Sein Colt war schneller

Excellent and funny story of Agry-town, a place where everything costs ten dollars and a man can be hung for being on the right side of a fight -- but the wrong side of the law. Hypocrisy and the essential weakness of human nature are humorously juxtaposed with Scott and his friends' hardboiled masculine ethic. Only the ending is a disappointment -- rushed and somewhat confused. Lang's writing is good and very barbed but somewhat predictable as the famous Ranown cycle winds down with this film.

The Pacific Film Archive here in Berkeley CA has been showing these films for the last few years, and in 2000 I and my mother had the chance to meet the director, the very charming, funny, and intelligent Bud Boetticher, and also the people who are restoring these movies for Columbia. They're doing a wonderful job, and hopefully soon we'll all be able to enjoy restored, less yellowed prints of these classic films (especially the incredible "Seven Men from Now") on DVD. Put any pressure you can on Columbia, folks, let them know you want to see these films on DVD, because the restoration is already well underway -- we just need to let them know there's an audience out there!

I'm familiar with Scott's work and am a fan. This film doesn't quite fit in with films like The Tall T, Ride Lonesome, Decision at Sundown etc. Scott shares the screen with lots of supporting characters- LQ Jones, Craig Stevens and all the Agry men. The film opens with Scott happily heading to West Texas via Agry after a profitable Mexican run. He just wants food, probably something of a binding nature and drink. What no women? Only one woman here of interest- Barbara James uncredited as Nina the judge's Mexican housekeeper. Scott has barely any interaction with any females-Jennifer Holiday. Our Scott stands for loyalty, bravery, a fair fight, love of your belt, gun and Texas. I'll give him that. There is no compelling villain here as the Agry's are a bunch of double dealing B movie bumblers. Amos Agry reminds me of a young Andy Devine. Scott is good as a very relaxed murder defendant in a back barroom courtroom. This flick therefore falls toward the lower rung of the RS canon IMHO. I'd see it again, but I'd be riding lonesome.

Arguably the least of the "Ranown" westerns (directed by Budd Boetticher, coproduced by Harry Joe Brown & Randolph Scott, and starring Scott) Buchanan Rides Alone eschews the thought-provoking adult premises of the other films and is satisfied being a standard potboiler devoid of deeper implications. All were shot on a modest budget but this one really looks it with a handful of drab sets and unremarkable outdoor locations. Other than Scott the cast is nondescript and the 79 minute runtime contains an inordinate amount of talking, an overly complicated narrative, and token action. However it is competently acted and professionally assembled by Budd Boetticher while existing as a proficient though unspectacular example of his work.

Tom Buchanan (Randolph Scott) rides into the mangy border town of Agry furnished with a pair of bandoliers, a money belt containing $2000, and a disarming smile. He immediately runs afoul of the corrupt local sheriff Lew Agry (Brian Kelley) who conspires to separate the stranger from his loot. Buchanan finds himself in hot water when Lou's wayward nephew Roy (Williams Leslie) gets gunned down by Juan de la Vega (Manuel Rojas) and the sheriff ropes Buchanan into the crime. They are saved from being lynched by Lew's brother Judge Simon Agry (Tol Avery), a man with political ambitions and father of Roy, who prefers to try the men in court and avoid the appearance of lawlessness. Juan is content to face the noose for his deed as Roy did something unspeakable to Juan's sister but Buchanan, pleading his innocence, is acquitted. Lew isn't satisfied with this outcome and, after confiscating Buchanan's money belt and guns, sends the unarmed man out of town accompanied by two goons who are obviously supposed to shoot him when they reach the wilderness. The plot continues to spin with plenty of intrigue including the brotherly squabble over a $50,000 ransom for Juan's life and Buchanan's efforts to retrieve his property and save the boy from the Agry clan.

Based on the novel "The Name's Buchanan" by Jonas Ward the screenplay is credited to Charles Lang but there is debate as to whom actually penned it and much of the dialogue was reportedly ad libbed on set. The fatal flaw is the characterization of Buchanan as a smiling, amiable man who seems content to have situations dictated to him. He consistently needs other people to bail him out of tough spots and displays a knack for placing himself in dire predicaments. Buchanan also exhibits a dubious personal code: he's fine seeing a woman (Jennifer Holden) get smacked, talks himself out of a hanging sentence and walks away Scott (pun intended) free content to let Juan swing, lets Lew rob him, and lies about his intentions during the climactic shootout. These are not the actions one would expect from a Randolph Scott character. Furthermore Buchanan is essentially a tumbleweed blown around by the plot; at the mercy of others and who plays a secondary role in resolving the story.

