Ride a Violent Mile

Chinese angles, high angle shots,low angle shots, through a glass darkly shots! High art becomes high camp in the hands of this director. Somebody O.D.'d at the "foreign cinema". Not much of a plot (cowboy with post civil war syndrome), but lots of "artsy" photography. See another great view of star John (Mr.Shirley Temple)Agar in Nathan Juran's classic "Brain From Planet Arous" "water cooler" shot.If you like "Ride a Violent Mile", you MUST see "The Fiend Who Walked the West (1958)".

I'm not quite certain what the previous reviewer is referring to regarding the artsy photography angles etc. but he is accurate in stating that this western suffers from a weak, convoluted plot as well as a weak cast, poor dialog, and very undistinguished performances from all present. It is supposed to be a Civil War spy / agent western and it does have a number of twists which must have utterly befuddled the female lead. That is the only explanation I can offer for her performance. Poor John Agar seems to be wandering around as if lost in this head- scratcher as does everyone else. I got very little out of it myself and didn't find it worth the effort. I'm a huge western fan but this one is a (prairie) dog. I gave it a 3 because I do like John Agar but not in this one.