El Paso, ville sans loi

In the immediate aftermath of the Civil War a Confederate officer by the name of "Clay Fletcher" (John Payne) returns to his home in Charleston, South Carolina, to restart his law profession. Upon hearing that a former sweetheart named "Susan Jeffers" (Gail Russell) and her father "Judge Henry Jeffers" (Henry Hull) have moved to El Paso, Texas, he volunteers to take some important legal papers to him. When he gets to El Paso he finds that a group of thugs have taken control of the small town and are manipulating the alcoholic judge to enforce their corrupt interests. Now, rather than detailing the entire story, I will just say that this film had a "Grade B" feel from start to finish. None of the actors distinguished themselves, the plot was shaky and some of the scenes seemed a bit corny at times. To be fair though, some of these criticisms can be attributed to the time-period in which this film was made. Even so, I thought it could have been better and so I have scored it as slightly below average.

This Cinecolor Western from 1949 boasts a terrific cast and an interesting storyline. John Payne stars as a gun-toting attorney who takes on the so-called "lawmen" of El Paso. Sterling Haytden and former singin'cowpoke Dick Foran have fun roles as the bad-guys running the town. With the help of a drunken Judge, they rule with an iron fist .... until Payne arrives !

Gabby Hayes has a featured role and is as endearing as ever. This film is fun and well-produced, but is a little long & drags a bit in the middle.

Those with patience and a 100+ minutes to spare should enjoy this old-fashioned cowboy movie.

As kids we're always told to stand up to bullies; but try putting that into practise at work with your boss! Lawyer John Payne proves similarly naïve in thinking Sterling Hayden and his brutal henchman Dick Foran will be as easily dissuaded by due process; and after 80 rather garrulous and conventional minutes this film finally makes you sit up and take notice when Payne and the rest of the townsfolk at last take the law into their own hands and fight fire with gunfire.

But did anyone ever stand trial for the accidental lynching of the newly arrived minister?

El Paso is directed by Lewis R. Foster and Foster also adapts the screenplay from a story written by J. Robert Bren and Gladys Atwater. It stars John Payne, Gail Russell, Sterling Hayden, George 'Gabby' Hayes, Dick Foran, Eduardo Noriega, Henry Hull and Mary Beth Hughes. Music is by Darrell Calker and cinematography by Ellis W. Carter. Location filming is at the Iverson and Corrigan Ranches and El Paso and Gallup.

El Paso, and lawyer and ex-Confederate captain Clay Fletcher (Payne) is forced to go against his principles and go outside the law to bring order to the town. It's a town where the judge is alcoholic and manipulated by the corrupt sheriff and a nefarious landowner.

In the mix here is a very decent film, and certainly there's a story that if given a bit more meat could have been most potent. Unfortunately it's a bit choppy in its telling and execution, while the Cinecolor it was shot in looks washed out and cheapens still further what was already a picture being made without a big budget.

Thematically it's strong, there's a vigilante thread that's attention grabbing, with some nice suggestive shots used by the director, and a theme of ex-soldiers returning from the war - only to find their land and rights being vanquished by the self imposed powers that be - carries with it some pertinent sting. There's also some good humour in here, notably a running gag involving Hughes' Stagecoach Nellie.

Cast are fine, with Hayden and Payne fronting up for their fans, Hayes does another grand grizzled old coot turn, and Noriega, in spite of being under used, is excellent. Crude back projection work undermines some half decent action sequences, whilst the extended shoot-out finale is nicely played out during a dust storm - which may be to hide some flaws in the production? But regardless it has good effect.

Frustrating picture for sure, but for Western die-hards there's enough here to enjoy and not feel angry about. 6.5/10

Frankly attractive main and support cast in an acceptable Western professionally directed by Lewis R. Foster. Set in El Paso, where arrives the lawyer and ex-Confederate captain Clay Fletcher (John Payne). Fletcher reunites with his once lady-friend, Susan Jeffers (Gail Russell) , when his father, Judge Fletcher, sends him on an errand to El Paso, Texas to get the signature of Susan's father, Judge Jeffers (Hemry Hull), on a legal document. Once there he finds the judge has become a drunk and a laughing stock, doing the bidding of local magnate Bert Donner (Sterling Hayden) and his running dog, Sheriff La Farge (Dick Foran). So the town is run by a crooked landowner, the judge is a drunk and the sheriff is corrupt. Along the way, Fletcher befriends a sympathetic elderly man, Pesky Tees (George 'Gabby' Hayes). Later on, Fletcher forms a vigilante group to bring law and order to a town. As our captain has to confront nasty powerful owners, villain sheriffs and deputies, and eventually taking justice into his own hands, acting as judge, jury and executioner .Here was one law in El Paso ... you learned to kill quick ... if you wanted to live long!

This is a tornado and adventure movie from Pine-Thomas Productions , containing thrills , emotion , action, go riding and crossfire. A decent western with a twisted and interesting intrigue written by Lewis R. Foster and based on a story by Robert Bren. Dealing with the thoughful issues of expeditiously applying justice when the ordinary legal regime does not work, our protagonists take justice into their own hands, leading to cruel hangings and executions. Nice-looking but run-of-the-mill International Universal Picture Western , including some novelties , but also with usual elements , such as franctic action , thrills , crossfire , drama , romance and some spectacular action scenes . A blending of functional main actors with great character players of whom John Payne holds the best role as an ex-captain/lawyer who leaves the legal system and instead adopt the murderous tactics of a vigilante. A warm and moving storyline and thanks to a personable and breathtaking action scenes makes an enjoyable movie , a real pleasure to listen to as well as watch . Being a vigorous western with nice performances provided by a good cast with plento of familiaar faces at the time , such as: Gail Russell, Sterling Hayden, Dick Foran, Eduardo Noriega, Henry Hull, Mary Beth Hughes, H. B. Warner, Arthur Space and, of course , the always likable George 'Gabby' Hayes.

The picture was effficiently produced but in medium budget by William H. Pine and William C. Thomas, this were known in the industry as "The Dollar Bills" because they made movies so quickly and efficiently that their films seldom, if ever, lost money. The film was well directed by Lewis R Foster . He was a prolific composer, songwriter, author and director, educated at the University of California. He began his directorial and film-writing career in 1920. Joined Hal Roach Studios as a writer/gagman in 1923, the same year as director Leo McCarey. He also worked as a newspaperman in San Francisco. He joined ASCAP in 1960. Foster was the director who gave Stan Laurel the freedom to do things his way in films . Worked as a director at Universal Pictures from 1936-37, at Paramount Pictures from 1949-53. And directed a lots of films such as 1953 Tropic zone , 1953 Those Redheads from Seattle ,1950 The Eagle and the Hawk 1950 Captain China , 1949 Manhandled ,1949 El Paso , 1949 The Lucky Stiff ,1937 Armored Car , 1937 She's Dangerous , 1936 Love Letters of a Star . And for TV the successful series : El Zorro with Guy Williams. Rating El Paso: 6.5/10. Well worth watching.