Bullet for a Badman

This universal western holds a special place in my heart as it was the first Audie Murphy film I saw. That was back in 1985 on LWT ( London channel) and boy was I hooked.

Audie plays an ex-Texas ranger, now a farmer, who ends up joining a posse to catch his former friend, who was once was married to Audie's character's wife and is the father of Audie's stepson. The friend played by McGavin wants Audie dead but he hasn't got a chance, not with greedy posse - who have an eye on the stolen money - and the mauraudin' Apaches in the way.

Bullet for a Badman is a well-paced western, full of action, but it's countered with good characterisation. It's very much traditional, which by then was becoming anachronism, but it's a great example of the genre. The dialogue was really engaging and humorous. McGavin had good lines and Audie acted really well, underplaying with that smooth tight-lipped style.

The last of the Audie Murphy's are the best. The early ones are enough to put anyone off watching Budd Boetticher's work.

"Bullet for a Badman" is solidly crafted and, in the scenes of the posse holding off the "murderin' Pachees" that grizzled old timer Tobias warns about, has an effective set piece. The traveling shot where the riders lift above the moving camera, as they gallop up the ridge, must have gotten a cheer in the theatrical runs.

Murphy's character, the Texas Ranger who retired to look after the wife and child of his jailed chum, Darren McGavin, is too saintly for all but the most gullible but McGavin's study in vengeful, shaded macho is just what the film needs. He's surprisingly plausible in the saddle. The men are nicely chosen and effective, with Springsteen's experience showing in the way they ride and handle weapons, used to build their characters - the best cowboy movie tradition.

The women get by in the scrubbed up manner which undermines these films' pretensions to realism.

The colour is OK but Joe Biroc did a lot better and the score, credited on the film to veteran Skinner, is on the glum side. The use of stunt doubles for the leads is too obvious too.

These Universal westerns were good value once they got a hint of production value, even if this one doesn't compare to the best of the Delmer Daves- John Sturges - Anthony Mann cycle.

Audie Murphy unusually starts out as a mild-mannered homebody, but sure enough soon has to strap on his guns again as part of a posse which as led by Skip Homier are an even uglier bunch than desperado Darren McGavin's gang; with nobody daring to turn their back on anyone.

Ruta Lee makes a feisty moll to McGavin.

Bullet for a Badman is directed by R.G. Springsteen and adapted to screenplay by Mary & Willard Willingham from a novel written by Marvin H. Albert. It stars Audie Murphy, Darren McGavin, Ruta Lee, Beverley Owen and Skip Homeier. Filmed in Eastman Color at Universal City, with the exteriors coming from Zion National Park, Springdale, Utah, photography by Joseph Biroc and music by Frank Skinner (Joseph Gershenson supervising).

Audie Murphy plays Logan Keliher, an ex-Texas Ranger who has to interrupt his peaceful life to strap on the guns again when ex-friend-turned enemy Sam Ward (McGavin) appears back on the scene with the intention of killing him. The animosity is strong from Ward on account that Logan married his ex-wife and raised his son as his own.

The relatively short running time and the B movie production budget afforded it, doesn't give a clue to just how good, and how chock full of interest, Bullet for a Badman is. It's certainly very traditional in the old Westerns sense, before the likes of Anthony Mann and Budd Boetticher gloriously filled their Oaters with psychological themes, but there is much to enjoy here from a character perspective as regards the human condition. Jealousy, vengeance, greed, love, hate and redemption, all get a turn in the Willingham's screenplay. Mix in some good old style shoot outs and run-ins with the Apache, and film condenses a lot in such a short space of time. There's also some twists and turns that work real well in the narrative, leading us to a beauty of an ending.

The male cast members work real well, especially Murphy who turns in one of his finest Western performances, while there's also a nice little support role for Alan Hale and snatches of stoic Western performers Ray Teal and Bob Steele. With most of the film set out in the wilderness, it's such a joy to see stunning location scenery expertly captured. The colour is not quite right to fully bring it to life, a shame since Eastman Color has had some great moments in Westerns, but Biroc belies the B movie production to please the eyes with the natural beauty of Zion National Park. Skinner's score is standard fare, and although the lady actors look pretty as pictures, that's about as good as it gets for them in this particular story.

In spite of some usual iffy B production problems (poor stunt doubles, bendy props), this is still a little cracker of a Western. One that deserves a bit more attention now it's readily available on DVD. 7.5/10

This low life actor that calls himself darren mc gavin ruins every scene he's in by stealing the spotlight but it doesn't work on audie murphy who puts him in his place ... night stalker indeed ... murphy always conducts himself with ease