Hell Bent for Leather

Fans of Western movies will not be disappointed. While not a great or even distinguished Western, it also LACKS the faults of so many other Westerns. On the plus side it can boast good colorful outdoor mountainous locations and cinema-photography , leading and supporting actors, a believable situation and a literate imaginative script. On the negative side: zero; I can't think of anything laughable, offensive or jarring. Audie Murphy looked and acted good. Felicia Farr looked better, even gorgeous. And Stephen McNally stole the movie with his acting chops. Robert Middleton was his usual excellent self in a brief suspenseful scene during Murphy's chase from McNally. Jan Merlin did well as a villain.

I thought it was an interesting and unusual motive for Sheriff McNally's lying that Murphy and not Merlin was the criminal being chased. I won't reveal it in this review, though it is spelled out in most of the other reviews here. The reason puzzled me throughout watching the film, and it was finally revealed at the conclusion. Also intriguing was how Murphy would extricate himself from his predicament. Finally, kudos for Farr's back story. Surprising that there were no romantic scenes (embraces, kisses, etc.) between the two leads, Murphy and Farr, though the last scene had then leave hand in hand.

The most decorated combat soldier of the war,Audie Murphy, plays the part of a man,falsely accused of being a gangster by a marshal .This embittered cop has been searching for the true culprit for months and he needs to find one ,his claim to fame.Stephen Mc Nally is the stand out ,the audience realizes little by little he has gone completely nuts ,heading the posse on his victim's trail.The girl the horse-trader meets (Felicia Farr,better known for her part in " kiss me ,stupid" )and who takes up his cause is some kind of outcast for her father was not a good man .She was taken in by neighbors but she has not really been received at the community :she takes care of the children when the inhabitants attend the service.

This is a modest but entertaining western with good suspense and a great finale when the wrong and the right man meet in the mountain.

Behind the lurid title lies a moody, good-looking psychological western shot in colour & CinemaScope against the imposing backdrop of the Alabama Hills.

There moody, good-looking Audie Murphy gets a less than warm welcome from ferrity-faced Jan Merlin, doll-faced widow Felicia Farr, saturnine Sheriff Stephen McNally and mean-looking Robert Middleton; never quite sure who it's safe to do a deal with.

Audie Murphy is a horse trader. He wanders into town on his latest assignment, where Marshall Stephen McNally accuses him him of being a dangerous criminal. At first Murphy thinks it's a gag to get him out of town before the townfolk can hang him, but it turns out that McNally is a glory hound who intends toshoot Murphy and take the credit.

McNally tries to steal the movie with his sweating lunatic, but Murphy's low-key approach ande the approval of Felicia Farr ake the cake. Director George Sherman does his usual competent job, and cinematographer Clifford Stine shoots the Alabama Hills so they are instantly recognizable, and beautiful in a new way. It's a standard psychological western, but very well done.

If you like Audie (which I do) you will come to find a comfortable familiarity with many of his movies. Hell Bent for Leather is one of those movies. Doesn't really stand out from the pack but is an enjoyable film.

Its all about Murphy righting the wrongs as he does so well.

It fun as most of his material is :)