Man in the Saddle *** (1951, Randolph Scott, Alexander Knox, Joan Leslie, Ellen Drew, Richard Rober, John Russell) – Classic Movie Review 6,691

Andre de Toth’s gunsmoke-filled 1951 American Technicolor Western film Man in the Saddle stars Randolph Scott and is based on the 1938 novel by Ernest Haycox.

Director Andre De Toth churns out another in his notable series of Randolph Scott Westerns in 1951, and it is hardly a surprise that there is a lot of gunsmoke and death on the range. Man in the Saddle is the third of Scott’s money-making films with producer Harry Joe Brown, as Scott-Brown Productions.

Randolph Scott stars as Owen Merritt, who is involved in a land feud and a romantic tussle with ruthless wealthy rancher Will Isham (Alexander Knox) and cowboy Hugh Clagg (John Russell) over Owen’s old flame, Laurie Bidwell (Joan Leslie) and Nan Melotte (Ellen Drew). Isham marries Laurie, setting the cat among the pigeons.

Man in the Saddle does not sound much but this turns out to be a decent yarn with interesting characters, carefully scripted by Kenneth Gamet, and solidly based on a novel by Stagecoach writer Ernest Haycox, which provides an above-average Technicolor B-Western, or at least more likely the top-billed main or A-feature of a double bill.

There is a lot to enjoy: a stalwart cast, giving lusty performances, led by a sturdy turn from Scott, all on good form, fine Technicolor cinematography by Charles Lawton Jr, good action scenes, and capable direction by De Toth.

Also in the cast of Man in the Saddle are Richard Rober, Guinn ‘Big Boy’ Williams, Alfonso Bedoya, Clem Bevans, Cameron Mitchell, Richard Crane, Frank Sully, George Lloyd, James Kirkwood, Frank Hagney, Don Beddoe, and Frank Ellis.

Tennessee Ernie Ford has an uncredited cameo as a wrangler and is the singer of the main title song.

Man in the Saddle is directed by Andre De Toth, runs 87 minutes, is made by Renown [Scott-Brown Productions], is released by Columbia Pictures, is written  by Kenneth Gamet, based on the novel by Ernest Haycox, is shot in Technicolor by Charles Lawton Jr, is produced by Harry Joe Brown and Randolph Scott, is scored by George Duning, and is designed by George Brooks.

Release date: December 2, 1951.

In the UK, The Groom Wore Spurs (1951), a comedy Western starring Ginger Rogers and Jack Carson, was usually the supporting feature to Man in the Saddle.

Hungarian-American film director Andre de Toth directed the 3D film House of Wax (1953), despite having lost an eye at an early age and being unable to see in 3D. 

Ernest Haycox’s 1937 story Stage to Lordsburg was made into the 1939 film Stagecoach.

The cast

The cast are Randolph Scott as Owen Merritt, Joan Leslie as Laurie Bidwell Isham, Ellen Drew as Nan Melotte, Alexander Knox as Will Isham, Richard Rober as Fay Dutcher, John Russell as Hugh Clagg, Alfonso Bedoya as Cultus Charley, Guinn ‘Big Boy’ Williams as Bourke Prine, Clem Bevans as Pay Lankershim, Cameron Mitchell as George Vird, Richard Crane as Juke Vird, Frank Sully as Lee Repp, George Lloyd, James Kirkwood, Frank Hagney, Don Beddoe, Frank Ellis, and Tennessee Ernie Ford as a Wrangler.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 6,691

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