Day of the Badman

Directed by Harry Keller. Starring Fred MacMurray, Robert Middleton, John Ericson, Joan Weldon, Skip Homeier, Marie Windsor, Edgar Buchanan, Eduard Franz, Peggy Converse, Lee Van Cleef, Robert Foulk.

The unscrupulous kin of a convicted murderer show up to pressure the impassive judge (MacMurray) for leniency in sentencing; one of them is Van Cleef, so there's no doubt that they're bad news. Serviceable Western with a goofy title miffs its dramatic potential; decent performances and a few promising scenes/interactions (including a sub-plot where the judge's lady love (Weldon) is having an affair with sheriff Ericson), but it doesn't add up to much. Film lacks tension on its way to the protagonist's decision and it all but fizzles out during the underwhelming climax. Working with a low budget, journeyman director Keller fails to bring much style or suspense to the proceedings, but it's still slightly better than its all-but-forgotten status would suggest.

53/100

First, I am so lucky to have caught this film in a letterboxed - wide screen - edition, even dubbed in french. Second, I have nothing to add to the other comments - why always repeat the same things the other users did so good ? - except just one little detail. The sequence where the bad guys lead by Robert Middleton enter the grocery store to terrorize the owner, and just after they have got from him what they want to, so just after they have succeeded in their nasty job, Robert Middleton takes a candy placed on the shop counter and - incredible - takes two coins from his pocket to pay the candies. After he nearly killed the poor shopkeeper, he pays him the candy. I found that absolutely fantastic. I don't know how to say it properly. That's the kind of things that are so rare to see. And I think that's the real expression of power. You may really hurt someone, kill him, destroy every thing in or around him, but you can STILL stay somewhere noble, generous, even if you are besides a real S. O. B. An authentic bastard. Fred McMurray has here a character not so far from the one he had in AT GUNPOINT, from director Alfred Werker; some kind of HIGH NOON scheme.

I love seeing, catching such tiny details.

"Day of the Bad Man" was one of a series of westerns made by Fred MacMurray in the 50s just prior to his embarking upon a series of Disney films and his long running TV series "My Three Sons". The comparisons to "High Noon" (1952) will be inevitable.

Convicted killer Rudy Hayes (Christopher Dark) languishes in jail awaiting sentencing for murder. Into town ride his two sweaty and unshaven brothers Charlie (Robert Middleton) and Howie (Skip Homier). They hook up with Rudy's girl friend Cora (Marie Windsor)and Hayes cousins Jake (Lee Van Cleef) and Monte (Chris Alcaide). Opposing them are square jawed righteous Judge Jim Scott (MacMurray) and the pompous Sheriff Wiley (John Ericson).

A sub-plot involves a love triangle consisting of Scott, Wiley and the lovely Myra Owens (Joan Weldon).

The Hayes try to intimidate the towns folk into pressuring the Judge to impose a lighter sentence of banishment rather than hanging on Rudy. Of course MacMurray will not be intimidated and does the right thing according to law. This ultimately leads to the inevitable showdown with MacMurray forced to face the baddies alone. (Sound familiar?).

MacMurray is stern faced and serious as the Judge. Middleton is excellent as the sneering chief villain, a part he perfected. Homier does his hot-headed kid routine yet again. Van Cleef has little to do except sneer. Weldon plays the virginal good girl in typical 50s one dimensional style. Windsor almost steals the film as bad girl Cora.

Rounding out the cast are Universal's usual cast of familiar faces. Edgar Buchanan plays Sam, MacMurray's friend and ally, Don Haggerty, the Deputy Sheriff, and Robert Foulk, Ann Doran, Eduard Franz, Eddy Waller, I. Stanford Jolley, Kenneth MacDonald, Hank Patterson and Tom London as various towns folk. And watch for a very young Paul Peterson as one of the kids on the street.

An average western saved by its superior cast.

Decent and though-provoking Western with a magnificent Fred MacMurray and a splendid plethora of secondaries . An intelligent , adult and impressively tense Western based on a story by John Cunningham and screenplay by Lawrence Roman . A top-notch cast under superb direction by Harry Keller makes this movie notable in every aspect ,being shot on Universal International Pictures scenarios and locations that serve to increase the mood of claustrophobic tension .This Acceptable , Simple , Powerful , Enjoyable picture tells the story of a valiant judge : Jim Scott (Fred MacMurray) who attempts to settle down for a peaceful existence ; however at the noisy town he must fight and standing against impossible odds , as he has to confront the vengeful , vicious Hayes clan (Robert Middleton, Skip Homeier , Lee Van Cleef) who amble into town on the day . As the upright judge who seems unconcerned against threats is expected to sentence killer Rudy Hayes to hang . Things go wrong when the judge to be aware the sheriff (John Ericson) , Scott's chief ally, is also the secret lover of Scott's girlfriend (Joan Weldon) . Meanwhile , Hayes Brothers make an explicit death menace against him .The story of a man who was too proud to run . When these hands point straight up...the excitement starts! . He turned killer...for one day . Violence...Temptation...Treachery...were the only laws they obeyed!

