For this viewer at any rate the prerequisite for sitting through any film starring Rory Calhoun is to ascertain who else is in the cast! Here we have the excellent David Brian and Alex Nicol and the always good value Edgar Buchanan.
That being said, the character of tubercular gambler Brett Wade which is plainly inspired by Doc Holliday, gives Mr. Calhoun a rare role of substance and he certainly rises to the occasion.
Not for the first or indeed the last time it is the remarkable Piper Laurie who leaves the deepest impression. She is surely one of the greatest actresses never to win an Oscar and it is inconceivable, even by Hollywood standards, that after her stunning performance in 'The Hustler' she was obliged to wait fifteen years for her next film role. She and Mr. Calhoun work surprisingly well together here and were to team up once again in the lightweight 'Aint Misbehavin' the following year.
Solid direction here by George Sherman and the shoot outs, one of which is more than a passing nod to that at the OK corrall, are well staged. To say that Mr. Sherman is an old hand at this sort of thing would be an understatement as he made his first Western in 1937 and his last in 1971.
That being said, the character of tubercular gambler Brett Wade which is plainly inspired by Doc Holliday, gives Mr. Calhoun a rare role of substance and he certainly rises to the occasion.
Not for the first or indeed the last time it is the remarkable Piper Laurie who leaves the deepest impression. She is surely one of the greatest actresses never to win an Oscar and it is inconceivable, even by Hollywood standards, that after her stunning performance in 'The Hustler' she was obliged to wait fifteen years for her next film role. She and Mr. Calhoun work surprisingly well together here and were to team up once again in the lightweight 'Aint Misbehavin' the following year.
Solid direction here by George Sherman and the shoot outs, one of which is more than a passing nod to that at the OK corrall, are well staged. To say that Mr. Sherman is an old hand at this sort of thing would be an understatement as he made his first Western in 1937 and his last in 1971.