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People are voting emotionally.

Absolutely the worst movie.

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

HELL CANYON OUTLAWS 1957This one is an interesting low budget film from Jarod Zukor Productions and released by Republic Pictures. The leads are played by Dale Robertson and Brian Keith.This one is set in the small western burg of Gold Ridge. Dale Robertson is the town Sheriff, who along with his Deputy, Charles Fredericks, has cleaned up the former rough and tumble town. It has been a few years since there was any real trouble and the town council now decides to let Robertson and company go. Of course this idea soon backfires as four hard and ready types ride into town. The group is led by Brian Keith and include three of the biggest thugs to grace the screen. The 6'7" Buddy Baer, the 6'5' Mike Lane and the 6'6" Don Megowan make for a most imposing gang. The outlaws soon make themselves at home, tossing hotel residents out of their rooms, helping themselves to the saloon's beverages and so on. The whole thing rubs former lawman, Robertson, the wrong way, but he can do nothing about the swine since he is no longer in power. And, as it so happens, the new Sheriff, Alexander Lockwood, is out of town.In the mix here is Robertson's soon to be bride, Rossana Rory. Miss Rory of course wants her man to stay out of the mess. Besides Miss Rory, one of the town's young men, Dick Kallman, who considers himself handy with a gun, goes after the four. This does not go well for Kallman as he is quickly disarmed and tossed into a mud hole face first. He is lucky not to be killed as the outlaw types laugh at him. The gang plan on having fun before hitting the local bank for a hefty withdrawal. Robertson can see where this is going, and sends his former Deputy, Fredericks, off to retrieve the new Sheriff from out of town.When the new Lawman, Lockwood returns, he goes to have a talk with the Keith and his men. As this is happening, the young Kallman has reamed himself and pops into the saloon to continue his "discussion" with gang leader, Keith. Kallman of course is soon ready for a plot at boot hill. Keith and the boys now slap around Sheriff Lockwood. They decide it is now time to do their "banking business". Robertson by now as had enough of this nonsense. Robertson and Fredericks arm up and go a calling on Keith and crew. Outlaw Baer is the first to go down with a bright shiny hole drilled through his forehead. More rounds fly with Megowan and Lane on the wrong end of the exchange. Soon it is just Keith and Robertson standing across from each other. Keith pulls a 20 dollar gold piece from his pocket. He tells Robertson he will flip the coin into the air, when it hits the floor, they draw. The coin hits and iron flashes with both getting off a round. Robertson is hit in the leg and goes down. Keith is gut shot and drops to his knees with a baffled look. He then caves to the floor and dies. Needless to say the town council rehires Robertson and Fredericks.This one is a decent low budget quickie that runs just 72 minutes. The story is a bit shop worn and plays out like a poor man's HIGH NOON. Having said that, the cast and crew do quite well with what was an obvious shoestring budget. The acting is acceptable and the look of the film, quite sharp.Paul Landres handles the direction here. Landres was a long time film editor who took up the directing reins in the early 50's. While mainly known for television, he did work on a few b-films. The director of photography was the Oscar winning cinematographer, Floyd Crosby. Crosby was the man who shot HIGH NOON. Also helping with the look of the film is another Oscar winner, editor, Elmo Williams. Williams also worked on HIGH NOON and won his Oscar for his efforts on that production. Rossana Rory some might recall from the Italian films, THE BIG BOODLE and BIG DEAL ON MADONNA STREET.

That's the second time I watch this little gem since twenty five years now. Actually, I discovered it again. I did not remember it at all. A pure delight. I love this kind of topic, a small town outraged, terrorized by a bunch, a handful of outlaws before whom any one can resist. Except only one man. OK, we all have seen that a billion times before, but this one is totally forgotten. I only think of Joseph Pevney's THE PLUNDERERS, starring Jeff Chandler. Here, Dale Robertson has the Chandler's character. The hero who reveals himself only in the end against the evil ones. Four outlaws in both features. An exciting little western.Brian Keith is outstanding as the evil lead.

Louis L'Amour, wrote at the beginning of "Buckskin Run" that one of the common mistakes people make about the West is that they would not react accordingly to bandits coming into their town. Remember Northfield Minnesota, writes L'Amour and Coffeyville where Jesse James and the Daltons were defeated by the local people. Those locals fought Indians and the Civil war, so they sure knew how to shoot and defend themselves. This western shows the opposite and four outlaws make whatever they wish with a small town. They are so barbaric, chaotic, and violent almost behaving as children, that there is a slight comic streak in their villainy. The main question is how long will it take for people to react. Dale Robertson, is the reluctant hero, but what makes this film worth seeing are the outlaws.

A great old western, in the tradition of the cliffhanging serials of the 1930s and 1940s. A nice addition to any western film buff's library. TV stars Brian Keith and Dale Robertson provide realistic portrayals, showcasing their abilities that provide some relief from the occasionally predictable plot.