The Lone Hand

A solid western with a twist told from a child's POV. James Aeneas from gun smoke fame and the dependable Joel Mccrae deliver sublime performances with Barbara hale a la Perry mason adds her appearance as Joel's love interest.

The Lone Hand is directed by George Sherman and written by Joseph Hoffman and Irving Ravetch. It stars Joel McCrea, Barbara Hale, Alex Nicol, Charles Drake, Jimmy Hunt and Jim Arness. A Technicolor production with cinematography by Maury Gertsman and music by Joseph Gershenson.

Zachary Hallock (McCrea), a hard working single parent, begins to destroy his sons love for him when he gives way to temptation and starts operating as an outlaw. But things are never as they seem in the town of Timberline.......

Unassuming 50s Oater with a twist in the tale and sumptuous photography around genuine Colorado locations. In essence it's the same as a number of "B" Western productions that filtered through the studio system in this particular decade, where small budgets were often overcome by good performances and integrity of script. The Lone Hand is told from a young boys point of view, with young Joshua Hallock (Hunt) even narrating to ensure the morality POV of the family drama hits the right spots. A turn of events in Ravetch's story will either annoy or pleasantly surprise you, but pic is never less than interesting and action is well marshalled by Sherman; who in turn is well served by the stunt men. The principal actors on show are engaging, especially an excellent Hale, Gershenson scores it with vibrant Western tones, while Gertsman's wonderful lensing of the scenery (Durango/Silverton) is reason enough for Western fans to seek this one out. 6/10

A good Western movie. Excellent acting especially by Barbara Hale and Jimmy Hunt. No one knows that Joel McCrea is working undercover. His son (Jimmy Hunt) believes he is an outlaw and so does his bride (Barbara Hale). Lots of action and twists and turns.

The Lone Hand is a western with a twist to it. We've seen many films from a child's perspective but usually from a distance. In fact one of Joel McCrea's best films Stars In My Crown is narrated by Marshall Thompson as a grownup Dean Stockwell. But here we have Jimmy Hunt playing Joel McCrea's son narrating as well registering all the child's conflicting emotions about an idealized father who is not living up to his expectations. And Hunt registers those emotions well.

McCrea who's a widower and his son Jimmy Hunt arrive in a new place, one that's been at the mercy of an outlaw gang that no one can catch. On the day McCrea arrives in town and purchases land for a farm, the sheriff is killed by these outlaws.

Still McCrea goes ahead with his plans starts working his land and even takes a beautiful bride in Barbara Hale. But soon enough a very curious Hunt sees his father consorting with outlaws and participating in their crimes. It's all pretty traumatic.

I won't say more other than you know McCrea is a good guy. Joel McCrea was probably the noblest of all cowboy heroes and noble in other genres as well. He could never be a bad guy, in fact he wouldn't hear of being cast any other way in his career.

As for Jimmy Hunt this situation is also parallel to that classic science fiction film he starred in, Invaders From Mars where the young boy sees his parents betraying his ideals because they're under the control of the Martians. And these films probably represent Jimmy Hunt's career roles.

Good roles they are too.

I have not seen much of George Sherman's directorial work, but I liked his film, REPRISAL (1956), and now I have enjoyed THE LONE HAND (1953) with the ever humble and reliable Joel McCrea pulling quite a stunt, after misleading everyone for some three quarters of this flick.

Good to see Barbara Hale away from Raymond Burr's gay clutches in PERRY MASON - but then that famous TV series would start only in 1957. Hale certainly looks good and, above all, trustworthy and in love with Joel.

Jimmy Hunt plays McCrea's son and his is the voiceover, going from happy son who loves his father to disdainful of the same for joining the criminal gang operating in the area.

Strong cinematography by Maury Gertsman. Worth a watch 7/10.