Thunder Over the Plains

This just became one of my favorite Randolph Scott movies.

First, there's an intelligent script by Russell Hughes, who wrote for some good radio shows like "Nightbeat" and Alan Ladd's "Box 13", as well as such films as Anthony Mann's "Last Frontier", Delmer Daves' "Jubal", and even the best of the giant-bug movies, "Them".

Then, there's the look and feel of the film. Director Andre De Toth and his great cinematographer Bert Glennon (who had done remarkable work with the likes of Josef von Sternberg and John Ford) light and shoot for realism and emotional impact. Glennon had also shot "Man Behind the Gun" (available on the flip side of this DVD), so I suppose director Felix Feist could be blamed for that film's phony-looking stage sets. Here, in "Thunder... ", a barroom scene looks like it was shot in a real barroom (foreshadowing Clint Eastwood's "natural lighting" technique by decades) and exteriors are shot outdoors. To be fair, the Feist film may have had budget or producer issues, but given that film's potential (dealing with water rights, corrupt politicians, the possible secession of southern California, even the semi-legendary Joaquin Murrietta as a supporting character) it still seems like a typical, entertaining, 40's-style B-movie. "Thunder...", released the same year, 1953, seems more forward-looking, more compelling, more of the age of the "adult" Westerns, even though the literally flag-waving ending with its narrative paean to the great state of Texas kind of pulls us back to B-movie-land.

During reconstruction, Texas-born Army Captain Randolph Scott is torn between duty and his fellow Texans (including a young Fess Parker), who are in a life-or-death struggle against corrupt officials and ruthless carpetbaggers. Meanwhile, slimy officer Lex Barker gets a little too close to Scott's wife.

Thunder Over The Plains sags just a bit in the middle, but has great production values and is fairly ambitious for a 1950's B-western, with some pretty complex characters. The cinematography and direction by Andre De Toth are excellent.

Elisha Cooke Jr. is pretty good as a sniveling tax collector. Lex Barker's character is especially vile, kind of a surprise considering the times in which this was made and the fact that Barker is so handsome and all-American looking!

It is set in 1869 , after American Civil War : 1961-1865 , when Texas has not yet been admitted to the Union and several carpetbaggers upheaval againt the States . Federal captain Porter : Randolph Scott reluctantly has to carry out a mission assigned by his commandant in chief : Henry Hull against his own people . But things go wrong , the district tax Commissioner : Elisha Cook Jr is kidnapped and a rebel leader , Charles McGraw is captured being accused of killing . His was the moment he had to count his bullets because he couldn't on his friends ! Thunder in his heart ..lightning in his holsters! . Don't go out there Dave ¡ Please don't go out there ! In the heart and dust a prairie town waited . A storm was brewing . A storm named Dave Porter and when he hit , it would rain nothing but lead !

This is a tornado and adventure movie from Warner Bros , containing thrills , emotion , suspense , go riding and crossfire . A decent cavalry western with a twisted and complex intrigue written by Russell Hughes . As our captain Randolph Scott has to confront a nasty powerful owner : Hugh Sanders , while must avoid a new and envious officer : Lex Barker who attempts to take his wife Phyllis Kirk . As the trío of decent protagonists : Randolph Scott , Phyllis Kirk and Lex Barker give acceptable interpretations . They are well accompanied by a pretty support cast with plenty of familiar faces , such as : Henry Hull , Charles McGraw , Elisa Cook Jr , Lane Chandler , uncredited Trevor Bardette, James Brown of Rin Tin Tin TV series and Fess Parker of Daniel Boone TV series.

The motion picture was well directed by Andre De Toth , though it has some flaws and gaps . De Toth was a good artisan of long career , writing , producing and directing several movies . As he made all kinds of genres , outstanding in Western , such as : Ramrod , Carson City , The Indian Fighter , Day of Outlaw , Thunder over Plains . And he made other genres including films as The other love , Pitfall , None Shall escape , Crime Wave , Dark Waters , Monkey on my Back , Play Dirty . Being his biggest hit , the boxoffice terror House of Wax . Rating : 6/10 . Passable and acceptable Western that will appeal to Randolph Scott fans . Worthwhile seeing .

Complex western that manages pretty well to stay afloat. You may need a scorecard since the screenplay involves four different factions bouncing off one another. Scott displays his usual iron-jawed determination as the captain torn between loyalty to his native Texas and the Union cavalry. The bad guys, as usual in these post-Civil War oaters, are the greedy carpetbaggers, headed up by that excellent actor Hugh Sanders. And who can overlook perennial fall guy Elisha Cook doing his usual fierce rabbit bit.

The rivalry between the two captains, Scott and Barker, is an interesting feature, especially when it extends to Scott's wife (Kirk). That scene where the home-sick wife is captivated by the handsome Barker is both well played and unusual for a western. Note too how Scott is compelled by the byplay to fade into the background, another unusual feature for a western hero.

Though filmed just west of LA, the rolling scenery makes a good Technicolor backdrop to the action. Much credit for making the elements work should go to director de Toth who was skilled at handling conflict as shown in his masterwork, Ramrod (1947). The redoubtable Sam Peckinpah also selected de Toth to direct many episodes of his groundbreaking TV series The Westerner (1960).

On the whole, it's a complicated story of personal and political conflict but still delivers the goods for fans of westerns.

(1953) Thunder Over The Plains WESTERN

When the north defeated the south during the civil war, unfair practices were being exercised when southern farmers were unfairly overtaxed as opposed to regular farmers living in the north, forcing some to give up land easily belonging to them by auction. Fictionalize story line based on fact that if there is any reason to watch this film, it would only be for the history lesson. The action is not a plenty, but well- known Western actor Randolph Scott's tall, valiant screen presence keeps the film from becoming boring. This is the fourth of six movies Randolph Scott collaborated with director Andre De Toth.