Another A.C.Lyles western which is full of well known faces. In this one, Dale Robertson is Judge Clem Rogers who comes into town for the trial of Pete Stone (John Agar) who has murdered George Stapelton (Jody McCrea). Stone’s father Tom (Barton MacLane) will stop at nothing to get his boy released. He brings Joe Rile( Bruce Cabot) into town as gun back-up if the trial doesn’t find his son innocent.
Yvonne de Carlo, Dale Robertson
Silas Miller (Bill Williams) runs the local saloon. Working there is Ellie Irish (Yvonne de Carlo) and bartender Richard Arlen.
William Bendix is sheriff Ed Tanner. He is also the court prosecutor, and he takes church services. An all round handy man.
At the hotel Judge Rogers meets with the accused’s father and his lawyer,Rand McDonald (Kent Taylor). It turns out that Rogers was a friend of Pete Stone, but he wont let that get in the way of justice.
(George Chandler is the hotel clerk.Lon Chaney and Donald Barry also have small roles.)
Nearly a third of the film is taken up with the trial which was well done. Stone’s father has brought to town kinfolk of people the judge has sentenced to hang. (He’s known as the hanging judge).
Dale Robertson,George Chandler, Bill Williams, William Bendix
The saloon owner,Silas Miller (who is wheel-chair bound after a gunfight) tells of seeing the murder. There is a flashback and this is the only short scene Jody McCrea (son of Joel McCrea) appears in.
Stone’s lawyer suggests the murdered man was jealous of Stone. There is evidence that the widow was on more than friendly terms with Stone.
And so the story plays out. The judge’s father had been killed in a gunfight (by Rile ) and the judge has made a promise to himself to stop gunfights wherever he can, to get rid of the law of the fast gun. He refuses to draw on Rile who faces him later. At the end he gives his gun to the bartender and says, “Sell that to the highest bidder.”
The story and cast are solid. We even get a snatch of Yvonne de Carlo singing ‘Red River Valley’.
Bruce Cabot, Kent Taylor,William Bendix,Barton MacLane,Richard Arlen, Lon Chaney.
That middle shot is publicity only.
Vienna's Classic Hollywood 
This must have been one of the last parts Bendix played – he looks very poorly indeed in some of those photos.
He died in 1964 aged 58. He did look thin in this movie. He was also in another Lyles western,Young Fury, also in 1964.
One heck of a cast gathered here for this one though they were all on the downside therefore priced right for a Lyles production. I’ll have to catch up to this one and play spot the star.
A.C.Lyles had a formula that worked for 4 years and provided work for so many Hollywood veterans. You certainly can star spot!
I saw this on the big screen when it was first release. As expected, I was drawn to see it by the presence of stars therein. Best regards.
Would love to see it on the big screen.
Thanks for stopping by.
Just discovered you a few days ago and have been occupied by your postings. Rest assured will be coming to your blog regularly from now. Please keep up the good work. Have been visiting Colin’s and Blake’s sites frequently. You really stand out on your pictorials of the movies reviewed. Best regards.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Just where are you seeing these films….you-tube??
I presume these are 4×3 versions-I DO wish someone would give
these films an “official” release.
OK they are not the greatest programmer Westerns ever made
but have enormous nostalgia value.
BTW talking of “star spotting” are you aware that Olive Films are soon to
re-issue WON TON TON-THE DOG THAT SAVED HOLLYWOOD.
A whole gallery of greats mostly in blink & you miss ’em cameos.
Mostly from TV
Haven’t seen Won Ton Ton in a long time.