The crux of the narrative is the chess match between Simon and Lew Agry who are perpetually attempting to outwit one another for the $50,000 ransom. The villains of the piece (Lew, Simon, Roy, and henchman Waldo) - aka the White Guys - are depicted as greedy, crooked and untrustworthy while the Mexicans (Juan, Gomez, and Juan's father) are portrayed as noble and honorable. The brothers display minimal affection towards each other while Simon seems barely moved by the death of his son; instead he exploits the tragedy for financial gain. All are wily to various degrees but are quick to turn cowardly when the tables are turned against them. Agry is definitely a town you'd be wise to either pass through quickly or give a wide berth.

Directed by Budd Boetticher and lensed by the accomplished Lucien Ballard the film has a second hand look with cut-rate interiors and uninteresting location scenery. For example Simon's sprawling hacienda is reduced to a handful of drab sets giving the film a stagebound look. The narrative unfolds in a leisurely fashion with minimal tension or urgency as characters negotiate, connive, and conspire with a minimum of excitement. When events finally come to a head on a border bridge spanning the USA & Mexico and end with bodies littered everywhere it is difficult to feel satisfied as Buchanan's conflicts with Lew and Waldo are never resolved and, once again, he's more or less a bystander for the resolution. Ultimately when compared to Boetticher's other Ranown works this one resonates with a perfunctory feel as if he mailed it in. Ballard sadly falls into this category as well particularly when comparing Buchanan Rides Alone to his phenomenal work in Ride the High Country.

Randolph Scott lays on the charm in the curiously glib role; he rides into town wrapped in a pair of bandoliers for a truly badass entrance but all goes downhill quickly after that. Buchanan lets himself be pushed around, easily disarmed, and mocked on many occasions while cheerfully offering to turn over his guns to the corrupt sheriff at one point. Scott rarely seemed comfortable enacting such loquacious characters and was infinitely better as a taciturn man of action who did what needed to be done. Perhaps he and Boetticher were enamored with the prospect of trying a different approach (kudos for the attempt) but it simply doesn't work. Those expecting Scott to amble into a corrupt town and set things right will be sorely disappointed; he's more Roy Rogers than Clint Eastwood in that regard.

The supporting cast, comprised largely of undistinguished performers, are nonetheless solid. Barry Kelley handles his assignment as the despicable Lew with aplomb making him a most detestable character. Enacting his brother Simon is Tol Avery who is more subtle yet equally devious; Avery displays a tendency to be overly theatrical at times in accordance with his duplicitous character. Peter Whitney provides the yucks as the dim witted third brother Amos who spends much screen time out of breath "running around like a chicken with his head cut off" while playing his brothers off one another. Craig Stevens nabs second billing in the underwritten role of the pragmatic Carbo, Simon's bodyguard/confidant, who looks dangerous and intimidates most of the cast. The script neglects to definitively state his purpose which in turn adds some mystery to the character. Juvenile cast members LQ Jones and Manuel Rojas give the film plenty of heart as the amiable Pecos and the hotheaded yet righteous Juan, respectively.

In sum Buchanan Rides Alone is a curious mixture whose provocative title doesn't justify the activity in the film. The plot is overly complicated and too much time is devoted to its mechanizations at the expense of action. Compared to the other works by genre studs like Budd Boetticher, Lucien Ballard, and Randolph Scott this effort seems tossed off with the intention of making a profit rather than suitably entertaining its audience. Still it goes by quickly and is worth a viewing for fans of the big names involved in the production.

This unusual western is totally without any kind of ambition, because you have here no Indians, no woman character - I mean lead or lead supporting female character - and I would say no real villain, no lead villain. And speaking of villain, Craig Stevens character could have been a tremendous villain, an elegant, exquisite bad guy against whom Randolph Scott could have fought in a good showdown. But here, nothing of the kind, not at all, only a useless complex story which it is hard to follow and summarize after the watching. I prefered DECISION AT SUNDOWN, which is the western from Boetticher- Scott, Burt Kennedy team that is the closest to this one. Nothing to do with SEVEN MEN FROM NOW nor COMANCHE STATION or THE TALL T.

It is a Plot Heavy Movie with a Goodly Amount of Heavies, Literally. All the lead Bad Guys are Seriously Overweight except Craig Stevens as a well Groomed Gun for Hire.

Randolph Scott is in on the Light Touch of the Film from the Get-Go as He Smiles Broadly, almost Retardedly, but that could be a Ploy. He seems perfectly Able to Figure Things Out and is Ready with a Funny Quip.

After finding a Room is $10, a Steak is $10 and a Bottle of Whisky is $10...Looking straight at an Attractive Floozy in the Saloon says, "Is there anything in this town that doesn't cost $10?" There's more but You need to Watch this Amusing, Above Average Movie to experience the Fun.

L.Q. Jones is a Standout as Scott's West Texas Buddy. There is a Burial Scene that's a Hoot. Newbies seeking out the Boetticher/Scott Cannon might want to Save this one for Last, so They can Wrap it Up with a Wink and a Nod to One of the Best Collaborations Found in Fifties Westerns.

Note...Along with the Anthony Mann/James Stewart Films these were as Good as the Genre had to Offer in the Overdose of Oaters from the Decade.