A Tense and Suspenseful Western with a simple story that engages the viewer until the last scene . The film packs thrills , psychological drama , action , crossfire , loving triangle , and being enough entertaining . It's a medium budget film with acceptable actors , technicians , functional production values and pleasing results . Pretty good and pleasant traditional Western with professional direction and flawlessly acted by Fred MacMurray who steals the show as a peaceful judge who learns that he has become a tough fighter . A Hollywood production full of interesting characters , shootouts and intense drama .This ¨Day of the badman¨not the best Western ever,...but pretty darn close . It is a brilliant studio of a mob mentality in ¨Fred Zinneman's High Noon¨ -the Prototype for a Hundred Westerns- style with strong individual characterizations , and paced in psychological tendry . As the desolation and bleakness of this town stands in contrast to the heroism starred by the brave judge .But for all the obviousness of its meaning , including a simplistically liberal message , which once made it seem a landmark in the adult Western , the picture is really intriguing , not merely because Harry Keller's tersely economic narration of his material , but because Universal Pictures made a decission to cut budget and reducing locations .This acceptable and passable western is plenty of suspense as the dreaded trial approaches and the protagonist realizes he must stand alone but his fellow town people for help , nobody is willing to help him , as the townsfolk start wondering how much bloodshed one hanging is worth . The narration is perfectly adjusted , from the beginning , until the final showdown and being approximately developed in Runtime 81 min . Director managed to create a nice work of art with fine acting , appropriate scenarios , and attractive plot . It provides wonderful sociological lessons that are timeless and transcend the genre. Bursting with appealing , top-drawer characters, including decent filmmaking and interpretation . The confrontation results to be tense , charged and riveting . Fred MacMurray makes a Pretty Good Judge named Jim Scott , he doesn't wear a gun who must contend with the vicious relatives of a murderer he's about to sentence. This is one of a clutch of acceptable horse operas Fred made in the forties , in the late 50s and the early sixties , such as ¨Texas Rangers¨, ¨The trail of the lonesome Pine¨, ¨A gun for a coward¨, ¨Good day for a hanging¨ and this ¨At gunpoint¨. Although MacMurray also played other genres as drama , adventures , wartime , children films , such as : The happiest millionaire , The shaggy dog , Son of Flubber , The absent-minded profesor , The princess come across , The Caine mutiny , Dive bomber , Above suspicion , Murder he says , The miracle of the bells , Alice Adams , The apartment , and Noir film as the classy : Double indemnity . MacMurray is accompanied by the beautiful Joan Weldon as his unfaithful fiancee. And a very good and large support cast , such as :John Ericson , Robert Middleton , Marie Windsor , Edgar Buchanan , Eduard Franz , Skip Homeier , Don Haggerty , Ann Doran and the always great Lee Van Cleef .

The motion picture was professionally directed by Harry Keller . Harry worked at Republic Pictures , specializing in westerns , where he shot a lot , such as : Phantom Stallion ,Red River Shore ,Paso Stampede , Bandits of the West , Savage Frontier , Marshal of Cedar Rock , Thundering Caravans , Black Hills Ambush , Rose Cimarron , Fort Dodge , Stampede , Desert of lost men , Tarnished and most of them starred by Allan Lane and Rex Allen . When that studio folded he went to Universal, directing westerns again : Quantez , Gundown at Sandoval , 6 Black Horses , interspersed with some dramas/thrillers : Step Down to Terror , Man Afraid , Voice in the mirror , Female Animal , comedies : Tammy and the Doctor and war pictures : In Enemy Country. In the late 1960s he stopped directing films and started producing them, although he did keep his hand in directing TV shows. Keller gained some degree of fame as the director called in by Universal to reshoot scenes from Orson Welles' masterpiece Touch of evil (1958), and by most accounts -including Welles'- matched Welles' style quite well . Rating . 6.5/10 . Better than average western . Well worth watching

"Day of the Badman" is a decent film and it stars Fred MacMurray...which isn't bad. But it's also a completely unnecessary film as the plot is essentially a reworking of "High Noon"....so why not just watch "High Noon"?!

When the film begins, you learn that a man was convicted of murder and is awaiting sentencing. However, his family comes to town and begins an intimidation program aimed at getting the guy only a slap on the wrist instead of a proper hanging. Over time, the good townsfolk turn out to be yellow and would rather let the killer go than face the wrath of his scum-bag kin. The only one standing in the way is the Judge (MacMurray).

The only real difference between this and "High Noon" is the subplot about the Judge's girl making time with the Sheriff. This clearly isn't enough reason to merit making the film but is mildly interesting. Competently made but lacking originality.