Colorado Saloon

Two brothers running from Texas due the younger found troubles wherever he goes, his name is Sam Mayhew (Skip Homeier), his mature old brother Bill Mayhew (John Payne) is already fed up about the bad behavior of the hothead Sam, he decides at last split apart and each one follow his own track, but both end up in the same city and falling in love for the same girl Elizabeth Sutton (Mona Freman), Bill finds a job in a stable where the owner John Sutton (Ray Middleton) having in my start a new business of stagecoach line until Denver which he becomes partner later, meanwhile the rebel Sam bumps into the big boss in town Jim Donovan (Lee J. Cobb), they stand in opposite sides without comment that both are actually brothers, the clash is a matter of time.

Republic Pictures already in decline process made this predicable and standard western, followed by a mindless screenplay in a so far-fetched story, specially the outcome, the true star certainly will turn down such foolish role as main character, quite sure wasn't the case of John Payne at this time, apart he was a decent actor indeed, two characters are noteworthy Lee J. Cobb as bad Boss who any further comment is expendable due its background and Skip Homeier as wayward guy has a perfect chemistry to the role and deliver all the producers expected, has another secondary character called Pecos that in upcoming years will becomes one most villains of all time Lee Van Cleef, another colorful character is the old stable guy Whipsaw Ellis (Andy Clay) lying all the time, he's worth as much as he weights, Mona Freeman is beauty woman enlightens the picture as unique female in town, all the others were background actress, let it see if you forget the obtuse storyline, otherwise don't waste your time.

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First watch: 1984 / How many: 2 / Source: TV-DVD / Rating: 6.

Bill Mayhew is growing tired of bailing out his hot headed younger brother, Sam. After breaking him loose from a Texas jail he decides enough is enough and tells Sam they must go their separate ways. He heads towards Denver and sets up in Central City where he lands a job (and soon to be partnership) with kindly gent John Sutton, he also starts to fall for Sutton's pretty daughter Elizabeth. However it soon becomes apparent that the towns money mad crook, Jim Donovan has issues with Sutton's dealings, and after enlisting into his fold the newly arrived in town, Sam, sets up the scenario of the brothers being on opposing sides.

Simple yet executed with no little style, The Road To Denver is a hugely enjoyable Western. It's directed by Western specialist Joe Kane and stars John Payne (Bill Mayhew), Mona Freeman (Elizabeth Sutton), Lee J. Cobb (Jim Donovan), Ray Middleton (John Sutton), Skip Homeier (Sam Mayhew) & Lee Van Cleef (Pecos Larry). The tale of sibling rivalry amongst the fabulous Snow Canyon location is highly watchable stuff, where even though the sense of the inevitable is hard to get away from, a number of sequences delight and fully form the story. Homeier is particularly good at playing the loose cannon role of Sam, and the best scenes tend to land with him, but Lee J Cobb is always a solid performer, and when given a bad guy role such as here, he positively delivers with sneer in full effect.

One of Kane's better efforts in the genre, and certainly one that is either under seen or undervalued on internet sites, so if you get the chance have a look, because it's a very tidy little piece. 7/10

"The Road to Denver" is a film from Republic Pictures which was filmed, like many of their movies, in Trucolor. Now, despite its name, Trucolor was not exactly top quality color filmstock. Its big advantage was that it was about half the price of Technicolor...about the same price as black & white filmstock. However, its colors weren't that good compared to Technicolor and the films made in Trucolor tend to be more sepia toned than in true color over time...which isn't so bad for this film since it's set in Utah*. None of this is a complaint so much as an explanation of the color you see when you watch the movie. For Trucolor it actually looks pretty decent.

For a Republic film, this one has a pretty decent cast. Generally, Republic was a second (or third) tier studio but here the lineup is better than usual. John Payne stars but he's amply helped by Mona Freeman, Lee J. Cobb, Glenn Strange, Andy Clyde, Skip Homeier, and Lee Van Cleef.

The film begins with a cattle drive. Sam Mayhew (Skip Homeier), as usual, is having a fight with someone. This time, however, the local sheriff has had enough...sentencing Sam to a month in jail. Inexplicably, his brother, Bill (John Payne), breaks him out of jail...but he was only supposed to serve a month. Now, the pair head to new country...and with new names. Will things get any better with Sam or is he destined for trouble once again? Take a guess? And, soon the two part ways...though you know sooner or later they'll cross paths.

The notion of two brothers going opposite directions with the law is a VERY familiar story in westerns. Off the top of my head, I remember several westerns starring big name actors with the same sort of plot: "Saddle the Wind" (1958), "Bandolero!" (1968), and "Horizons West" (1952). So, "The Road to Denver" isn't 100% unique. That doesn't mean it's bad...just a subject matter that's been used quite a few times.

Overall, the film is made well and it is enjoyable despite being awfully familiar.

*When the story begins, it says the movie was filmed in Utah. However, all the locations listed on IMDB are in Arizona. What gives?

