Ride Beyond Vengeance

I grew up in Bay Saint Louis Mississippi.My Mother was makeup artist for the Little Theatre there(mid fifties).Under her influence I did my first role there(in my mid teens).The best character actor with the group was a man by the name of Mark Solomen.He helped coach me in my first role.At the time, he had just read what he said was the best western novel he had ever read.He ended up giving me the book. It was an original hard bound version called "Night Of The Tiger". I agreed it was a great novel even though it was the author's first attempt. At the time, I had no way of knowing that through a most unique set of circumstances I would end up launching a career in films myself(on Yancy Derringer, in 1958).Because I am a good horseman as well as a western type(6'4"anglo),by the mid sixties I was a seasoned veteran of the westerns of the era in both TV and feature films. In the early sixties I became friends with Chuck connors,and ended up working for him as standin and horseback double on some of his western projects including Rifleman, Cowboy in africa,and Branded. It was when we were doing the Branded series,and the time came for us to shut down for hiaetus.I was told we would be doing a movie with a thirty day shooting schedule in the meantime, and that I would shortly be called in to do make up and costume tests for Chuck,on lot three at MGM,with a skeleton crew. When that day came,I reported to the Paramount Sunset lot where I got into a stretch limo with all the key personnel including director, producer(Andrew Fenady),makeup artist, costumer etc. On the way to MGM the producer and director were discussing how meaty some of the main character's dialogue was. As they quoted him it began to sound familiar to me so I turned to andy(the producer)and asked what's the name of this film. I could'nt believe it when he said "Night Of The Tiger". Needless to say I related the above story to him. It turns out he had found the paperback version in a west hollywood supermarket while his wife was buying groceries. And of course he responded to the book the same as Mark Solomen had all those years earlier back home,and he went right out and bought the movie rights. On the first day of production I brought the book with me and gifted Andy with it. Andrew Fenady was one of the youngest and most brilliant producers I have ever known. In fact he and Nick adams created Johnny Yuma "the rebel". Who else could have pulled together such a cast for a "quickie" western. There can be no question but that this cast was drawn to the project by the power of the story. Imagine,Bill Bixby,Jim Mc Arthur,Claude Akins,Paul fix,Michael Renny,etc. The only thing I disagreed with Andy on was the change of title. He felt that Night Of The Tiger sounded like a jungle movie. This film remains in my top ten favorite westerns (with some of clint eastwood's spagetti westerns). It is also one of the most unique coincidences of my life.

This may well be the best role Chuck Connors ever had outside of his regular TV series work. A griping tale of a man who leaves his wife to go off and make a fortune for her only to return 10 years later. A return that is met with rejection by the woman he left behind and a brutal beating and robbing that leaves the man branded as a thief. An action that sets him down a road of vengeance against the three men who robbed him and sets the entire town on edge. With excellent performances by Bill Bixby, Michael Rennie, Kathryn Hayes and Claude Adkins as a borderline psychotic who talks to his invisible friend "Whiskey Man." This one is definitely worth catching and of late has appeared many times on the Westerns Channel where it is shown uncut and without commercial interruption which helps to add even more to the movement of the story. A film filled with many great actors who are all sadly either gone or no longer practicing their craft today. All of whom give the viewer some of their best performances ever. As for during the 60s when this was made, it would have definitely had an audience in those drive-in theaters of yesterday. An excellent one all around.

This movie is in one word, "Classic!", the characters are very memorable, and it portrays a quality and originality that you do not find in movies anymore! The author of this story, obviously knows how to write a story, that keeps the viewer mesmerized! I would recommend this movie to anyone!

