Tall Man Riding
His Guns Put Little River On The Map... And His Guns Could Wipe It Off!
Still seeking revenge against ranch owner Tuck Ordway for publicly whipping him years earlier and breaking up his relationship with Ordway's daughter, cowboy Larry Madden plans to oust Ordway from his ranch by having his claim to the land declared invalid. Ordway's daughter Corinna, believing Madden to be the cause of the family's recent misfortunes, is unaware that the local saloon owner also has designs upon the Ordway holdings.
Production
Production
Cast
Randolph Scott
Larry Madden
Dorothy Malone
Corinna Ordway
Peggie Castle
Reva
William Ching
Rex Willard
John Baragrey
Cibo Pearlo
Robert Barrat
Tucker Ordway
John Dehner
Ames Luddington
Paul Richards
The Peso Kid
Lane Chandler
Hap Sutton
Mickey Simpson
Deputy Jeff Barclay
Charles Watts
Al, Pearlo's Palace Bartender
Russ Conway
Marshal Jim Feathergill
Mike Ragan
Tom
William Fawcett
Andy - Swamper at Pearlo's (uncredited)
Nolan Leary
Dr. William Stone (uncredited)
Eva Novak
Mrs. Henderson (uncredited)
Frank Mills
Barfly (uncredited)
George Sowards
Bushwhacker / Townsman (uncredited)
Dub Taylor
Townsman (uncredited)
Buddy Roosevelt
Townsman (uncredited)
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Reviews
John Chard
Warbonnet Requiem.
Tall Man Riding is directed by Lesley Selander and adapted to screenplay by Joseph Hoffman from the novel written by Norman A. Fox. It stars Randolph Scott, Dorothy Malone, Peggie Castle, William Ching, John Baragrey, Robert Barrat and John Dehner. Music is by Paul Sawtell and cinematography by Wilfred M. Cline.
Pretty routine Oater that retains watchable factors due to Randolph Scott, location photography (in Warnercolor) and some straight backed action. Larry Madden (Scott) returns to the town of Little River seeking revenge on the land baron (Barratt) who publically humiliated him with a whipping. Madden’s crime was to date the man’s daughter (Malone). Soon enough Madden is dealing with all sorts of problems, liars and cheats, murder, hired assassin, an ambush, prison escape, betrayal, corrupt law and of course affairs of the heart. All wrapped up in under 85 minutes.
There’s some interesting characterisations about the place, but the screenplay doesn’t have time to capitalise on the potential (eg: one key character is going blind but barely anything is made to add dramatic worth to this issue). Selander does a competent job of directing, but the over all feeling is that the makers were happy to settle for a “B” Western and just chock the play with formula staples guaranteed to please all the family looking for an unassuming afternoon at the theatre. Which on the face of it is enough for Western fans who know what they are getting with these 50s “B” level Oaters.
When you got Randy Scott in square jawed antagonist mode, Dottie Malone batting her eyelids, Peggie Castle showcasing beautiful thighs that could crush walnuts, and Wilfred Cline photographing the Calif Ranch locales, well it’s impossible for genre fans to hate really. 6/10
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