City of Bad Men

Technicolor Studio A-Western with a Good Cast and an Off-Center Story of Bad-Men Planning to Rob the Gate at a Heavyweight Championship Bout in Carson City.

Dale Robertson Posing a Solid Figure is a bit Stiff as the Good-Bad Leader of His Bunch and Richard Boone as "Johnny Ringo" the Head of a Rival Gang makes a Slimy Villain.

Lloyd Bridges has a Meaty Part as Robertson's Brother.

Somewhat Plodding but Original Take on the Western in the Decade of Westerns.

The Romantic Triangle with the Beautiful Jeanne Craine and Carole Matthews Doesn't Amount to Much.

The Tension Builds Steadily in the Over-Crowded Town.

Leading to a Good Climax with the Robbery and Attempted Getaway.

Overall, the Off-Kilter Story and Luscious Production Helps this one Rise Above.

The Enormity of Westerns on the Big and Small Screen in the 1950's.

Thrilling Western concerning the twenty-four hour reign of terror that branded a prairie town city of Bad Men and at the end takes place facing off between Brett Stanton and Ringo Kid close in for a show-down. After various years in Mexico Brett Stanton : Dale Robertson, his brother : Lloyd Briges and their band go back Carson City to carry out a big robbery. But they are other gangs as Jonny Ringo : Richard Boone band, and Bob Thraikill bunch planning to run off with the proceeds from Fitzsimmons-Corbett heavyweight fight. As penniless Johnny Ringo and his band with schemes on their own and no intention of abiding Brett's plan. Lot of people have come there from all over to see the heavyweight tournament prizefight between Gentleman Jim Corbett and Bob Fitzsimmons .You ride into Carson at the eight of its gun-slinging glory in the eve of of the Corbett vs. Fitzsimmons heavyweight championship!. A frontier town in the wild roaring frenzy of fight-time! The most famous boxing bout of an era! The most notorious killers of all time, all in one motion picture!

20th Century Fox movie with great main and support cast, being lavishly produced and efficiently directed. Furthermore, it contains a colorful and glimmer cinematography by Charles Clarke. As well as rousing and stirring musical score by Cryl Mockridge. This is an ambitious and large-scale film dealing with the historical combat between Fitzsimmons and James, Jim, Corbett, whose character was already been portrayed by Errol Flynn in Gentleman Jim directed by Raoul Walsh . This is an interesting movie though lacks some inspiration and being interesting enough . However, there is not central drive in the storyline, delivering various sub-plots with no much interest, as the triangular love story. Stars Dale Robertson as the good/bad bandit intending to make a quick dishonest heist. His partenaire is the gorgeous and sweet Jeanne Crain. Being well accompanied by a great support cast, such as : Richard Boone, Lloyd Bridges , Carole Matthews, Whitfield Connor, Frank Ferguson, Hugh Sanders as sheriff, James Best, John Doucette, Rodolfo Acosta , Harry Brown, Robert Adler, Kit Carson, Fred Arlich, Carl Betz, Leo Gordon's movie debut and several others. John Fay, the tough actor who plays Corbett, was also used to sparring for the cameras. He, besides, fought Kirk Douglas in "Champion" and Tony Curtis in "The Square Jungle".

This offbeat motion picture produced by Leonard Goldstein was professionally directed by Harmon Jones. He was a craftsman who worked as a production manager, editor, producer and filmmaker. He directed all kinds of genres as Westerns, drama, Thriller, Comedy, Film Noir, such as : The beast of Budapest, Wolf Larsen, Gorilla at large, Target zero, Canyon river, The pride of St Louis, Bloodhound of Broadway, As young a you feel. And he directed a lot of episodes of notorious TV series as Land of giants , Death valley, Voyage to the bottom of the sea, The Virginian, Iron Horse, Perry Mason, Gunslinger, Daniel Boone, Iron Horse, The Monroe, The Zorro, among others. Rating 6. 5/10. Decent and above average Western.

City of Bad Men was released by 20th Century Fox in 1953. The story takes place in Carson City, Nevada in 1897. The whole territory is excited about a boxing match between Gentleman Jim Corbett & Bob Fitzsimmons. Several gangs of bad men converge on the town including Dale Robertson & his brother, Lloyd Bridges & another gang led by Richard Boone. A plot evolves to steal the large proceeds from this prizefight. Robertson meets up with old flame, Jeanne Crain, and begins to have 2nd thoughts about being involved in this robbery. Robertson & Crain look great together & should be remembered as on of the top romantic screen teams ( they were together previously on 1951's Take Care of my Little Girl ). Others in the cast included Carl Betz (later on the Donna Reed show) and Whitfield Connor who tries to marry Crain, but he's obviously no competition for our hero, Robertson.

Probably my favourites from director Harmon Jones whose CANYON RIVER was also excellent. But concerning this one, I don't know why, there is something that I like. Characters symphony, story, and the cast, so prestigious for such a small western: John Doucette, Leo Gordon in one of his earliest roles; and of course Richard Boone. I would say: forget Dale Robertson. Yes, I definitely have tenderness for this western, for its charm, despite the fact that there is not that much surprise in the end. Only enjoy the watch. I forgot that Twentieth century Fox made such small films in the fifties, and not only Universal, Republic or Paramount. One of the most offbeat showdown in the western history. Besides TERROR IN A TEXAS TOWN of course.

"City of Bad Men" is unusual in that although much of the film is fictional, the setting is quite real. In 1897, Carson City, Nevada, of all places, hosted the heavyweight boxing championship of the world! The story begins as the two boxers, Jim Corbett and Bob Fitzsimmons are in training there in Nevada...readying themselves for this match.

In the midst of all the hubbub associated with the match, Brett Stanton (Dale Robertson) and his gang of thugs arrive. It seems Stanton is from Carson City but he and his men have been gone six years and they chose now to return. At the same time, two other gang leaders are in town and between the three gangs, there's no way the Sheriff and his men can maintain order. So, the Sheriff makes an odd proposal...that the three gang leaders be deputized to help him maintain order....which sounds rather nutty! What's next? See the film.

While I did find some of the plot tough to believe, particularly Stanton's actions and motivations, I did enjoy the film and the final confrontation with Ringo was pretty amazing...and exciting. Overall, however, I really liked the film for one big reason...it lacked most of the usual clichés you expect in westerns.