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Fred MacMurray really stands out in this largely unknown western. MacMurray's character is on the run, but gets tangled up in the deadly affairs of a small town. The love story, which could have been nothing more than a routine plot device, actually works on a very fundamental level. MacMurray is top notch as the film's anti-hero. The rest of the cast is not as good, particularly a wooden Lin McCarthy as the embattled sheriff. Director Paul Wendkos delivers a crisply directed film. A lot of little things which could have been done routinely or sloppily are filmed with gusto and precision. The end-of-the-movie shootout is particularly energetic. Face of a Fugitive is not a great western, but it's very entertaining and should be seen by genre fans.

The actor who all of us known from "My Three Sons" also did a few Westerns in his career and this one, Face of a Fugitive, is one of those. Others include Good Day for a Hanging and At Gunpoint. Out of the ones I've seen him in, this is my second-favorite. I like this movie a lot for many reasons. There is a good gunfight at the end, which is worlds better than some of the other ones we see in old 50s movies. The cast is well talented and the plot was very believable. Starring along with Fred MacMurray is Lin McCarthy and Dorothy Green. And there is also the famous James Coburn and an actor who I'm sure none of you have ever heard about, but he played the main villain of the show: the rancher named Reed Williams. Played by a fine actor named Alan Baxter, who, in my opinion, should have gotten a better career fame than what he did. You can see Alan Baxter in a lot of Westerns. He was also in Chisum as the governor, a few "Gunsmoke" episodes, and several other movies. Overall, Face of a Fugitive is a good movie and definitely worth checking out. And if you liked Fred MacMurray's performance in this, then you will definitely like Good Day for a Hanging.

Jim Larson (soon to be Ray Kincaid) is a thief, during his train transfer to prison his younger brother enacts an escape plan. The US Marshall who was holding him is killed in the commotion, while Jim's brother is fatally wounded. Making his way into a nearby town, Larson acquires a gun and a horse but is unable to leave the town as the sheriff has quarantined it till a delivery of wanted posters arrive, these of course will show the face of the wanted man, that man is of course Jim Larson. Whilst marking his time, Larson gets embroiled in a war between the sheriff and a tough rancher, Reed Williams, finding himself strangely on the good side of the law.

Fred MacMurray is not a name that instantly springs to mind when the talk turns to the Western genre, which is surprising, because although he hardly dominates in the genre pieces he did, he was more than capable of carrying a role in a few of the Westerns he starred in. Such is the case here as Jim Larson, thankfully putting a bit of gritty honesty into the picture and steering it safely to its intriguing conclusion. Face of a Fugitive is a very accomplished piece, not a film to linger long in the memory, but it's thematic redemptive heart is most assuredly of major interest, with the finale excellently fulfilling the shoot out fan's needs. James Coburn turns up in one of his first major roles and hints at what was to come later in his career, and a thumbs up for Alan Baxter who revels in bad guy duties as Reed Williams.

Tight and hugely enjoyable, Face of a Fugitive is one to catch if you are a Western genre fan. 6.5/10

This is another example of a fine 50's B western -- one which in many respects outranks a number of it's "big brother" cousins.

The action begins with Larson (McMurray) escaping from a deputy transporting him to prison for a bank robbery. Larson's kid brother shows up unannounced in the midst of the action and gets fatally wounded in an exchange of gunfire with the deputy as they are escaping. They manage to stow away on a train, where we find out some of the history of these men and their motivations. Along the way the brother dies and Larson takes the alias of Kincaid while plotting how to evade the law, which is now seeking him for murder (of the deputy, which his brother shot). Kincaid ends up in a small town and in short order gets involved in various ways with the locals while needing to escape the roadblocks before the wanted poster with his picture arrives!