At the opening and closing scenes , in which appear the notorious secondaries Arthur O'Connell and James McArthur , there are frames on an old worn wooden caption which reads : " Coldiron , Texas site of the reprisal population 754¨ . Then , there happens some flashbacks concerning Jonas Trapp (Chuck Connors, whose name has been changed from "Julius Rupp" to "Jonas Trapp") falling in love with the charming Jessie (Kathryn Hays) , a wealthy and gorgeous girl out of his humble class . Against the wishes of her stiff-upper-lip aunt (Ruth Warrick) , she marries him , later faking a pregnancy to win her snobbish aunt's consent . But Jonas abandons his home to seek fame and fortune . Many years later , with his self-made fortune , he sets out to go back home, to meet his strong-willed spouse , only to be set upon by three sadistic , villian assailants (Claude Akins , Bill Bixby , and veteran Michael Rennie) ; matters quickly get worse when these marauders rob his money , mark a sign on his chest and leave him for dead . Robbed and left to die he is saved by a farmer who nurses him back to health, as the rescued Jonas becomes consumed by the desire for vendetta , now the hunted becomes the hunter and he is determined to stop a ruthless drunk gunfighter and other attacker townsmen . As fate would have it, all three men live close to Jonas' former home . No one will forget that night of vengeance when the tiger came back to stalk his prey! Their desires...their hatred...their violence exploded one furious night !The West had yet to see its greatest showdown...this was it !.They stalked each other like animals in the night knowing only one would survive

Nice-looking but far from run-of-the-mill Western , including some novelties , but also with usual elements , such as franctic action , thrills , crossfire , drama , romance and some spectacular action scenes . Along with a love triangle in which implicates trio starring , as Jonas/Connors reunites with his wife Jessie/Kathryn Hays, only to discover that she is now engaged to Brooks/ Michael Rennie. The plot is plain and simple , a man results to be chased , ambushed , stolen , mistreated and humiliated by a nasty band ; now as a revenger seeks vendeta against those stole him , they are : a drunken gunslinger : Claude Akins , an elegant womanizer : Bill Bixby with several loving affairs and a wealthy owner : Michael Rennie . A blending of functional main actors with great character players of whom Chuck Connors holds the best role as a brave gunman seeking revenge in Spaghetti Western style , in fact this film is really influenced by the Italian Western , using its main motives : a relentless vengeance and spontaneous burts of violence . The movie titled¨Ride beyond vengence¨ changed its title from that of its source , a 1956 novel called "The Night of the Tiger," written by Al Dewlen , and also based on the names of the characters in the movie, with some brief exception . A warm and thrilling storyline and thanks to a personable realization and overwhelming action scenes makes an enjoyable movie , a real pleasure to listen to as well as watch . The hothouse plot drives mercilessly forward with frenetic action , breathtaking shooting , thrills , treason , rivalry , twists and turns . And a thrilling and exciting ending , containing a breathtaking fistfight with punches , leaps , slaps , knocks ...that is deemed by many as one of the best ever to show up in a film , western or otherwise . Chuck Connors gives a tough and two-fisted performance often emphasized by his muscular 6'6" physique . He plays a strong man who tired of living off of his wife's family, then eventually deserts her to become a buffalo hunter . Connors had a decent acting career , though Baseball had always been Connors' first love, and for the next several years he knocked about the minor leagues . Shortly after , devoted full time to his playing career, which often emphasized his impressive physique and height . Then a MGM casting director spotted Connors and recommended him for a part in the Spencer Tracy-Katharine Hepburn comedy Pat and Mike (1952). Originally cast to play a prizefighter, but that role went instead to Aldo Ray and Connors was cast as a captain in the state police . He now abandoned his athletic hopes and employed full time to his performancing career . During the next several years Connors made 20 movies, culminating in a key role in William Wyler's 1958 western The Big Country (1958) and a successful Sci-Fi , Soylent Green , along with his friend Charlton¨Chuck¨Heston . Also appearing in many television series , he finally hit the big time in 1958 with The Rifleman (1958), and it was ranked #32 in TV Guide's list of the "50 Greatest TV Dads of All Time" , it began its highly successful five-year run on ABC . Other television series followed , as did a number of movies which , though mostly minor, allowed Connors to display his range as both a stalwart "good guy" and a menacing "heavy". Chuck played various Westerns , such as : The hired gun , The deserter , Pancho Villa, Bordello, Texas Train and especially Geronimo ; he even performed a Spaghetti Western made in Italy : Kill Them All and Come Back Alone . Connors died at age 71 of lung cancer and pneumonia on November 10, 1992 in Los Angeles, California . Chuck is well accompanied by a very good support cast , such as : Michael Rennie as a mean , arrogant banker , Ruth Warrick as the strict aunt , Joan Blondell as a gossipy villager , Gloria Grahame as a cheating spouse having an affair , Gary Merrill as Jonas' foster dad , Bill Bixby as a violent seducer , Claude Akins as an alcoholic killer , James McArthur as a Census controller visiting the small town , Arthur O'Connell as a barman , Buddy Baer as a bouncer , Robert Q. Lewis , William Bryant , Jamie Farr , Harry Harvey , and Frank Gorshin , the famous Riddler of Batman series as a greedy ranch hand.

