Convict Stage *** (1965, Harry Lauter, Don ‘Red’ Barry, Jodi Mitchell, Hanna Landy, Joe Patridge, Eric Matthews) – Classic Movie Review 13,953

The sturdy 1965 American Western film Convict Stage stars Harry Lauter as a gunfighter who vows vengeance after outlaw brothers (Joe Patridge and Eric Matthews) kill his sister during a stagecoach robbery.

‘Between Hell and Boot Hill… you took your chances on the Convict Stage and hoped you’d live to tell it!’

Director Lesley Selander’s sturdy 1965 American black and white Western film Convict Stage is written by Daniel Mainwaring, and stars Harry Lauter, Don ‘Red’ Barry, Jodi Mitchell, Hanna Landy, Joe Patridge and Eric Matthews.

Harry Lauter stars as gunfighter Ben Lattimore, who vows vengeance after the Sims outlaw brothers Jeb and Johnny (Joe Patridge and Eric Matthews) kill his sister, shooting her in the back while trying to escape during a murderous stagecoach robbery, in which the stage crew are also shot dead in cold blood.

When Marshal Jethro Karnin (Don ‘Red’ Barry) captures the brothers, Lattimore rides with the convict stagecoach to prevent a rescue attempt by their fellow gang members. But gun-crazy Ma Sims (Hanna Landy) is also a passenger on the stagecoach, secretly plotting a rescue.

It is quite tough and gritty, well written by Daniel Mainwaring with plenty of built-in tension and suspense, crisply directed by prolific experienced veteran Lesley Selander, who gets the mood and pace right, and nicely shot in black and white by Gordon Avil with attractive location work, and with a good score by Richard LaSalle. A modest B-movie it may be, but that can be a good thing, right? It certainly is here.

It is shot at Kanab, Utah; Colorado City, Arizona; and Fredonia, Arizona.

Jodi Mitchell plays Sally Latttimore in her only film.

The film runs 71 minutes, is made by 20th Century Fox, and was released on June 17, 1965, by 20th Century Fox.

The cast are Harry Lauter as Ben Lattimore, Don ‘Red’ Barry as Marshal Jethro Karnin, Jodi Mitchell as Sally Latttimore, Hanna Landy as Ma Sims, Joe Patridge as Jeb, Eric Matthews as Johnny, Walter Reed as Sam Gill, Michael Carr as Piute, Fred Krone as Dixon, George Sawaya as Adam Scott, Karl MacDonald as Bates.

Fred Krone was also responsible for the stunts (uncredited).

© Derek Winnert 2026 – Classic Movie Review 13,953

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