Law and Order

Ronald Reagan quits his job as sheriff of Tombstone (No, he's not Wyatt Earp.) and heads for greener pastures in an attempt to start a new calmer life for himself and his brothers, only to find out that his new home is run with an iron hand, both figuratively and literally, by old foe Preston Foster and his sniveling sons.

A solid studio B-western, this looks like a million bucks in gorgeous Technicolor and has a script that really knows what buttons to push.

One of Reagan's better roles, he strikes all the right notes and is definitely well cast.

This is also a great showcase for up and coming future stars Russell Johnson (the professor on Gilligan's Island) and an almost unrecognizable Dennis Weaver, who really makes the best out of his role as one of Foster's sadistic sons.

The final fist-fight between Reagan and Foster is well staged, exciting, and immensely satisfying.

Yes this is a classic Western tale of 'good guys' vs 'bad guys' which Hollywood loves to recycle. Ronald Reagan (Frame Johnson) gives a fine performance as a Cincinnatus type sheriff who is called upon to quell a lawless town. The supporting cast includes the crooked and bought town sheriff (Barry Elder) and the all-powerful town leader (Preston Foster). Dorothy Malone (Jeannie) and Ruth Hampton (Maria Durling) provide the suffering women-in-waiting roles very well. Russell Johnson (Jimmy Johnson) comes off well as the hot-headed, quick to action younger brother of Reagan. The movie has plenty of color, great location shots, fight scenes and tough talking bad guys. Dennis Weaver (Frank Durling) and Jack Kelley (Jed) make the most of their screen time. This movie stands on its own and I recommend it for anyone wanting so see Reagan give a fine performance.

It would be easy to poke fun at a Western that features the red-white-and blue tie President Reagan and the Gilligan's Island Professor, Russell Johnson, but both men turn in believable and thought-provoking performances.

The Johnson brothers (Reagan, Johnson, and Alex Nicol) move to a town, appropriately named "Contention" (love that name!), as retired lawmen tired of shooting it out with bad guys and hoping for a peaceful existence. As is customary in Westerns, evil runs the town, and guess who eventually has to wield a 6-gun to clean things up. The positive ethics of supporting law and order with a non-violent approach serves Reagan surprisingly well; he plays the role with earnest conviction. Johnson, as his brazen and impulsive younger brother, is a polar opposite and good balance to study the nature of both men. When the latter involves himself with the sister of the head honcho bad guy, the stage is set for good and evil to encounter one another in classic Western tradition.

A better than average horse opera with a well presented message. Good for Saturday afternoon viewing.

I am a western fanatic with over 200 top western titles in my personal collection, many of which are in my IMDb database. This film made in 1953 is very enjoyable to watch. If you are a fan of Westerns you will absolutely want to watch this film. Law and Order reminds me of the Stewart-Mann Westerns of the same era with the same attention to detail and plot development.Juran like Anthony Mann brings out the best in his actors. Ronald Reagan is tough and believable, the color adds to the excellent filming, and the acting is quite good. Dorthy Malone is very beautiful and charming. Apart from a bit of predictability this film combines, action, horse riding, gun fights, and a beautiful girl into a good enjoyable film.

DB

Universal western a solid adaptation of William Burnett's novel "Saint Johnson"--also a follow-up to (or rehashing of) 1932's "Law and Order". Ronald Reagan is very good as the marshal of Tombstone in the 1880s, tired of being a "hired killer", who quits his job for a rancher's life on the outskirts of Cottonwood; unfortunately, he finds the townsfolk there much tougher than the people of Tombstone, including a scurrilous family who has tangled with the marshal before. It's never made clear how the marshal managed to get on the bad side of the Tombstone residents (they seem to want a no-nonsense approach to the law--and they've got it with Reagan--so what is their beef?). Dorothy Malone is wasted in a frivolous role as Ronnie's girl (she always seems to be saying, "I'll be here when you come back"), while the (blonde) actors playing Reagan's brothers are poor choices--they don't look or act anything like him. Still, there's a few evil, grinning sonsofbitches in the lineup who give the narrative dramatic flavor, and Reagan has a terrific scene early on protecting a prisoner from a lynch mob. Most of "Law and Order" (terrible title!) is strictly rote from a western formula, but the Red Rock Canyon locations are good and the finale very satisfying. **1/2 from ****