Well financed by Columbia Pictures (1966) and Andrew J. Fenady , producer who also wrote the screenplay along with author Al Lewden who created the novel "The Night of the Tiger" . And atmospheric soundtrack by Richard Markowitz , adding wonderful song at the beginning and ending . It is titled : ¨You Can't Ever Go Home Again¨ with Music by Richard Markowitz , Lyrics by Andrew J. Fenady and Sung by Glenn Yarbrough . It packs an evocative and adequate cinematography by Lester Shorr , but in television style . Being original and professionally directed by craftsman Bernard McEveety . He was a nice artisan who directed a lot of episodes of TV series and telefilms , such as : Jim West , Planet of Apes , The quest , How the West Was Won , Marcus Welby Gunsmoke , B.J. and the Bear , Banacek , Las Vegas , Centennial , S.W.A.T. , Hawaii 5.0 , Petrocelli , The mask of Alexander , Cimarron , Three for the Road , The Rockford cases, and The Big Valley . Bernard ocassionally directed for big screen , such as : Broken Sabre , Napoleón y Samantha , One Little Indian and Brotherhood of Satan . Rating : 6.5/10 . Acceptable , passable and decent Western . Well worth watching .

"Ride Beyond Vengeance" is more than a typical western. Although produced on a low budget by television producers Mark Goodson And Bill Toddman ("The Price is Right") and featuring several names mostly familiar to TV audiences, it has a dynamic, if pessimistic script more concerned with character development than standard action--not that the film lacks action or violence.

Cowboy Jonas Trapp (Chuck Connors of "Rifleman" fame) falls in love with the beautiful Jessie (Kathryn Hays), very appealing in her first film, a wealthy girl out of his humble class. Against the wishes of her snobbish aunt (Ruth Warrick), she marries him, later faking a pregnancy to win her aunt's consent. But Jonas tires of living off of his wife's family, and eventually deserts her to become a buffalo hunter. 11 years later, with his self-made fortune, he sets out to return home, only to be set upon by three sadistic marauders, Michael Rennie, Bill Bixby and Claude Akins, who steal his money and leave him for dead. Rescued by a farmer (Paul Fix, Connors' "Rifleman" co-star) who nurses him back to health, Jonas becomes consumed by the desire for revenge. As fate would have it, all three men live close to Jonas' former home. Matters quickly get worse when Jonas reunites with his wife, only to discover that she is now engaged to Rennie.

Made on a three week schedule on an obvious sound-stage, "Ride Beyond Vengeance" succeeds in transcending it's shortcomings by the powerful acting of a first-rate cast. Connors gives his best performance, and he is well (if briefly) supported by Joan Blondell (as a gossipy townswoman), Gloria Grahame (a cheating wife having an affair with Bixby), Gary Merrill as Jonas' foster father, Frank Gorshin as an arrogant ranch hand, and Buddy Baer as a Bouncer. Buried way down the cast list is young starlet Marrisa Mathes, who is sympathetic and real as the grieving girlfriend of Bixby who reaches out to Jonas. But, next to Connors, the film belongs to Bixby, as a sadomasochistic dandy. James MaCarthur and Arthur O'Connell appear in a present day prologue to set the scene and narrate the story. The screenplay is based on Al Dewlen's novel, "The Night of the Tiger" and spends considerable time fleshing out the characters. Of course, violence rears it's ugly head here and there, but not so much as to put off the viewer. (It did, however, put off critics when it was released back in 1966) but it went on to garner a massive audience when it had its television premiere. Today, it seems better than it was initially given credit for, and remains well worth seeing. A widescreen DVD release is due out in December. It's about time!