Gelbe Rose von Texas

For a low budget Allied Artists oater this one is quite remarkable. The story of the son of Jack Slade infiltrating an outlaw gang really held my interest, and I am not generally a fan of westerns. John Ericson was probably too good looking for his own good, but he did still manage to find interesting and challenging character roles in a variety of small budget action films in the 50s while others like him were stuck in the rut of playing the handsome hero. He does a great job in THE RETURN OF JACK SLADE, probably better then the average 50s B-actor would have done. Mari Blanchard is also impressive as Texas Rose, the somewhat good girl mixed up with some bad boys, and the romantic chemistry between the two is quite believable and touching. If you come across this one late at night, stick around, I think you will enjoy it.

The son of a quick-shooting lawman, Jack Slade (John Ericson) abandons law school to follow in his late father's footsteps. At the behest of Pinkerton agent Joseph Ryan (Howard Petrie), Slade infiltrates the hideout of the notorious Wild Bunch, led by the vicious Harry Sutton (Neville Brand). As he gathers information about the gang, his mission is threatened by his friendship with alcoholic cowboy Johnny (Jon Shepodd) and his growing attraction to female outlaw Texas Rose (Mari Blanchard.

The Return of Jack Slade is an ok western with some excitement like the train robberies, the final shootout, and a few interesting characters like Neville Brand and Mari Blanchard. Jon Ericsson in the title role looks suitably rebellious as the son of Jack Slade and has a permanent teen pout, but I found him bland, dull, and he looked like he was trying to remember his lines. He lacked that charisma as a lead, I felt. To be honest, I found this western on the dull side, especially in the talking bits, and the plot dragged. Having said that, the stark black and white photography adds to the gritty depiction of the outlaws and its hide out. Some lively action is scattered here and there. But nothing too special.

Yes folks, I prefered the film starring Mark Stevens, from the same director Harold Schuster, made a couple of years earlier; it was far more interesting, darker, than this one. It remains a honest western, very predictable, bland and, I repeat, just bearable to waste time. I have seen it a long time ago and forgot it just after watching. The main interest remains Neville Brand, Mari Blanchard and an early Angie Dickinson's role, several years before RIO BRAVO. John Ericson is quite good though. So, please don't avoid this western at all costs only because I preferd the first JACK SLADE; after all, it's just a matter of opinion. The only thing is that I will never forget the first movie with Mark Stevens, whilst I will forge this one just after a couple of days.

"The return of Jack Slade" makes me think that perfect relax, if not happiness, is an old unpretentious western of the 1950's. Everything in the movie contributes to smooth the viewer's nerves. The story is linear, pleasantly predictable, with a suitable number of classic gunfights and dramatic events. The hero John Ericson (Jack Slade) is handsome and fast with his gun. Neville Brand makes a nice job as the villain Sutton. The movie is entirely filmed in open air: the viewer breaths freely, he feels to ride together with the guys on the screen. A little paradox: the locations are beautiful, but not stunning (that's not Monument Valley or similar wonders of nature). Yet this very fact increases the relax of the viewer: too much beauty could require a tiresome concentration...

And there is a beautifully romantic, even touching love-story... Let's give much credit to the loveliness, charm and niceness of Mari Blanchard as Texas Rose (this very name is a treat: isn't it?).

And, yes, we also find a good deal of mild, agreeable erotism in the movie. You know, the camp of the outlaws swarms with gorgeous, cheerful girls (a very young Angie Dickinson among the others)... they all wear tight trousers and shirts, showing that they are, well, in great physical shape, to say the least... and the girls keep guns in holsters, and they draw and shoot, and a couple of them wrestle on the ground of jealousy... Thereafter three smiling beauties, even more attractive wearing 19th century lady robes, hijack a stagecoach, with alluring toughness... Light, good-taste erotism, perfect for dreaming without being disturbed.

I don't want to be misunderstood: "The return of Jack Slade" is a flick of no consequence (but the intense presence of Mari Blanchard is something, believe me). I don't care: I really had a good time seeing this movie.

The movie has more pluses than minuses. John Ericson is, there's no other word for it, sexy. Plus, he can really handle a gun! It's not his all time best performance (I still think that's in RHAPSODY) but it's solid.

He's a plus, and I really liked his friend in the film, Johnny, played by Jon Sheppod. I was sorry he didn't have a bigger part in the film. There are some nice love scenes between Ericson and Mari Blanchard.

I think Angie Dickinson even in a small role has more star power and beauty than Blanchard, and I would have liked to see her in Blanchard's part, chasing Ericson. But she's fun to watch anyway.

OK, you have to forgive the fact that the women are dressed in tight pants, wear ponytails and a lot of make-up--they look like women of the fifties, not the post-Civil War era.

And I was disappointed the film was not in color, especially since most of it is shot outdoors. But all in all, a good Western with scrumptious eye candy.