User reviews

This film is not like your typical Western from the past, it has a very interesting story about the Quantrill Raiders from the South after the Civil war in the states. These Quantrill Raiders were still fighting the Civil War when it was over quite awhile ago, they meet up with Robert Ryan, (Jeff Clanton) a soldier in the Northern Army and he knows most of these Raiders and tries to help them get clemency from their war crimes. The Jesse James gang has joined up with the raiders and Lawrence Tierney, "Dillenger", plays the role of Jesse James. Robert Preston, (Matthew Flower) plays a carpetbagger who runs a Detective Agency and is out to kill Jeff Clanton, who is a lover of his wife, Claire Trevor,(Lily); and knows that Matt Flower is a crooked man out to make himself a fortune on capturing men who are Wanted and cash in on their reward money. Walter Brennan, (Doc Butcher) gives a great supporting role and lots of laughter. Great Western, enjoy.

I really do enjoy the westerns made by RKO around this time.They seemed to include just about every outlaw roaming the west throughout a period of 100 years.They also employed just about every Western character actor available at the time.This even has the advantage of Technicolour which shows that this was clearly an A film.RKO had clearly decided that if Universal were going to throw all their horror characters in one film they would do the same in Westerns.They would of course make sure that most of the Badmen survived so they could use them in another film.For me the standout performance was of Walter Brennan.Any film with him had a big plus.Also that favourite Warner gangster Bart Mclane.

Best of the Badmen is directed by William D. Russell and written by John Twist and Robert Hardy Andrews. It stars Robert Ryan, Claire Trevor, Robert Preston, Walter Brennan, Bruce Cabot, John Archer and Jack Buetel. It's a Technicolor production with cinematography by Edward Cronjager and music by Paul Sawtell.

"This story tells a forgotten chapter in the violent history of the West. Months after the tragic war between The States had ended there was still no peace on the Western Frontier."

William Russell's Western is an energetic entry into the pantheon of Oaters, it's one that involves the often filmed topic of the Jayhawkers or Bushwhackers who roamed the West causing hurt and pain in the aftermath of the Civil War. Best of the Badmen ropes in the brothers James and Younger, a few other scalawag types (Curly Ringo/Doc Butcher) and gives them a leader in the tall form of Robert Ryan's Jeff Clanton. How and why Clanton, and ex Union Major, joined the Confederate guerrilla unit? Is a nifty bit of story telling that adds a vengeful bite to what otherwise could have been standard B Western formula.

Once motives and character traits are established, film goes about its business with guts and determination. A fight, a pursuit or a sneaky act is never far from the plot, there's even a romantic thread that's not over stretched, allowing the splendidly attired Miss Trevor as the estranged Lilly Fowler to light up the screen. The narrative has some smarts about it, Clanton and his gang are out to ruin "The Fowler Agency" (an obvious nod to the Pinkerton Agency) which is run by dastardly Matthew Fowler (Preston), but although Clanton wants revenge on Fowler, he's still a good guy at heart and will not let his gang become murderous terrorists. Honour among thieves? Yes indeed, but of course it's not going to be all plain sailing when the group is full of such strong personalities.

Although clearly not an "A" list Western, the cast assembled is approaching "A" list quality. Ryan (The Naked Spur/The Day of the Outlaw/The Wild Bunch) in the genre speaks for itself, but he's also surrounding by an assortment of fine Western and film noir character actors. Preston (This Gun for Hire/Blood on the Moon), Trevor (Key Largo/Man Without a Star) and Brennan (Red River/My Darling Clementine), all deliver the expected committed performance. One of the film's weaknesses is under using some of the secondary performers, especially Lawrence Tierney (Dillinger/Born to Kill), who as Jesse James only gets a couple of lines! However, Bruce Cabot (King Kong/Fury) and John Archer (White Heat) do get to earn their pay. Rounding out the noticeable bad guys are Robert Wilke (High Noon/Night Passage), Jack Buetel (The Outlaw), Tom Tyler (Blood on the Moon) and John Cliff (River of No Return).

