City of Bad Men

Robertson, Boone, Betz, the lovely Matthews and the always great Bridges bring fine performances to this western with a "hook." The hook here is Fitzsimmons/Corbett boxing match held in Carson City, and our heroes are going to attempt to run off with the gate. The fight takes backseat to the romance and intrigue leading up to the big day. Of course our hero does the right thing, but it is interesting to watch how he gets to the right side of the law.

City of Bad Men was released by 20th Century Fox in 1953. The story takes place in Carson City, Nevada in 1897. The whole territory is excited about a boxing match between Gentleman Jim Corbett & Bob Fitzsimmons. Several gangs of bad men converge on the town including Dale Robertson & his brother, Lloyd Bridges & another gang led by Richard Boone. A plot evolves to steal the large proceeds from this prizefight. Robertson meets up with old flame, Jeanne Crain, and begins to have 2nd thoughts about being involved in this robbery. Robertson & Crain look great together & should be remembered as on of the top romantic screen teams ( they were together previously on 1951's Take Care of my Little Girl ). Others in the cast included Carl Betz (later on the Donna Reed show) and Whitfield Connor who tries to marry Crain, but he's obviously no competition for our hero, Robertson.

Thrilling Western concerning the twenty-four hour reign of terror that branded a prairie town city of Bad Men and at the end takes place facing off between Brett Stanton and Ringo Kid close in for a show-down. After various years in Mexico Brett Stanton : Dale Robertson, his brother : Lloyd Briges and their band go back Carson City to carry out a big robbery. But they are other gangs as Jonny Ringo : Richard Boone band, and Bob Thraikill bunch planning to run off with the proceeds from Fitzsimmons-Corbett heavyweight fight. As penniless Johnny Ringo and his band with schemes on their own and no intention of abiding Brett's plan. Lot of people have come there from all over to see the heavyweight tournament prizefight between Gentleman Jim Corbett and Bob Fitzsimmons .You ride into Carson at the eight of its gun-slinging glory in the eve of of the Corbett vs. Fitzsimmons heavyweight championship!. A frontier town in the wild roaring frenzy of fight-time! The most famous boxing bout of an era! The most notorious killers of all time, all in one motion picture!

20th Century Fox movie with great main and support cast, being lavishly produced and efficiently directed. Furthermore, it contains a colorful and glimmer cinematography by Charles Clarke. As well as rousing and stirring musical score by Cryl Mockridge. This is an ambitious and large-scale film dealing with the historical combat between Fitzsimmons and James, Jim, Corbett, whose character was already been portrayed by Errol Flynn in Gentleman Jim directed by Raoul Walsh . This is an interesting movie though lacks some inspiration and being interesting enough . However, there is not central drive in the storyline, delivering various sub-plots with no much interest, as the triangular love story. Stars Dale Robertson as the good/bad bandit intending to make a quick dishonest heist. His partenaire is the gorgeous and sweet Jeanne Crain. Being well accompanied by a great support cast, such as : Richard Boone, Lloyd Bridges , Carole Matthews, Whitfield Connor, Frank Ferguson, Hugh Sanders as sheriff, James Best, John Doucette, Rodolfo Acosta , Harry Brown, Robert Adler, Kit Carson, Fred Arlich, Carl Betz, Leo Gordon's movie debut and several others. John Fay, the tough actor who plays Corbett, was also used to sparring for the cameras. He, besides, fought Kirk Douglas in "Champion" and Tony Curtis in "The Square Jungle".

This offbeat motion picture produced by Leonard Goldstein was professionally directed by Harmon Jones. He was a craftsman who worked as a production manager, editor, producer and filmmaker. He directed all kinds of genres as Westerns, drama, Thriller, Comedy, Film Noir, such as : The beast of Budapest, Wolf Larsen, Gorilla at large, Target zero, Canyon river, The pride of St Louis, Bloodhound of Broadway, As young a you feel. And he directed a lot of episodes of notorious TV series as Land of giants , Death valley, Voyage to the bottom of the sea, The Virginian, Iron Horse, Perry Mason, Gunslinger, Daniel Boone, Iron Horse, The Monroe, The Zorro, among others. Rating 6. 5/10. Decent and above average Western.

Probably my favourites from director Harmon Jones whose CANYON RIVER was also excellent. But concerning this one, I don't know why, there is something that I like. Characters symphony, story, and the cast, so prestigious for such a small western: John Doucette, Leo Gordon in one of his earliest roles; and of course Richard Boone. I would say: forget Dale Robertson. Yes, I definitely have tenderness for this western, for its charm, despite the fact that there is not that much surprise in the end. Only enjoy the watch. I forgot that Twentieth century Fox made such small films in the fifties, and not only Universal, Republic or Paramount. One of the most offbeat showdown in the western history. Besides TERROR IN A TEXAS TOWN of course.

City Of Bad Men is Carson City, Nevada and that frontier town which was just beginning to show traces of civilization in 1897 is the host to the title defense of the heavyweight championship by James J. Corbett against the Cornish blacksmith Bob Fitzsimmons. There's lots of action outside the ring as well as three different gangs of outlaws all have plans to rob the proceeds of the fight.

The gangs are led by Dale Robertson, Richard Boone, and Dan Haggerty. Robertson is actually from the area and reestablishes himself with Jeanne Crain, the girl he left behind. But Robertson took her younger brother with him who got killed and she's not forgiving.

Robertson is like John Wayne in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance who is a man of the west, but knows the day of six gun law is coming to a close. In fact some of the themes of Liberty Valance are explored here with a different twist.

With the law closing in on the gangs there's more action outside the ring than inside where history records the tough blacksmith from Cornwall wore down the champion from San Francisco and knocked him out.

Of performances to note one would definitely be that Lloyd Bridges as Robertson's younger and wilder brother.

City Of Bad Men weaves a nice western tale into the most famous day Carson City, Nevada ever saw.