On the surface, this is pretty standard fare for a western. It stands apart from the typical film of its genre, however, because of the thoughtful way the characters in the story are handled. One gets a sense of realism, not so much from the clothing or set designs, etc., but from the way the characters in the story respond to circumstances and each other. The people in this story are real, genuine, believable people -- unlike the stereotypical "invincible, tough as nails" western heroes that dominated the genre in this period, or the mysterious, aloof personas found in the spaghetti westerns that followed. For example, there is a barroom fight in the film with the clichéd "one man vs. the group of bad guys". However, instead of the whole group mobbing the protagonist and beating him to a pulp, they allow the fight to be one-on-one between the two who are truly in conflict, preserving their own dignity and that of the ones actually fighting. That is not to say that they have no involvement or investment, but what part they do play is sensible and believable.

It is this interaction and sincere character development along with an engaging plot which makes this a movie that is not only a decent way to pass time, but a true pleasure to watch. Oh, and it has a fun early part by James Coburn and a thrilling climax, too. And if you watch this and enjoy it, I would also highly recommend another similarly forgotten B-western of this era: "Gun the Man Down" with James Arness. I give both this and the aforementioned title a solid 7.5. Easily recommended.

This film starts off with Jim Larsen, (Fred MacMurray) being handcuffed on a train headed for a prison after he was involved with a bank holdup. As the train travels, Jim Larsen's young brother jumps on the train and tries to free his brother who did not want him to get involved and the brother is wounded and Jim puts him into the baggage car in order to give him a good place to hide. Jim Larsen decides to find a small town to settle in and he even sits next to a little girl on the train and when he gets to the town he becomes friends with the local sheriff, Mark Riley, (Lin McCarthy) and even becomes romantically involved with the sheriff's sister, Ellen Bailey,(Dorothy Green). You will never be able to figure out how this picture ends, but it was a perfect ending for a guy like Jim Larsen. Enjoy.

Fred McMurray plays Jim Larson ,who when we see him first ,is on his way to prison handcuffed to a US Marshall -his crime being robbery.He escapes with unwanted and unnecessary aid from his brother and the lawman is killed .His brother is mortally wounded in the affray . Larson assumes the name of Ray Kincaid and travels to a nearby town where he poses as a mining engineer and seeks to escape only to be turned back as the town Sheriff (Lin McCarthy), is awaiting a poster of the man wanted for the death of the Marshall -Larson himself.Larson becomes involved in a dispute between the local Mr Big ,powerful rancher Williams (Alan Baxter)and the sheriff over land rights .Williams is determined to ride roughshod over the law and has might ,if not right on his side -several thuggish henchmen ,including the menacing Purdy (James Coburn ,in his second role in movies and stealing the scenes he is in with a performance of understated menace)

He also falls in love with the sheriff's sister (Dorothy Green)and the movie moves towards a climactic shootout .

This is a movie of rare economy and visual inventiveness.The credits open on a poster of Larsons' face and as they unfold bars appear across that face ,creating an image of incarceration.This is repeated in many scenes -bars in the shape of bedsteads ,fences and barred foregrounds etc .The focus is on redemption and the above average script is lean and powerful/The direction by Paul Wendkos is crisp and the acting throughout is admirable.Docked a point for an open -and in my view ,unsatisfactory ending

A powerful drama western originally released in second-feature about an escaped robber sticking to its theme of redemption and pardon, the film is made in small-scale but results to be pretty good. As a thief, Fred MacMurray, in custody, becomes the most wanted when his younger sibling kills a sheriff. He gets away to a frontier town to begin a new life in anonymity, but soon finds himself drawn to a beautiful widow, Dorothy Green. Besides, he is increasingly involved in standing up with a local land baron, while his henchmen, James Coburn, doing the dirty work. Along the way the undercover gunfighter becomes a deputy, assisting the local sheriff, Lin MacCarthy.

Above average entry in western genre dealing with the issue of the redemption of a gunslinger and including an interesting script that refuses to be side-tracked into extranerous action. There is some prison motif which is repeated across the movie, adding the title credits unfold over a sketch of the most wanted man, dead or alive. