I banditi di Poker Flat

In the aftermath of a violent robbery, the "Ahm gonna clean up this town" mob are out in force targeting four miscreants; guilty by association, Anne Baxter, past her sell by date floozy, Miriam Hopkins, career drunk, Billy Lynn and dapper cardsharp, Dale Robertson, driving them away, in the direction of an icy wilderness, supplied only with a portion of chicken so scraggy, it would raise customer complaints on the Kids' Menu at KFC! With Craig Hill and heavily pregnant Barbara Bates joining the group, the chicken seems especially paltry.

Self styled leader of the pack, Robertson, locates a desolate, isolated cabin, affording only the meagrest refuge from the ensuing storm. From this point everything that could go wrong.....does! Amidst deepening snow and plunging temperatures, the blocked chimney creates a serious smoke hazard. Oh!......and did I mention that all their horses escape? No doubt in search of warmer weather.

Only a visit from the Abominable Snowman could further aggravate the situation and sadistic, gun toting Cameron Mitchell duly obliges, keen to lay hands on 'his' money and his moll. The treacherous, trigger happy outlaw proceeds to hold the woeful bunch hostage, but as blizzard conditions grow more severe, the last morsel of chicken disappears along with any likely chance of escape. As reality hits home, the gunman becomes increasingly edgy and agitated, while Robertson retains a cool, pragmatic exterior. Could the gambler now be holding all the cards?

The starkly beautiful black and white cinematography perfectly captures the bleak, sombre mood of this gritty, atmospheric, noirish western, with its pervading themes of rejection, isolation and confinement. Unusual and unappreciated, 'Poker Flat' is a minimalist classic of its genre.