badmen ~ stay away if your looking for facts, believability or logic.......KenR

I saw "Best of the Badmen" when I was nine years old, loved it could not stop talking about it for weeks. curious that it was b&w probably they were trying to cut costs by making part of the copies in a less expensive way. Few actors were as good as Robert Ryan, specially in westerns, and his presence is what most counts here. Same goes for Claire Trevor. I was a bit deceived with the James brothers, they are kind of insipid in the film, after seeing so many films about them and the Youngers we got spoiled and expect for a bit more of their character to be shown. Funny that Cole Younger acts as their leader (in the film), I don't think they would have accepted that. The story is pretty routine stuff, but that is exactly the charm of the westerns of the fifties. Tremendous difference between the Jack Buetel of "The Outlaw" and the "nice" Younger that he plays here. I greatly enjoyed seeing this western after so many years, it remains very good. (and in color)

Robert Ryan is Jeff Clanton, a newly released Yankee Calvary hero, who is falsely imprisoned by carpetbagger Matthew Fowler(Robert Preston who always had the skill to play a mean sonofabitch)who has manipulated and bought his way into territories left dry by war. Fowler runs a "detective agency" which pretty much is an organization of hoodlums always ready for more power and prestige. Clanton had round up a renegade group of confederate refugees lead by Cole Younger(Bruce Cabot, a fine western character actor often appearing in John Wayne films)and was about to swear them into civilian life when Fowler smelled millions when his right hand man, Joad(Barton MacLane who has always played characters you'd like to punch in the face with a brick), saw Clanton ride those soldiers in. Several members of these refugees included the notorious James brothers and horse thief Doc Butcher(Walter Brennan, who is always a blast to watch)..plenty have nice, fat price tags for retrieval. When Clanton refuses to hand them over to Fowler, the carpetbagger enlists a large sum of men to swarm up trouble. One man tries to pull a gun and is killed by Clanton. Fowler finds out that Clanton had been released by the Army and therefore could be tried for "murder", though clearly Jeff was right in pulling his gun. Thanks to the disgruntled wife of Fowler(a quite dependable Claire Trevor), Clanton escapes, but is shot in the leg and could pass out any minute. Being found by Doc and Cole's younger brother Bob(Jack Beutel), Clanton is rescued from certain grim fate. In a little town called Kint, Clanton prepares revenge on Fowler..his obsession is the meat of the true drama of the story. This film might have been routine if it wasn't for a stellar cast who seem inspired. The film is wonderfully shot in Technicolor and Ryan's hero against Preston's villain is fun. The added storyline of John Archer's treacherous Curly Ringo, Trevor's Lily trying to keep her identity as Mrs. Fowler secret(only Clanton and Ringo know;Ringo's knowing provides some added suspense..how long would he conceal her identity from Cole and the gang?), & Clanton's growing bond with Lily provide much needed help to a rather unsatisfyingly weak(and actually a bit far-fetched)ending. Something happens between Cole and Clanton and this doesn't get a follow through one might desire. The audience get what they want though..a final showdown between Clanton and Fowler.I guess why I'm a bit disappointed is because I feel this could've been great for we had all the makings of a solid conclusion, but instead we're left with not knowing what truly came of Cole and his remaining gang.