Brian Donlevy

Rod Cameron

Ella Raines

Forrest Tucker

Barbara Britton

Chill Wills

J. Carrol Naish

Jim Davis

Taylor Holmes

James Bell

Paul Fix

Al Caudebec

Roydon Clark

Roy Barcroft

Douglas Kennedy

Chris-Pin Martin

Jack La Rue

Claire Carleton

Joseph Kane

Mary C. McCall, Jr.

Luke Short

Howard Wilson

Howard Lydecker

Ned Freeman

Frank Arrigo

John McCarthy Jr.

Ted Offenbecker

Robert G. Shannon

Earl Crain Sr.

Wilson Grantham

Nels Mathias

John Grubbs

Theodore Lydecker

Fred Allen

Bob Terhune

Adele Palmer

Peggy Gray

Bob Mark

Western

Ride the Man Down

Republic Pictures

United States of America

**_A complicated story, but this Western finds its footing and touches greatness_**

In 1892, a foreman of a huge ranch in southern Utah (Rod Cameron) tries to stave off land grabbers (Brian Donlevy) and rustlers (Jim Davis) after the death of the patriarch. Curiously, the fiancé (Forrest Tucker) of the heir of the ranch (Ella Raines) seems to oppose the foreman’s efforts.

Based on the Luke Short novel, “Ride the Man Down” (1952) starts out convoluted with a dozen key characters introduced in the first act. They tend to speak in that rat-a-tat-tat way which was in vogue back then. The flick needed another 30 more minutes of runtime to breath. If you pay attention, however, you’ll eventually figure out who’s who and the details thereof.

More than that, you’ll discover a great little old Western that’s undeservedly obscure. You can’t beat the awesome Southwest locations in living color and Cameron makes for a stalwart, noble protagonist. Raines works well as the heroine and I enjoyed the human interest of the romantic possibilities with quality dialogues/acting.

If you appreciate old Westerns like “Albuquerque,” “Whispering Smith,” The Sundowners” (1950), “Shane” and “The Hangman,” this is just as worthwhile in its unique way.

It runs 1 hour, 29 minutes, and was shot in Kanab, Utah, which is in the southwest region of the state by the border of Arizona.

GRADE: B+/A-

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