Two fugitive Texan brothers called Bill Mayhew/John Payne and Sam Mayhew/Skip Homeier at odds with one another escape from a Texas Town and go to Central City . Bill finally gives up on his younger brother and heads for Colorado . As they flee to Colorado where they take jobs with rival bosses , as there takes place a strong confrontation brother against brother . Then Bill gets a job , working for the good entrepreneur John Sutton (Ray Middleton) , both of them carry out a Stageline from Central City to Denver , leaving Central City on regular schedule along Wednesday , Friday and Sunday , transporting passengers , express and US mail ; this company is called ¨Sutton and Mayhew¨ Props . And all is well until his brother appears and takes a job that puts them on opposite sides of the law , as Sam works for the mean Jim Donovan (Lee J. Cobb), a wealthy baron who is owner of the Central City saloon and Golgonda Bar . By the way , a love triangle emerges in which implicates Bill/Payne who falls for Sutton's daughter and Sam/Skip Homeier who is also in love with Elizabeth Sutton/Mona Freeman . Face-To-Face and Pistol-To-Pistol! Young...but not too young for love! Honey-haired Liz---an exciting girl in a town of reckless men! He Was The Fastest Gun In A Gunfighter's Town...'Til A Tall Texan With A Lightning Draw Hunted Him Down...it was brother against brother ¡

Decent but run-of-the-mill Republic Pictures with usual elements , such as noisy action , thrills , crossfire , assaults , drama , treason , romance and some spectacular action scenes . Thrilling and colorful Western starred by a tough John Payne , involving a sibling confrontation in which the older brother Bill repeatedly attempts to keep younger brother Sam out of jail , but at the end they contend each other . Acceptable Western blending some functional main actors with great character players of whom John Payne holds the best role as the righteous brother . The hothouse plot drives mercilessly forward with go riding , action , thrills , attacks , betrayals and turns . The tale is strong one and the yarn is wonderfully located against a background of Utah . Well directed by Joseph Kane who made a lot of low-budget movies , though he followed to work for cinema and was capable of making a few large-scale films . Stars John Payne, one of the popular actors of the forties and fifties, today a little forgotten. He starred the classy ¨Miracle in 34th street¨ and performed all kinds of genres as Noir : ¨Slighly scarlet¨, ¨Kansas City confidential¨, ¨The vanquished¨ ; Adventure: ¨Raiders of seven seas¨, ¨Crosswinds¨, ¨Tripoli¨, ¨Iceland¨ and Western : ¨Santa Fe passage¨, ¨Silver lode¨, ¨Tennessee's partner¨, ¨The Road to Denver¨. Payne also starred various TV series and episodes : ¨The restless gun¨ and ¨Zane Grey¨. Payne is well accompanied by a good support cast , such as : the prestigious Lee J. Cobb , here co-starring , along with the usual villian Skip Homeier . Remaining support cast is pretty good , such as : Ray Middleton , Glenn Strange , Andy Clyde , 'Killer' Davis , Robert 'Buzz' Henry , and some uncredited as John Dierkes , Chuck Hamilton , Chuck Hayward , and , of course , Lee Van Cleef , pre-Sergio Leone .

It contains colorful and brilliant cinematography in Trucolor by director of photography Reggie Lanning . And thrilling and atmospheric musical score by Dale Butts . This classic as well as traditional movie was produced by Herbert J Yates from Republic Pictures and professionally directed by Joseph , ¨Joe¨ , Kane , containing some vigorous scenes . Kane was a good craftsman who made around 100 titles from the 30s . This motion picture was well directed , though with no much enthusiasm. Kane directed a great number of films and several episodes of notorious TV episodes . Kane started directing career started with co-directing serials for Mascot and Republic, and he soon became Republic's top western director. He handled many of John Wayne's Republic westerns of the 1940s, and piloted numerous Roy Rogers and Gene Autry films . He was once asked in an interview why he did so many westerns . He replied, "I like the outdoors. The horses. The cowboys. I like that". Unlike most Republic house directors, Kane was credited as associate producer on many of his films. He stayed at Republic until the studio's demise in 1959, and after freelancing for mostly independent production companies, he turned to directing TV series as Bonanza . Kane usually worked with Vera Ralston, whom husband Herbert J. Yates, president of Republic Pictures and Kane's boss, attempted without success to make a star . He made a lot of westerns , such as : King of the Cowboys 1943 , Idaho 1942 , Ridin' Down the Canyon 1942, Heart of the Golden West 1942 ,Sunset Serenade 1942, Sons of the Pioneers 1942 Romance on the Range 1942 , Sunset on the Desert 1942 , South of Santa Fe 1942 ,Man from Cheyenne 1941 , Red River Valley 1941 , Jesse James at Bay 1941, Bad Man of Deadwood 1941, Rags to Riches 1941 , Nevada City 1941 ,Sheriff of Tombstone 1941, In Old Cheyenne 1941, The Great Train Robbery 1941 , Robin Hood of the Pecos 1940 , The Border Legion 1940 , Young Bill Hickok 1940 Colorado 1940 ,The Ranger and the Lady 1940 ,The Carson City Kid 1940 ,Young Buffalo Bill 1939, Days of Jesse James 1939 , Saga of Death Valley 1939 , The Arizona Kid 1939 , In Old Monterey 1939 , Wall Street Cowboy 1939 , and many others . The motion picture will appeal to Western/adventure buffs ; it's an agreeable popcorn story plenty of breathtaking scenes , emotion , adventures , colorful exteriors and many other things . It's a wonderful enjoyable story for kids , teens and old people . Rating : Decent Western 6.5/10 .

Well, I expected more from this Republic western with seemingly more budget than usual and a good cast too: John Payne, Lee J Cobb, Skip Homeier, Lee Van Cleef; this sounds better than the usual Republic cast: Rod Cameron, Forrest Tucker, John Russell.... And I don't even speak of the Horace McCoy's script !!!! But the result is a bit flat for me, predictable. Good score though but that doesn't save the whole. It remains however an above average Republic Pictures western, don't misunderstand my review, I only showed my own opinion. This western has a good reputation anywway but I prefered MAVERICK QUEEN from the same Jo Kane.