El imperio del crimen

"Panhandle" is a B-western from Allied Artists...the same company formerly known as Monogram Pictures. I am not sure of the name change and assume it was simply because Monogram had a pretty poor reputation and the name change would possibly evoke more positive imagery to the consumer. However, despite this, "Panhandle" was actually a pretty good film...better than I expected.

John Sands (Rod Cameron) was a feared gunman long ago. However, he tired of the life and retired to a small border town. But this quiet life is interrupted when he learns that his brother was murdered in another town. And, when he arrives in the town, he realizes NOTHING is done without the local boss' permission. In other words, Matt Garson (Reed Hadley) is clearly behind his brother's murder. But since he's the boss, he has lots of men to go through and John will sure have a difficult time getting to him.

Apart from one woman who is inexplicably nasty towards a poor Mexican guy, the acting was very good and the villain easy to hate. I also thought Cameron and the fight scenes were done very well. I have no major complaints about the story and it held my interest throughout.

I know nothing about Director Leslie Selander, but in PANHANDLE he gets a catchy film going on a constantly calm note, until the final deluge and shootout.

He is most calmly helped by the rather laid back and softly singing Rod Cameron, one of the tallest male actors to appear in B Westerns and this time out to avenge his brother's murder. Two beautiful females in Cathy Downs and Anne Gwynne do not hurt one bit.

Reed Hadley plays the master villain Garson rather convincingly, down to thinking that he is the sharpest knife in town and claiming that he makes no mistakes. Of course, such overconfidence seldom bodes well for one's safety, as Garson finds to his cost.

Cinematography in PANHANDLE is rather curious: it features some gorgeous sights as John Sands escapes a trio of killers early on, then it gets rather dark inside the villain's saloon, and finally it is shot in near complete blackness and under a deluge of rain. Sadly the quality of photography decreases as the screen gets darker and darker.

All right script by Blake Edwards (of later Pink Panther fame) and Champion.

John Sands is a famed ex lawman ,most celebrated for having faced down Billy the Kid .He is now living in Mexico ,having fallen foul of the law in the States,and is working as a storekeeper when news reaches him that his brother has been murdered .He vows to return to America to avenge his brother despite knowing full well this places him at risk of arrest . He is drawn into enmity with the ruthless Matt Garson who is also his rival for he hand of Garson's secretary (Joan O'Carroll)and to complicate matters he law is on his tail.

Blake Edwards -a man mostly known for his acerbic comedic scripts-co wrote this movie and the screenplay is above average for the genre, and the era .Add some lively action ,including the old genre staple of a bar -room brawl ,and some capable performances and the result is a good and watchable B movie that devotees of the Western will especially enjoy

It is very rare western which is strangely aired on a French classic movies channel. What a surprise. I would have never expected such a film, a grade B western, but not a Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, Johnny McBrown lousy craps produced by Poverty Row in Hollywood. Well, here you have Rod Cameron, the poor man's Randolph Scott for me and I guess many other folks. A western only destined to western hard boiled fans or Lesley Selander's filmography goers, but still entertaining enough to keep you awake for eighty minutes. A chain made western, very rare on French TV channel. But for me who have access to thousands of rare stuff from the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, this is not a priceless gem.

Blake Edwards is best known for writing and/or producing and/or directing Pink Panther movies and "Victor/Victoria" but he also has 32 acting credits, most in uncredited parts.

But in "Panhandle," he plays a slimy, neurotic gunsel who simply itches for a chance at the hero, played by Rod Cameron.

Edwards is just one of the superior actors who play the bad guys, led by that marvelous and well-rounded Reed Hadley, possessor of one of the greatest voices in show biz history. And who also played heroes, from Zorros to Public Defender.

There is an astonishing cast in "Panhandle." I mean, when Trevor Bardette, Lee "Lasses" White, Neal Hart, and Herman Hack are all uncredited atmosphere, you know there is a great bunch who are credited.

There are two leading ladies: Cathy Downs, lovely and well cast, and Anne Gwynne, adorable and feisty.

Blake Edwards and John C. Champion are credited as co-writers and they have produced a top-quality script, with one flaw: Veteran gun-slingers would immediately re-load after firing, even if they had a second, or third, pistol. Our hero didn't.

It's a common error, and probably most people wouldn't notice since it is so common. Otherwise, the writers and director Lesley Selander did a good job of paying attention to details.

For one thing, when someone asked directions, he said "thank you," and there were other, similar touches making this look and feel realistic.

Finally, Rod Cameron: He was another varied and talented actor. He doesn't get the credit he deserves. He played this part, though, beautifully, always showing just the right emotion or attitude appropriate to the situation.

He had a long career and even late in life got called on for TV parts, so he did get some credit within the industry, and he certainly has many fans among us Western aficionados.

I highly recommend "Panhandle," and there is an excellent copy at YouTube, with, interestingly, the credits in Spanish.