The Ride Back

Toward the middle and latter end of the 50s the B western shifted to television but many were still done for the big screen as well. Cowboy heroes were strictly relegated to the small screen and the ones done now were adult fare. The Ride Back was typical of these kinds used as second features for double bills.

What makes this unusual though is the presence of a name actor, one who had just won his second Oscar the year before. Anthony Quinn's salary must have been three quarters of the budget or he was paying off a debt by appearing in The Ride Back. Quinn plays a fugitive here returning to Mexico to escape a murder charge. Whom he's taking The Ride Back with is Sheriff William Conrad.

Conrad is no heroic sheriff, in fact he confesses to being a failure at most things he's tried is determined to succeed here. As for Quinn he swears it was self defense and doesn't think he'll get a fair trial as a Mexican. The whole film is about developing trust.

When the Indians attack the two have to trust each other, but it's slow developing. A mute little girl they rescue as a survivor of an Indian attack serves as the catalyst for this purpose.

Quinn and Conrad are an interesting pair of protagonists, no heroes or villains here, just people in a foul circumstance. No frills in this black and white film, but an interesting character study.

The Ride Back is directed by Allen H. Miner and written by Antony Ellis. It stars Anthony Quinn, William Conrad and Lita Milan. Music is by Frank De Vol and cinematography by Joseph Biroc.

Sheriff Chris Hamish (Conrad) tries to extradite popular gunfighter Bob Kallen (Quinn) from Mexico to stand trial for murder in Scottsville, Texas.

A good and meaty psychological Western that is more interested in exploring the two main characters than merely portraying a good versus bad parable. The sheriff and the gunfighter must travel through dangerous Apache territory and quickly find themselves up against the odds. As the two men continue onwards they naturally bicker and Kallen obviously wants to escape, but surely they must work together to survive? As they learn about each other and come across a dreadful scene that finds them in the company of an orphan girl, the film plays its hand as the characterisations switch in tone.

It's a very understated picture, sombre in mood in spite of the beautiful outdoor locales. Dialogue is sparse so there's no pointless filler, while the Apache threat is not forced, we only get glimpses of them and they become more threatening by just being ghosts out in the terrain. Conrad and Quinn make for a good polar opposites pairing, the black and white photography of Biroc (Run of the Arrow/Forty Guns) is crisp and tight to the mood of the narrative and Miner (being overseen by Robert Aldrich) directs in an unfussy manner. Actor Eddie Albert warbles the title song.

As a formula it has been done better elsewhere, as with 3:10 to Yuma released the same year, but this is a better than average entry into the psychological Western pantheon and it deserves to be better known. 7/10

Ahead of its time story relying on psychological impact of stress on a sherrif trying to take a prisoner back for trial. Little shoot-em-up, lots more dialogue.

Bill Conrad, while still Matt Dillon on the radio, plays a thoroughly different character on the big screen.

I've liked this movie since I first saw it. It really stuck to my memory.

The overall look of a routine "B" oater serves as a mere backdrop for what in reality is a fascinating character study. The leads alternate between playing cat-and-mouse with each other and discovering disarming truths about their own characters. The supporting cast, although unknown, provide dynamic supporting performances -- check this unknown gem out, and share your thoughts with me.

The same Columbia Pictures released 3:10 Yuma, United Artists released their own very similar film The Ride Back. In both films, a reluctant lawman is recruited to escort a dangerous criminal to his doom-in 3:10 to Yuma it's the train station, and in The Ride Back it's the United States border. Chances are, if you liked one you'll like the other, so if this is your cup of tea, give it a whirl.

In this one, William Conrad is a sheriff who has to travel down to Mexico to bring back a wanted criminal. The half-Mexican wanted criminal is played by-I'll give you three guesses-Anthony Quinn. Given every opportunity, Tony tries to escape, but Bill is determined to bring him to the border. Along the way, the lines of right and wrong blur as Tony shows a warm and caring heart. Will Bill go through with it? You'll have to watch to find out.

Compared to the original 3:10 to Yuma-the remake is in a class by itself-I actually liked this movie better. William Conrad is a little boring and wooden, but Anthony Quinn is delectably warm and easy to root for. And as a bonus, Eddie Albert sings the title song! If you're looking for an even better movie though, try The River's Edge, an exciting western where Anthony Quinn toughs it out with a rattlesnake.