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It's not great by any means, but it's a pretty good movie that didn't leave me filled with regret for investing time in it.

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

"Gun Glory" director Roy Rowland's "The Outriders" is an American Civil War western set during the twilight days of the conflict with actors Joel McCrea, James Whitmore, and Barry Sullivan cast as three Confederates who escape from a Union prison camp and make their way west. Interestingly, Barry Sullivan is the weak link in this threesome because he is the villain. This represented the first time that I had several the typically heroic Sullivan as a heavy. Anyway, the three escape after Sullivan kills a Union guard and they find themselves eventually to the camp of Confederate renegade terrorist Keeley (Jeff Corey of "True Grit") and his minion Bye (Ted de Corsia of "Gunfight at the O.K. Corral"). Keeley wants our three protagonists to rob a wagon trail heading from Santa Fe to St. Louis. Everything appears to be going according to plan, except that Will Owen (Joel McCrea) is losing his allegiance to the cause. He meets and falls in love with Jen Gort (Arlene Dahl of "Land Raiders") and he changes his mind. Meantime, Jesse Wallace (Barry Sullivan) turns more treacherous than ever. Rowland stages several good genre scenes, but the one that stands out prominently is the scene when our heroes must cut wood to get the wagon trail across a rapidly flowing river that has risen far above its normal level. Although not as good as "South of St. Louis," "The Outsiders" is nevertheless a solid western well worth watching.

Confederate prison escapees plan to hi-jack a Union gold shipment and divert it to the South. Priorities, however, are complicated by a key rivalry over a girl and a temptation to just keep the riches for themselves.Better than average Technicolor western. For once, MGM's tendency to over-produce its horse operas gives way to a wise use of money for a western. Happily, glamour and glitz are kept in check, except for actress Dahl. Still, her wardrobe for a wagon train is not too outlandish. Instead, the production makes excellent use of its scenic Kanab, Utah, locations, along with a fine A-list cast and enough extras to make the battle scenes interesting. What grabbed me, however, are two storyline surprises that defy expectations. Plus, for once, battles don't just unfold willy-nilly, instead Owen (McCrea) thinks along tactical lines to gain an advantage. Sure, a hi-jacked gold shipment and a rivalry between sometime buddies (McCrea & Sullivan) are familiar plot devices. Nonetheless, it's a better-than-average script, with several good touches (e.g. Sullivan's loaded gun at the end).That river-crossing scene is clearly the movie's centerpiece and is impressively done. The torrent is big and bad enough to make the fording a genuine nail-biter. I'm guessing those were not easy scenes to film.Anyway, it's a fine McCrea western even though he gets less focal time than usual.

Turner Classic Movies rebroadcast "The Outriders" on May 21, 2005, with some improvements. TCM added closed captions and also seems to have transferred the film to a high definition master, so that the Technicolor looks very smooth. The lack of film grain has a down side during some scenes when print damage is apparent, such as the scratches on the film negative that show up in a few scenes, scratches that are more jarring due to how good most of the print looks. This Western stands head and shoulders over most Westerns released in the past 20 years. Just look at the supporting actors: James Whitmore, Barry Sullivan, Ramon Novarro and, of course, Jeff Corey as the very reasonable, psychopathic Southern raider Keeley. In 1950, MGM still had the production staff and budgets to make its movies look great. The matte effects by Arnold Gillespie at the start, showing old Santa Fe, are as well done as any today. During action scenes, MGM did not skimp on stunt extras. There is one scene near the start, as Joel McCrea and the three other riders with him are riding on top of a ridge, the sun setting behind them. Even if the director lifted the look of the scene from a similar scene in the black and white Winchester '73, this Technicolor scene, only a few seconds long, must have been tough to get right. That attention to quality is consistent throughout this movie. "The Outriders" is an example of what the old Hollywood studios did best: turning out technically well made, interesting movies by the dozens each year. In my minority view, newer popular Westerns such as "Silverado" and "The Unforgiven" don't hold a candle to "The Outriders."

We all project ourselves into the books we read and films we see, so the more closer to our lives the entertainment vehicle is, the greater the experience and enjoyment. So I suppose this film would have just been another oater for me but for that one small detail.The Outriders was a typical late '40s western movie, so the only reason I decided to watch it was that I like Joel McRea. Otherwise I might have passed on this 55 year old sage brush saga. But once it started, the female lead, Arlene Dahl, caught my eye.Ms. Dahl could have been just another late 1940s blonde, blue eyed movie star in another late 1940s oater except for two things. first, she looked uncannily like my high school sweetheart (I know, everyone has an old high school sweetheart-go watch American Graffiti) but she really did look like her. And secondly, she spoke softly and moved, glided across the stage, just like *** did.Then the story line somewhat mirrored the relationship we had. A tough and dangerous outlaw meets a sweet, honest and stunning beauty. I let myself slip into the fantasy of this movie figuring it would be a nice bit of nostalgic escapism. but then came the dance scene during the wagon train's stop on its overland journey. Head honcho Will Owens (McRea) tells Jen Gort (Ms. Dahl) to stay in the wagon to avoid getting the trail hands stirred up, but when the men break out fiddles and guitars and start singing around the camp fire, she comes out, dressed to the nines with her dancing shoes. Jen glides effortlessly across the camera's view and dances with all the men, politely and dignified, yet strikingly alluring and all woman. But what touched me was when she told Will Owens "you wanted me the most". No modern day tawdriness; nor erotic film scene with naked, sweating bodies could convey the message any clearer than her voice, her eyes and those words. It took me back.This film may just be another fast paced western to most, but to me it is **** and me. I miss her.