There's some distracting back screen work within the piece, and Cronjager's photography never gets a chance to shine, the latter not helped by a standard print of the film that needs a good scrub up. But the cast, story, action and execution of said story, definitely make this a better than average Western. 7/10

I don't know if in real life the Clanton brothers met the Younger brothers or Billy the Kid or Jesse James, but in the western hsitory, all those mighty west characters did it many times; even Buffalo Bill and Wild Bill Hickock met the Ford brothers too. The Robert Ryan's character called Clanton is maybe just a coincidence here, no relation with Wyatt Earp, but admit it's a bit weird to associate Clanton and the Youngers.... Besides this curious but not so surprising matter, this is a good western, made by a director totally unknown for the big screen industry after this one. He only worked for TV stuff, series. Despite the cast, gallery of tough guys portraits - Robert Preston, Lawrence Tierney, Barton Mc Lane - Robert Ryan steals the show by his presence, as usual, and the pace is very tense, for RKO, who was not specialized in westerns in particular.

This is a story written about the West and some of the more famous individuals who really participated in it's inception. For many in the audience, this movie star's Robert Ryan and the great and magnetic presence he brings to the silver screen. The story is called " Best of the Bad men. " Proportedly it is set in the 1860's shortly after the Civil War. The last of the rebel hold outs have been captured by Major Jefferson Clanton (Robert Ryan) and the Union army and offered the oath of Alligence to the United States. This does not sit well with the carpetbaggers who believe the Rebels should be tried and hanged. Robert Preston is Matthew Fowler a greedy, mob-stirring businessman who is out to crucify Clanton for denying him his bounty on the former bad men. Walter Brennan, Bruce Cabot and Jack Buetel make for a formidable bunch as the beginnings of the infamous James and Younger gangs. For a touch of feminine beauty we have beautiful and seductive Claire Trevor as Lily Fowler. Together, the entire cast makes for a rousing yarn set in the Old West. There is plenty of explosions, gun-fights, fist-fighting, fast horses and double dealing to keep the audience interesting and for once, our hero Robert Ryan doesn't have to play the heavy. OK, the story is a bit far-fetch, but fun none-the-less. Recommended to anyone who wishes to slay a somber afternoon. ***

Whatever merit BEST OF THE BADMEN has as a movie can be traced to its cast of film veterans headed by ROBERT RYAN, ROBERT PRESTON, CLAIRE TREVOR, WALTER BRENNAN, BRUCE CABOT, JACK BEUTEL and LAWRENCE TIERNEY, all of whom look right at home in this post-Civil War western about Quantrill's Raiders who are still acting as though the war between the states isn't over.

CLAIRE TREVOR has her usual hard-boiled role as Lily, a woman married to ROBERT PRESTON, a corrupt man out to capture the good Yankee, ROBERT RYAN--but who meets with resistance when his wife plots to help Ryan escape jail. The story is rather routine and not on too firm a footing toward the end, but it's all made enjoyable by the usual number of shootouts and roundups, all filmed in some fine Technicolor.

While Preston and Cabot have the meatiest bad men roles, it's really Ryan and Trevor who walk off with the acting honors. As for JACK BEUTEL, it's easy to see why he never made it to major stardom despite his handsome good looks.

This thrilling western deals with an Union Mayor called Clanton (Robert Ryan) who is wrongly accused for a killing ,he is then condemned to death. He escapes and becomes involved with the most famous outlaws (Bruce Cabot, Walter Brennan, John Archer , Robert Wilke,Lawrence Tierney,Jack Buetel) from the wild west. Clanton is wanted for murders, reward : 5ooo dollars . He is wanted dead or alive . The nasty Fowler leads a bloody manhunt against Clanton . This is an epic as well as stirring thrill parade down banditry halls of infamy . Concerning the worst bushwackers of the untamed western who execute a rampage of murders and terror . There also appears the lady they called Lily (Claire Trevor). Meanwhile they execute a bank robbery protected by a detective agency run by corrupt enemy , Fowler (Robert Preston)

An epic saga of a land beyond the law starred by star-studded, inclusive cowboy actors, great personalities and many other things. An exciting and explosive flick in which action and thrills are unstoppable . The tale starts with a prologue that explains the following : this story tells a forgotten chapter in the violent history of the west , months after the tragic war between The States had ended there was still no peace on the western frontier. The plot is plain and simple taking place post American civil War where bushwackers and Jayhawkers carry out real and violent rampages and ravages . Here shows up a lot of bandits as Cole Younger, Jim Jounger , Jesse James , Frank James , Ringo and Clanton . All of them starred by known actors who give compelling interpretations such as Bruce Cabot , Jack Buetel , John Archer , Lawrence Tierney , Tom Tyler, Robert Wilke , John Cliff , and Robert Ryan . And the comical relief for the sympathetic secondary Walter Brennan .This one belongs to a trilogy formed by the original Badmen territory 1946 by Tim Whelan with Randolph Scott , Anne Richards , Steve Brodie , George Gabby Hayes ,Return of the bad Men 1948 by Ray Enright with Randolph Scott, Robert Ryan , George Hayes . All of them starred by by notorious bandits of the wild west and performed by prestigious secondary players.

