The Return of Jack Slade

For a low budget Allied Artists oater this one is quite remarkable. The story of the son of Jack Slade infiltrating an outlaw gang really held my interest, and I am not generally a fan of westerns. John Ericson was probably too good looking for his own good, but he did still manage to find interesting and challenging character roles in a variety of small budget action films in the 50s while others like him were stuck in the rut of playing the handsome hero. He does a great job in THE RETURN OF JACK SLADE, probably better then the average 50s B-actor would have done. Mari Blanchard is also impressive as Texas Rose, the somewhat good girl mixed up with some bad boys, and the romantic chemistry between the two is quite believable and touching. If you come across this one late at night, stick around, I think you will enjoy it.

I like all the films staring Ericson. He has always been an under rated actor. No one would know he was born in Germany. The film is a good, not great, Western. Why it was not done in color is beyond me. I wished it would have been a bit more true historically but thats the way of the westerns of the fifties! The film does have some witty moments. Another asset is Neville Brand. He was one of the all time heavies and shows his stuff in this flick. Worth the time to watch! The outdoor scenes are also good. Was also a good start for Angie Dickinson who does not have a great part but still shines. The interaction of Slade and "Com padre" is also good but could have been longer. I also like the fact that the weapons are accurate for the period. Most flicks of this era didn't pay much attention to the details. Although an older film parental discretion should be used because of the violence.

This is definitely a low budget picture but it has some pretty good production values. The film seems to be filmed totally outdoors and the use of polarizing or yellow filters made the sky shots dramatic. John Ericson's performance isn't particularly dramatic but for a 50s oater it was was above average. He's almost "too pretty" for this kind of role. I thought the winning over of Mari Blanchard was sort of hokey given that she stole Ericson's gun in the beginning of the movie. I found the romance between the two sort of forced but she was nice eye candy.

Nevil Brand played his usually great bad guy and he's one of my favorite western actors along with Jack Elam.

It was pleasant to see Angie Dickinson in one of her early performances.

One of the bones I have to pick with this film is a certain lack of realism. Cowboys of the period didn't wear belts to hold their pants up. They wore suspenders. Pants of the period didn't have belt loops

"The return of Jack Slade" makes me think that perfect relax, if not happiness, is an old unpretentious western of the 1950's. Everything in the movie contributes to smooth the viewer's nerves. The story is linear, pleasantly predictable, with a suitable number of classic gunfights and dramatic events. The hero John Ericson (Jack Slade) is handsome and fast with his gun. Neville Brand makes a nice job as the villain Sutton. The movie is entirely filmed in open air: the viewer breaths freely, he feels to ride together with the guys on the screen. A little paradox: the locations are beautiful, but not stunning (that's not Monument Valley or similar wonders of nature). Yet this very fact increases the relax of the viewer: too much beauty could require a tiresome concentration...

And there is a beautifully romantic, even touching love-story... Let's give much credit to the loveliness, charm and niceness of Mari Blanchard as Texas Rose (this very name is a treat: isn't it?).

And, yes, we also find a good deal of mild, agreeable erotism in the movie. You know, the camp of the outlaws swarms with gorgeous, cheerful girls (a very young Angie Dickinson among the others)... they all wear tight trousers and shirts, showing that they are, well, in great physical shape, to say the least... and the girls keep guns in holsters, and they draw and shoot, and a couple of them wrestle on the ground of jealousy... Thereafter three smiling beauties, even more attractive wearing 19th century lady robes, hijack a stagecoach, with alluring toughness... Light, good-taste erotism, perfect for dreaming without being disturbed.

I don't want to be misunderstood: "The return of Jack Slade" is a flick of no consequence (but the intense presence of Mari Blanchard is something, believe me). I don't care: I really had a good time seeing this movie.

The son of a quick-shooting lawman, Jack Slade (John Ericson) abandons law school to follow in his late father's footsteps. At the behest of Pinkerton agent Joseph Ryan (Howard Petrie), Slade infiltrates the hideout of the notorious Wild Bunch, led by the vicious Harry Sutton (Neville Brand). As he gathers information about the gang, his mission is threatened by his friendship with alcoholic cowboy Johnny (Jon Shepodd) and his growing attraction to female outlaw Texas Rose (Mari Blanchard.

The Return of Jack Slade is an ok western with some excitement like the train robberies, the final shootout, and a few interesting characters like Neville Brand and Mari Blanchard. Jon Ericsson in the title role looks suitably rebellious as the son of Jack Slade and has a permanent teen pout, but I found him bland, dull, and he looked like he was trying to remember his lines. He lacked that charisma as a lead, I felt. To be honest, I found this western on the dull side, especially in the talking bits, and the plot dragged. Having said that, the stark black and white photography adds to the gritty depiction of the outlaws and its hide out. Some lively action is scattered here and there. But nothing too special.