They Rode West *** (1954, Robert Francis, Donna Reed, May Wynn, Philip Carey) – Classic Movie Review 11,735

Director Phil Karlson’s 1954 Western film They Rode West stars Robert Francis as 1st Lt. Allen Seward, a Wild West US Cavalry doctor/ surgeon who puts his neck on the line when he tries to prevent a bloody war with the Kiowa Indians after he brings good medicine to them as malaria strikes, but then loses the trust of his fellow soldiers.

Francis wants to treat the men against the wishes of his superior, Captain Peter Blake (Philip Carey), sparking a battle of wills, but all the while the sick men are in danger of dying.

They Rode West is an unusual, intelligently written and carefully made Western that is technically excellent and skilfully shot in Technicolor by Charles Lawton, but seems to be missing some vital ingredient. Perhaps it’s thrilling action or real excitement. Nevertheless, it is a thoughtful, engrossing quality Western, with a notable performance by Robert Francis.

Robert Charles Francis (February 26, 1930 – July 31, 1955).

Forgotten star Francis died in an air crash at 25. On 31 July 1955, Francis was piloting a borrowed Beechcraft Bonanza, which stalled and crashed in a parking lot where it burst into flames, killing its three occupants. He appeared in only four Hollywood films, all with military themes: The Caine Mutiny (1954), They Rode West (1954), The Bamboo Prison (1954) and The Long Gray Line (1955).

It stars Robert Francis, Donna Reed, May Wynn, Philip Carey. Also in the cast are Onslow Stevens, Jack Kelly, Peggy Converse, Roy Roberts, Stuart Randall, Eugene Iglesias, Frank DeKova, James Best, George Keynas, and Ralph Dumke.

Robert Francis as Ensign Willie Keith in The Caine Mutiny.

It reunites two stars of The Caine Mutiny, Robert Francis and May Wynn. Before that film’s release, Francis and Wynn were sent together on press junkets by studio boss Harry Cohn to showcase the studio’s two youngest stars, and gossip magazines reported a romance between them.

The screenplay by Frank S Nugent and DeVallon Scott is based on the story Wood Hawk by Leo Katcher.

It was filmed at the Corriganville movie ranch.

The cast are Robert Francis as 1st Lt. Allen Seward, Donna Reed as Laurie MacKaye, May Wynn as Manyi-ten, Philip Carey as Captain Peter Blake, Onslow Stevens as Col. Ethan Waters, Peggy Converse as Mrs Martha Waters, Roy Roberts as Sgt. Major Creever, Jack Kelly as Lt. Raymond, Stuart Randall as Chief Satanta, Eugene Iglesias as Red Leaf, Frank DeKova as Isatai, John War Eagle as Chief Quanah, Ralph Dumke as Dr. Gibson, James Best as Lt. Finlay, Myron Healey as Major Vandergrift, Stuart Randall, James Best, and George Keynas.

 © Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,735

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