The Man from Bitter Ridge

I am awarding this film 6/10 i.e. Somewhat above average. The first detail to catch my eye was the direction by Jack Arnold, far better known for his sci-fi exploits.

BITTER RIDGE posts some good sequences, a strong cast with Barker, McNally (one of my favorite supporting actors in Westerns), Dehner in fine form, generally effective cinematography and editing by Russell Metty and Milton Carruth, respectively - all that helps, even if some of the stunts are distinctly second rate.

Add to that the exceedingly beautiful Mara Corday, who any man would find tough not to love at first sight, as Barker confesses - and you know you won't be wasting your precious time with BITTER RIDGE.

Credible antagonisms among the male leads definitely help, even if the best scenes in the film involve the growing emotional ties between Barker and Corday.

The single major flaws reside in the repetitive script. BITTER RIDGE would have benefitted from 10-15 minutes less. At any rate, I enjoyed it.

We already had many western movies where have a clash between Cattlemen and Sheep-farmers, what's hell its happened on old west I had a slight hint, the sheep harming the grassland, however they coming together in this picture starred by the personable and spotlessly well-dressed Lex Barker as Jeff Car after a long rider his horse is stolen by a gang member (Ray Teal) afterwards almost hanged by keen chasers, actually he has been accused to make part of a stagecoach's assault hours ago, witnessed at hill by the eye candy Mara Corday as Holly Kenton also on charming and clean outfits side by side her applicant Alec Black (Stephen McNally), they are sheep-farmers, when Jeff arrives at Tomahawk city the townsfolk wants a hanging, meanwhile Jeff has a robust alibi and introduces himself as owner stagecoach line's nephew and is there as research work to solve the recurrent robberies which ravage the enterprise, at dark alley Jeff was taken aback by the man with red branded boots, among the fray Cattlemen against Sheep men Jeff meets his most lethal enemy the Ranse Jackman (John Dehner) and his eager brothers, the Sheriff election will be in two days, Rance already spreading all around that all stagecoach's assault were done by the Sheep farmers, he is running for the charge to banish at once their contenders, meantime Jeff and Alec compete for Holly's love, guess will win? Well a standard B western, predicable although highly enjoyable directed by craftsman Jack Arnold!!!

Resume:

First watch: 2013 / How many: 2 / Source: DVD / Rating: 7

I found the beginning of The Man from Bitter Ridge quite challenging. It seems you could get shot just for looking at someone the wrong way and face absolutely no consequences whatsoever. Unfortunately, this was oddly the case for too many westerns films from this period. I stuck with it and found myself grow increasingly involved in the story and the individual characters: the head of the sheep herders, the special investigator, the woman they both love, to the point where I can say I really enjoyed The Man from Bitter Ridge more than I thought I would. Definitely check it out if your curious and see what you think.

It's Not Often that Sheep-Headers are at the Center of the Heroics in a Cow-Boy Movie.

In Fact, Emphasizing the Point, Steve McNally's Head Herder Nicknames' Lex Barker "Cowboy" and Uses it Relentlessly Throughout.

There's Much Going On in this Overpopulated Picture...

Stage-Coach Robberies of Targeted Gold Shipments.

The Town Celebrating, Complete with Marching Bands, Banners and Placards, the Election of the Town Sheriff with One Seriously Corrupt Candidate.

A Love Triangle Between a "Tarzan-Like" Hunk, Lex Barker, a Rough and Ready to Fist-Fight at the Drop of a Hat, Steve McNally, and the Stunningly Beautiful Tom-Boy and Crack-Shot, Mora Corday.

There are Many Battles with Fisticuffs, Dynamite, and Guns-Blazing.

The Climax is so Riddled with Gun-Play in the Middle of Town and Hundreds of Bullets Flying Everywhere, its Difficult to Tell Who's Shooting Who and it Resembles a Circular Firing Squad.

Certainly a Big-Bang for the Buck, with a Big-Budget,

and Direction from a 1950's icon of Pulp Entertainment, Jack Arnold.

Certainly makes this Big Colorful Entertainment...

Worth a Watch.

Jeff Carr, a special investigator, arrives in Tomahawk. His assignment is to discover who has been holding up the local stagecoach and is guilty for a series of killings that terrorize the town. Sheepman Alec Black is suspected by the local population but it is not long before Jeff realizes the man is innocent. Alec even becomes a good friend although he is in love with the same woman as him, Holly. Jeff will manage to arrest the real culprits but not before the latter try to compromise him down.

Lex Barker starred in a few westerns, the Man from the Bitter Ridge is one of his best ones- it's fast-paced, has loads of action, fistfights - the fight in the alleyway between Myron Healy and Barker is well choreographed with some judo locks - and good dialogue and cinematography. Stephen McNally stars as a sheepman, Mara Corday adds some glamour and John Dehner lends some villainy in this colourful oater.