The motion picture was compellingly directed by William Russell , though it has some flaws and gaps . Russell directed a few films as The Sainted Sisters, Our Heart were growing up, Ladies' man , Dear Ruth and a lot of television series .The picture will appear to western buffs . Well worth watching.

Don't mistake this for a great or even good movie for a second. It's full of clichés, unrealistic situations, fudged history, characters whose motives and emotions seem to change at the drop of a hat and the ability to travel great distances at light-speed. In short there's absolutely nothing to cement it to anything resembling the real West. What saves it is the fact that it doesn't aspire or even pretend to be a great or good movie. The actors appear to have a good time delivering their silly dialog and hamming it up for the camera. And there's lots of action. People running around, either on foot or on horseback, lots of fistfights, gunfights, chases, robberies, standoffs, etc. etc. etc. And let's not forget the glorious Technicolor. This is one of my favorite parts of the early Technicolor movies. The color wasn't really true to life but boy was it ever brilliant. Claire Trevor never looked better in her red dress, cut low with plenty of cleavage and shoulders exposed. Every one of her outfits was so brilliant it literary jumped off the screen. How such a gorgeous woman ever survived intact in the midst of a bunch of ruffians is a mystery to me but like I said this movie doesn't try to be realistic. So put aside logic and have fun when you watch this. Bear in mind that my low score reflects its artistic merits not its fun factor. Highly recommended.

Jeff Clanton (Robert Ryan) a major in the Union army, captures the remnants of the Quantrill Raiders which include the James brothers as well as the Youngers. Clanton is disposed to let them all go if they take an oath of allegiance, but Mathew Fowler (Robert Preston), the head of the Fowler Detective Agency, a private law enforcement outfit that protects the moneyed interests, has his eyes set on the impressive rewards each of the "badmen" has accrued, setting up what looks to be a pretty good story when Ryan is arrested and faces hanging. He sides with the "badmen" against Fowler, who seems to represent the emerging new order. Claire Trevor, who is supposed to be a saloon girl, is actually married to Fowler, but falls for Clanton. Her character makes zero sense and the movie makes less and less sense as it goes along, a disturbing trend which even the great Robert Preston can't turn around, though he's always worth watching.

Well-stocked Western, full of plot, divided loyalties and shifting alliances. After the war, Union Major Robert Ryan processes amnesty for Confederate raiders led by Bruce Cabot. Trouble is that carpetbagger detective agency led by Preston wants the ex-Confederates' and Ryan's hides. Add Claire Trevor as Preston's ex-wife, and a number of subplots, and you've got plenty of story.

The powerfully intense Ryan holds the many threads together and is near the peak of his exceptionally fine career. The cast here is unusual, featuring a number of former leading men, such as Cabot, Tierney, Preston, and the one-shot Buetel best known for camp classic The Outlaw (1943). And, of course, there's a crusty old Walter Brennan adding color as veterinarian and ex- horse thief Doc Butcher (not the best name for a doctor).

Obscure director William Russell has a nice eye for location landscapes that, at times, are quite striking. The movie's at its best, I think, when Ryan is interacting with the Confederates. It's a nice study in wary respect among macho men. I could have done without Trevor's subplot, but at least it's woven believably into the main plot. However, after the big build-up, I thought the final shoot-out was rather anemic and disappointing. Nonetheless, the movie holds interest throughout, (especially the fine first part), with a number of colorful characters, scenic vistas, and more story conflicts than usual.

A routine but intelligent 'A' western set in the aftermath of the Civil War with a supporting cast encompassing sixty years of film history from 'King Kong' to 'Reservoir Dogs'; as well as two former Oscar winners. (One of the Oscar winners is Claire Trevor, practically the only woman in it, second billed but underused, but still seductive in her forties - "Do what I tell you and you'll always go wrong!" - in a rare chance to see her in Technicolor.)

