Cripple Creek

The script sprawls some, but the oater's well cast and entertaining. Three Secret Service agents led by Ivers (Montgomery) go undercover to break up a gold smuggling ring in Cripple Creek, headed by a smug city slicker, Silver (Bishop). Two sequences are real nail-biters—the Russian roulette scene that's really well done, and the smelter scene that pays good attention to detail. Then again, there's the silly barroom brawl that suggests the influence of a kids' matinée feature. Really, George Cleveland's crusty old grouch is all the comedy relief that's needed. Anyway, the western's uncommonly well cast with familiar faces up and down the line. The script even manages a good surprise at the end. As a former resident of the real Cripple Creek, however, I'm surprised at how much that mountain town is supposed to resemble LA's San Fernando Valley, as though that matters entertainment-wise. Anyway, it's a pretty good western somewhere between an A and B production.

(In passing-- the Cripple Creek gold camp was a boom town for several decades; then became a near-ghost town in the 1950's after the price of gold was frozen; but has lately revived with casino gambling and a and a return to market pricing. It's got a magnificent scenic view across a hundred miles of South Park to the main range of the Rockies. So visit there if you can.)

There's one well organized ring of gold smugglers operating out of the gold strike camp of Cripple Creek, Colorado. There's so much gold being smuggled out of the place that the Secret Service is concerned. Remember the USA was on the gold standard back then.

So the Secret Service assigns agents George Montgomery, Richard Egan, and Jerome Courtland to go undercover and apprehend this gang. Courtland is young and impulsive, but both Montgomery and Egan think pretty fast on their feet as you'll see as the story unfolds.

Just about everybody of any importance in Cripple Creek is involved in the smuggling which is why the government hasn't been able to get a handle on it so far. That's why our agents really have their work cut out for them in this fast paced western.

Cripple Creek is a competently made B western with a real twist at the end. Two twists in fact, especially when you find out who the head of the smuggling ring is and what's the purpose behind all the gold smuggling.

Cripple Creek is one western not just for the kid trade.

This western is ably directed by Ray Nazzaro, a veteran director, and stars George Montgomery who is an undercover agent, who along with his gun toting partner, is assigned to sort out the gold smugglers in Cripple Creek. It's routine plot is given a punch by some of the action, the hideout where the gold is processed, the well-staged fist fight, the nail biting Russian roulette sequence and the killer twist at the end. Having said that, a little more investigation by the hero would've been great, but it's still an entertaining western, which is the most important thing.

George Montgomery, Jerome Courtland and Richard Egan are undercover agents in the old west trying to break a gold smuggling ring working out of the town of Cripple Creek.

This is good, solid western entertainment. It's a buddy- western, shoot-em-up, fist-fight, and midnight rides type movie. I found it to be well paced, written and acted. It has some plot twists that make it more adultish than the usual kid-western fodder.

For the western movie fan, there's alot of other familiar faces among the cast, and everyone gives a fine performance.

This has been on Encore's Western Channel. Catch it if you can without commercials, it's so much better.

Ray Nazzaro the director was not that lousy after all, or only for his first part of career. This little western is agreeable though very predictable too. You have George Montgomery as the lead, as well you could have had Rory Calhoun or Sterling Hayden. Beautiful settings and landscapes, not too long, and a never boring story. So, for western fans, this movie is worth the watch. Of course, if you search something very unusual and different, you may be a bit deceived. Good efficient scenes, very surprising in such a B western. Good ending twist too. Yes, an above average Ray Nazzaro western. I highly recommend it. Go ahead now !