Die letzte Kugel trifft

Bullet for a Badman is directed by R.G. Springsteen and adapted to screenplay by Mary & Willard Willingham from a novel written by Marvin H. Albert. It stars Audie Murphy, Darren McGavin, Ruta Lee, Beverley Owen and Skip Homeier. Filmed in Eastman Color at Universal City, with the exteriors coming from Zion National Park, Springdale, Utah, photography by Joseph Biroc and music by Frank Skinner (Joseph Gershenson supervising).

Audie Murphy plays Logan Keliher, an ex-Texas Ranger who has to interrupt his peaceful life to strap on the guns again when ex-friend-turned enemy Sam Ward (McGavin) appears back on the scene with the intention of killing him. The animosity is strong from Ward on account that Logan married his ex-wife and raised his son as his own.

The relatively short running time and the B movie production budget afforded it, doesn't give a clue to just how good, and how chock full of interest, Bullet for a Badman is. It's certainly very traditional in the old Westerns sense, before the likes of Anthony Mann and Budd Boetticher gloriously filled their Oaters with psychological themes, but there is much to enjoy here from a character perspective as regards the human condition. Jealousy, vengeance, greed, love, hate and redemption, all get a turn in the Willingham's screenplay. Mix in some good old style shoot outs and run-ins with the Apache, and film condenses a lot in such a short space of time. There's also some twists and turns that work real well in the narrative, leading us to a beauty of an ending.

The male cast members work real well, especially Murphy who turns in one of his finest Western performances, while there's also a nice little support role for Alan Hale and snatches of stoic Western performers Ray Teal and Bob Steele. With most of the film set out in the wilderness, it's such a joy to see stunning location scenery expertly captured. The colour is not quite right to fully bring it to life, a shame since Eastman Color has had some great moments in Westerns, but Biroc belies the B movie production to please the eyes with the natural beauty of Zion National Park. Skinner's score is standard fare, and although the lady actors look pretty as pictures, that's about as good as it gets for them in this particular story.

In spite of some usual iffy B production problems (poor stunt doubles, bendy props), this is still a little cracker of a Western. One that deserves a bit more attention now it's readily available on DVD. 7.5/10

A great movie that twists and turns as the characters in the movie are confronted with opportunity, regret, revenge, loyalty (or lack of).

It pumps along at a great pace, providing entertainment all the way.

Murphy's wife in this movie may be the 'pointy-est' woman I have ever seen in the old west (you will see what I mean lol) a miracle that no one loses an eye!

Lots of fun...enjoy :)

This universal western holds a special place in my heart as it was the first Audie Murphy film I saw. That was back in 1985 on LWT ( London channel) and boy was I hooked.

Audie plays an ex-Texas ranger, now a farmer, who ends up joining a posse to catch his former friend, who was once was married to Audie's character's wife and is the father of Audie's stepson. The friend played by McGavin wants Audie dead but he hasn't got a chance, not with greedy posse - who have an eye on the stolen money - and the mauraudin' Apaches in the way.

Bullet for a Badman is a well-paced western, full of action, but it's countered with good characterisation. It's very much traditional, which by then was becoming anachronism, but it's a great example of the genre. The dialogue was really engaging and humorous. McGavin had good lines and Audie acted really well, underplaying with that smooth tight-lipped style.

I do not know much about R G Springsteen, but I like his directorial work in BULLET FOR A BAD MAN, buoyed by excellent cinematography, breath-taking landcapes, and a cast in super form - notably leads Audie Murphy and Darren McGavin, the latter the former hubby of stunningly beautiful Beverley Owen, who now lives with Murphy. To add fuel to the fire, McGavin is the father of Owen's son, who is developing a relationship so close with Murphy as to call him "father;" and Mc Gavin robs the town's bank and everyone is looking for the dough and the reward that comes with it.

The plot cannot avoid some predictability but it is solid enough that you do not have to suspend your disbelief too much, and some of the dialogue warrants praise for its sharpness and dry humor.

No masterpiece, but you won't waste your time if you can catch it. 7/10.

Audie Murphy unusually starts out as a mild-mannered homebody, but sure enough soon has to strap on his guns again as part of a posse which as led by Skip Homier are an even uglier bunch than desperado Darren McGavin's gang; with nobody daring to turn their back on anyone.

Ruta Lee makes a feisty moll to McGavin.