The Outriders

Confederate prison escapees plan to hi-jack a Union gold shipment and divert it to the South. Priorities, however, are complicated by a key rivalry over a girl and a temptation to just keep the riches for themselves.

Better than average Technicolor western. For once, MGM's tendency to over-produce its horse operas gives way to a wise use of money for a western. Happily, glamour and glitz are kept in check, except for actress Dahl. Still, her wardrobe for a wagon train is not too outlandish. Instead, the production makes excellent use of its scenic Kanab, Utah, locations, along with a fine A-list cast and enough extras to make the battle scenes interesting.

What grabbed me, however, are two storyline surprises that defy expectations. Plus, for once, battles don't just unfold willy-nilly, instead Owen (McCrea) thinks along tactical lines to gain an advantage. Sure, a hi-jacked gold shipment and a rivalry between sometime buddies (McCrea & Sullivan) are familiar plot devices. Nonetheless, it's a better-than-average script, with several good touches (e.g. Sullivan's loaded gun at the end).

That river-crossing scene is clearly the movie's centerpiece and is impressively done. The torrent is big and bad enough to make the fording a genuine nail-biter. I'm guessing those were not easy scenes to film.

Anyway, it's a fine McCrea western even though he gets less focal time than usual.