Aka Return of the Badmen. He’s a good man as long as you keep him in front of you. In 1889 in Oklahoma Territory, the land rush attracts thousands, including many outlaws. A gang led by Wild Bill Doolin (Robert Armstrong) includes the Sundance Kid (Robert Ryan) and the Younger brothers, Cole (Steve Brodie), Jim (Tom Keene) and John (Robert Bray) who intend to take advantage of the confusion to rob banks. Doolan’s daughter, Jeannie ‘Cheyenne’ McBride (Anne Jeffreys) helps the gang in a heist but is wounded and taken in by ex-ranger Vance Cordell (Randolph Scott) who reluctantly takes the badge of federal marshal. Vance sets about to change her allegiance despite the misgivings of his fiancée Madge Allen (Jacqueline White) … You realise you lose four full days out of your life every year just shavin’ your whiskers off? A loose sequel to Badman’s Territory set in that part north of Texas and west of the Oklahoma not yet a state. Written once again by husband and wife screenwriting team Jack Natteford and Luci Ward (with a draft by Charles O’Neal, father of future movie star Ryan) Scott returns in a different role and so does Gabby Hayes. It’s a neat idea – put a lot of legendary characters in one place and set them off against one another. In this iteration the array includes the Dalton brothers – Emmett (Lex Barker), Bob (Walter Reed) and Grat (Michael Harvey) as well as Billy the Kid (Dean White) in a film liberally festooned with action. Amazing to see Ryan as the Sundance Kid! And that’s Jason Robards Sr. as Judge Harper. He was blinded with cataracts for eight years following this film at which point his career resumed when his sight was restored. His son would become much more famous on the big screen. This is fast, quippy frontier fun, a solid part for Scott with everyone else enjoying themselves in their notorious roles. Directed by Ray Enright. There ain’t much point in writin’ things down in books when most of the people you do business with can’t write themselves
mondomovies 