The Outcast

An early performance by Derek is the main attraction here, in this action packed tale of a young man, returning home to reclaim his ranch from a dastardly cattle baron. A good supporting cast, and a director that doesn't let the romance scenes get in the way, make this good fare.

A very good performance by a young John Derek, an outstanding performance by veteran Bob Steele, beautiful scenery stunningly photographed, and action-packed, razor-sharp direction by an old pro at the top of his form make this one of the best "B" westerns to come out of Republic Pictures, which specialized in them and did them better than any other studio did. Derek plays a young man who returns home after his father dies to claim the ranch that was stolen from him, and runs into more trouble than he bargained for. Steele, a major western star in the '30s and '40s, had aged out of leading man roles and settled into character parts, often playing--as he does here--a cold-blooded gunman (watch Humphrey Bogart's 1951 "The Enforcer" to see Steele as a hired killer par excellance). He was such a good actor that he was as effective in these roles as he was in his younger days as a cowboy hero. The cast is full of familiar western faces--Jim Davis, Ben Cooper, James Millican, Slim Pickens--and ace director William Witney uses them all to their best advantage. The blazing gun battles are expertly staged, and the film as a whole moves like lightning. All in all, an expertly made, thoroughly enjoyable little "B" western, more entertaining than many films that cost 50 times as much. Highly recommended.

In this tight little western which has a complex part John Derek is out to get his rightful inheritance of the ranch he feels should have been his. Instead the will lawyer Taylor Holmes drew up left the property to Derek's uncle Jim Davis. Davis is expecting Catherine McLeod a new bride and the stagecoach that brings her also brings Derek.

Derek unfortunately hired a bunch of gunmen led by Bob Steele. His hands aren't clean because of that.

Republic Pictures assembled a real good cast of familiar players to support Derek and Davis. Derek wages war on all fronts making a play for McLeod at the same time he's courting Joan Evans who is a neighboring rancher's daughter. Not exactly a move for a cowboy hero.

In its last years Republic was going in for western stories with an adult theme. The Outcast is not a film you would see Gene or Roy in. But it's a good one.

The Impossibly Handsome and Youthful John Derick Leads a Very-Good Cast of Familiar Western Stalwarts.

Jim Davis, Slim Pickins, Bob Steele, Harry Carrey Jr. Are Among the Feuding Families in this Ranch War.

Cutting-Edge Action, sometimes Brutally Violent, and Wide-Open Range Battles with Galloping Fisticuffs Among Thundering Cattle and Horses.

Derrick's "Way with the ladies", as one Cowpoke Noted, is also a Central Driving Force in the Inbred Narrative.

Joan Evans and Catherine MacLoud are the Females that Attach Themselves to the Battling Brothers.

With One Succumbing to a Brutal Whipping and the Other Experiencing a Major Disappointment.

Along with His Good-Looks, Derrick Brought an Edgy Attitude and Confident, Youthful Rebellion to the Character.

Swindled Out of His Inheritance by an Older Brother and a Crooked Lawyer, Derick is the Anachronistically Named "Jet".

Outstanding Among the Corral Full of Hired-Guns, is a Twisted "Dude" (Bob Steele)...

"Who once shot his best friend for a Silver-Saddle and $500."

Among the Gigantic Output of Westerns in the Decade, this One has...

More Violence Action,and Romance,

With Animated Cattle and Horses, and Intense Melodrama, than Expected.

It's a Beaut.

William Witney the director will be remembered as the greatest Republic Pictures serials maker. In his movies, for most of them, only the action scenes will be the best. See for instance STRANGER AT MY DOOR, an intimistic western, remember the horse sequence, with Skip Homeier? The story, very cute and unusual indeed, was rather flat but suddenly, you had a terrific action sequence, even better than any big classic Hollywood production. Even in his B westerns or thrillers - HEADLINE HUNTERS - there was a fist fight scene absolutely outstanding, for a forgettable B thriller. For this prectable western, THE OUTCAST - there is a.stampede sequence, involving wagons, and a wagon doing a stunt never seen before, some kind of a forward somersault, perious leap, a wagon laced at top speed !!!! Just in the middle of a flat western; because this story, sorry, but is flat, with a Jim Davis in a predictable villain character.