Law of the Lawless

This star studded Western is a combination of action and drama, and it is more than meets the eye.

It has the look of a traditional "lawman" trying to keep the land baron from freeing his son from justice theme, but we get a variety of things going on, and see all of them.

On the surface, we see the "old timers" at work, and while we are fooled into thinking this is a nostalgic film, we eventually see that this is a point of the film, that it is about the way justice in the West changes, and the people who change with it.

In effect, it is a drama with the look and feel of action, because of some clever directing that changes the location just enough to keep it flowing.

Law of the Lawless is an okay film. Telling the story of a circuit judge who comes to a Kansas town to oversee a murder trial, only for the accused's father, who runs the town, to plot to ensure the judge does not convict his son by threatening his reputation. Sadly, there is not much action in this film, as this becomes more of a courtroom drama set in the wild west. While the actors do a good job, the pacing is very slow. Only recommended for true western fans.

AG Liles made a series of low budget westerns at Paramount with a veteran cast. This is simply one of them. The cast includes: Dale Robertson ( Judge Clem Rogers: A former gunfighter turned Judge who no longer carries a gun), Yvonne DeCarlo ( Ellie Irish a saloon girl), John Agar (Pete Stone the heavy), his father Tom who is the most powerful man in town played by Barton MacLaine, William Bendix as ( Sheriff and Prosecutor Ed Tanner), and last but certainly not least Bruce Cabot. as hired gunman Joe Rile who killed Clem's father years ago. Cabot is the one to watch for. He hangs over the entire film very ominously.The story is about Stone who is accused of murder, his father who will do anything to not only get his son off, but ruin Rogers reputation, by having him seen with Ellie and hiring Rile to force Rogers into a gunfight, and Rogers who is also a friend of Stone's, and is the presiding judge in the trial. It is important to note that there is a most unexpected ending to the movie, but unlike far too many movies with one, it actually works with the theme of the film. For that reason, I will not spoil the ending. It is basically an excellent western 9/10 stars.

Decent B Western but with one of the better frontier criminal trials I've seen in a movie. Seems very realistic by modern standards, (other than the sheriff acting as prosecutor).

This goes down as a unique and well crafted storyline. Hats off to legendary producer A.C. Lyles who brought together a wonderful cast. They were able to bring this story home.

Clem Rogers, known as "the Hanging Judge" was played by film and television great, Dale Robertson. He is asked to come to town to try Pete Stone for Murder. Now Pete (John Agar) is the son of "Big Tom Stone (Barton MacLane), who for the most part, owns the town.

Big Tom hires the man who killed the Judges father as a tool in his pocket. If he can get Judge Rogers to react and take revenge, he will be shown as nothing more then a hypocrite.

But that's not all Big Tom has in his pocket. He also plans to set the Judge up by discrediting him. He orders one of his men to beat up the girl Rogers has taken a liking to, (Ellie) played by the wonderful Yvonne De Carlo, and leave her unconscious, and half dressed in his Hotel room.

The in's and out's of the trial will leave you on the edge of your seat. This is a wonderful Western. I highly recommend it.