Riders of the Purple Sage

I believe Zane Grey's RIDERS is the most often-filmed Western novel of all time. This 1941 version from Fox is a low-budget but fast-moving adventure starring a very young George Montgomery, who manages to look dashing dressed all in black and wearing a very wide-brimmed hat, the likes of which probably were never seen in the Old West. Montgomery plays Lassiter, a loner who comes to the aid of a distressed cattle ranch and finds himself crossing swords with a crooked judge and his gang of cut-throats. Lots of fancy horseback riding, some shooting, and a fistfight or two. Some familiar actors of the period turn up in this oater, including Kane Richmond and Richard Lane. Worth a look for Montgomery, who grew up around horses. The fact that he never became a big star is curious. He actually is best known for having been married to Dinah Shore. I remember him best not from the movies but from an early TV show where he played -- what else? -- a cowboy.

This was a matinee type film played to youngsters & adults alike. Decent plot played by your usual cast of good & bad guys of the films era. It has wonderful equine parts set among rugged mountains and desert valley's, the scenery is a major feature of this outdoor yarn. If you enjoy the westerns from the black & white era this could be a film you can watch with your family, the violence is mild in fact one scene i laughed that a gun was used to nik a hand with no blood visable like he got shot with a cork gun. The Little girl is adorable so girls mite enjoy as well. Kids boy's 5 to 9 or 10 years of age will enjoy this with dad especially if both are western film fans and maybe wear some cowboy boots & hat with some snacks. A Good Family Film 8 of 10 *'s...

George Montgomery stars as Jim Lassiter, who learns early on that his niece Fay (Patty Patterson) has been cheated out of her inheritance by crooked Judge Dyer (Robert Barrat). What Lassiter doesn't know-at least at first-is that Dyer is the head of a vigilante group, ostensibly organized to protect the local settlers but actually intent upon driving everyone out of the territory. Several acts of skullduggery and one kidnapping later, Lassiter is finally able to thwart the villains and settle down in a hidden valley with his sweetheart Jane Witherspoon (Mary Howard).

This fourth version of Zane Grey's evergreen yarn is a solid one which breezes along with enough drama, unusual touches and action that fills its short running time. George Montgomery makes a fine Lassiter and Mary Howard is good as the pacifist Jane. There's some great rugged scenery as a backdrop to intrigue and villainy.

Zane Grey's best novel is converted into a standard B western of the era, the crooked judge stealing the pretty young woman's fortune legally, with only the lone gunfighter to defend her. There are the usual shots and incidents; only the final incident, in which the heroes flee from a corrupt civilization and seal themselves away forever, is left, and that is deprived of its sense of universality.

The plot was used innumerable times. It's too good a story not to. Change the title, change some of the details and it all comes out right in the end -- but after seeing it fifty or sixty times, even the most enthusiastic B Western fan gets the feeling he's seen it all before and there might be something better to do.

It doesn't happen this time, despite the lack of any depth because of the competence of director Tingling, cinematographer Lucien Andriot and lead George Montgomery. Tingling keeps things moving along at a good clip, Andriot gives us some lovely pictures and Montgomery puts a lot of intelligence and energy into the role. His Jim Lassiter is a chatterbox, hungry for company: not at all the usual laconic western cowpoke. These all render the movie a very good B movie.

I think if you want to see a great version of the story, you should take a look at the 1925 Tom Mix version. The 1996 TV movie starring Ed Harris and Amy Madigan is top notch. This version doesn't begin to measure up to those, but it's very watchable and only takes an hour.

This was a western with a good story, that didn't go overboard with the usual tropes of gunfights, Indian attacks, bar room brawls, etc. There were good guys vs. Bad guys, but it never came across as cliche or melodrama.

The acting was good, especially George Montgomery as Lassiter, and Patsy Patterson, the little girl who played Fay, was so adorable, and a good actress, too! Mary Howard also gave a good performance as Jane.

There were some great scenes, like the (literal) uphill climb toward the end, and the way Lassiter takes care of the outlaws after him, Jane and Fay. I would never want to mess with him!

Worth watching!