Baby-faced Jack Buetel as Bob Younger was nearing the end of his brief film career (which began as Billy the Kid in 'The Outlaw'); while Robert Preston was still playing moustached weaklings, his peak still some way in the distance.

When I noticed this movie advertised on ABC TV, I looked up the story, checked the cast, noted it was an RKO IB Technicolor production, and thought this just has to be seen. It sounded like I was headed for an above average western that I'd somehow missed over the years. Fifteen Min's in, I began to realize why I'd not come across it before (or had forgotten I had!)

It could offer some fun for the undiscerning or easily pleased, but both reviews by Robert Maxwell, and Plankton Rules (both IMDb) have summed it up perfectly (I should have listened to their warnings). With all the great and good classic productions out there, why waste time on sub standard writing like this! The cast is fine (especially Robert Ryan) Clair Trevor was easy on the eye in gloriously colorful dress, but direction and script fully lets them down. The overused, and under talented Barton Maclane simply became a bit of a put-off in these clichéd roles. Leonard Maltin calls it 'offbeat', but it tends to tread a rather conventional trail...and rather poorly. I like an 'off-beat' story, they can often give us a reason to think along different lines, a bit like James Clavell's early racially aware western: "Walk Like a Dragon" from 1960.

I suppose for 'Best Of The Bad Men' I should have been more conscious of the date ~ by the early 50's the once great RKO had been eroded into the doldrums by it's fanatical owner, and was just a few years away from total collapse. The combination of a 'B' western writer, and a largely Television based director, in this case, did not help either.

Worst of the badmen ~ stay away if your looking for facts, believability or logic.......KenR

At the end of the American Civil War a Union officer tries to help a band of former Confederate cavalrymen to regain their citizenship. He makes a powerful enemy of a ruthless carpetbagger-one of many pouring into the Kansas territory-and is forced to throw in his lot with the 'outlaw' Confederates.

There's an array of historical bad guys - Jesse James, Cole younger.etc - and they shown in a sympathetic light, at least in first half before their bloodthirstiness gets the better of them.

It's a brisk and highly enjoyable programmer from RKO pictures with plenty of chases, close shaves and shootouts. The plot has enough twists and turns to keep things interesting. Robert Ryan is excellent as the confederate officer who is sentenced to hang, and Walter Brennan and Jack Buetal give good support. Claire Trevor is very good in her role.

What happens to Robert Ryan in Best Of The Badmen comes under the heading of no good deed goes unpunished. Ryan is a Union Army major who persuades the last of Quantrill's Raiders to give up and accept an amnesty. Those are his orders, but he also was waiting on his discharge. When both come around the same time it causes trouble when he shoots a man who was trying to prevent these outlaws from taking the oath of allegiance to the USA as prescribed in Lincoln's amnesty policy. Ryan gets arrested and tried and convicted and sentenced to hang.

Villain of the piece is Robert Preston who is a carpetbagger looking to set up a quasi dictatorship in the area. The script isn't too clear about just where this is all supposed to be. There were carpetbag governments in Texas, but not in Kansas or Missouri or in what was the Indian nations or Oklahoma. Be that as it may Preston is an unscrupulous nasty customer. He's so bad he has a wife who left him to sing in saloons. Claire Trevor also helps Ryan escape.

What else is Ryan to do but throw in with the same men he freed who are now real outlaws. An impressive cast was assembled by RKO that included Lawrence Tierney, Bruce Cabot, Jack Beutel, Robert Wilkie, Tom Tyler, John Archer, and Walter Brennan. Barton MacLane is his usual nasty rasping self as Preston's chief henchmen.

This really great cast puts over this western which is not terribly accurate.

"Best of the Badmen" is a lot better than its reputation. It's a very exciting movie. The cast is top-notch. Some reviews knock the movie for having Jesse & Frank James and the Younger Brothers as characters but those are just names that are just thrown around. It has nothing to do with the story. After about ten minutes, you forget that they're supposed to be those famous outlaws. The movie is not about them. It's about Robert Ryan. Ryan gives a very nice performance in this movie. So does the always welcome duo of Claire Trevor and Walter Brennan. The (almost) always reliable film critic Leonard Maltin gave this movie a 2 1/2 out of 4 saying that it "has more talk than action". He couldn't be more wrong. "Best of the Badmen" is an action packed good time.