Ride Lonesome **** (1959, Randolph Scott, Karen Steele, Pernell Roberts, James Coburn, Lee Van Cleef, James Best) – Classic Movie Review 6,434

Randolph Scott stars in the exceptional 1959 Western film Ride Lonesome as a bounty hunter who escorts a killer (James Best) to stand trial for murder, with the killer’s brother (Lee Van Cleef) in pursuit.

Director Budd Boetticher’s 1959 American Western film Ride Lonesome stars Randolph Scott, Karen Steele, Pernell Roberts, James Coburn, Lee Van Cleef, and James Best.

It is one of the ‘Ranown cycle’ of Westerns made at Ranown Pictures by Boetticher starring Randolph Scott, with Harry Joe Brown as executive producer and Burt Kennedy as screenwriter, beginning with Seven Men from Now (1956),

Randolph Scott stars as bounty hunter Ben Brigade, a vengeful lawman who captures a wanted murderous young gunman, Billy John (James Best), to trap the gunman’s brother Frank (Lee Van Cleef), the killer of Scott’s wife.

Scott is seen at his best in this exceptionally fine, suspenseful 1959 Western, with superior direction by Budd Boetticher, a taut, complex screenplay by Burt Kennedy, exciting shooting in CinemaScope and Eastmancolor by Charles Lawton Jr, and a great cast, including a notable James Coburn in his film debut (as Whit).

The film was shot at Lone Pine, California, starting on 14 August 1958, and was released on 15 February 1959 (US).

The cast are Randolph Scott as Ben Brigade, Karen Steele as Mrs Carrie Lane, Pernell Roberts as Sam Boone, James Best as Billy John, Lee Van Cleef as Frank, James Coburn as Whit, Bennie Dobbins as Outlaw, Roy Jenson as Outlaw, Dyke Johnson as Charlie, Boyd ‘Red’ Morgan as Outlaw, and Boyd Stockman as Indian Chief.

Ride Lonesome is directed by Budd Boetticher, runs 74 minutes, is made by Ranown Pictures, is released by Columbia Pictures, is written by Burt Kennedy, is shot in CinemaScope and Eastmancolor by Charles Lawton Jr, is produced by Harry Joe Brown (executive producer) and Budd Boetticher, and is scored by Heinz Roemheld.

In real life Randolph Scott wasn’t lonesome. He shared Bachelor Hall in Malibu with Cary Grant for 12 years.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 6,434

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