Red Desert

I saw this movie many years ago, I guess in the early 50's. It was one of my favorites. I remember it being very atmospheric, especially the chase in the desert. It also had a great ending, a real surprise. I would love to see it again.

Barry plays the G-man sent to track the man who stole gold bullion. Trail leads Barry through desolate desert where survival is more than half the fight. Routine oater, notable only for the eerie organ music thru-out.

I saw this very unique western on TV as a kid (1950s), and it is one of the few movies that stuck with me all this time. Two things stood out - the lack of dialog and I was mesmerized by the background organ music. I know little about the story, other than it was an extended chase, but the atmosphere held me throughout. Other reviewers have indicated that it's a decent story with some surprises at the end.

Red Barry was a different kind of western hero, a tough little guy who didn't smile much. I've been a fan of his ever since, and always enjoyed coming across him in so many TV series. Would love to see Red Desert again, and would buy it if available.

Pecos Kid (Don Barry) is ambushed on the Red Desert and left to die by the man he was hunting. As he muses about his fate, he recalls President U. S. Grant (Joseph Crehan) and Colonel McMasters (Tom London) assigning him the task of capturing a notorious man of many disguises and aliases, Lefty Jordon, killer and robber of government gold bullion.

While coming West on a stagecoach, Peco meets casino owner John Williams (Tom Neal), jeweler Sparky Jackson (Byron Foulger) and saloon entertainer Hazel Carter (Margia Dean.) Williams and his partner Deacon Smith (Jack Holt) hire Pecos as a card dealer.

Pecos discovers that Williams is shipping bullion processed into jewelry and, when he starts after Williams, is forced to kill Smith. Williams escapes into the desert but is killed by Pecos after a long chase.

He then realizes that Williams is not the wanted Lefty Jordan as he doesn't have a snake tattoo on his left arm - who does?

Red Desert isn't just about man vs man, but man vs nature, and in this case it's the desert which helps keeping the hero from getting the bad guy. The element works against them - but one guy is going to come out alive. It's a slightly unusual western, specifically during the desert scenes with organ music sounding. It's like you are watching a silent film. Quite atmospheric. Great scenery, you feel like you are there and a nice twist at the end.

Ford Beebe the director was famous for his Universal Pictures serials in the thirties and forties, and later for the BOMBA film series, for Monogram company. He was not that ambitious, and had not much budget at his disposal either. But he was a good technician, a good worker, this western proves it. I watched it because of Tom Neal's presence, certainly not Don Red Barry. Tom Neal had an incredible presence on screen, no one can forget DETOUR. Yes, here Tom Neal steals the show as the villain. This western from Ford Beebe is far being a masterpiece but not a waste though; it deserves to be seen.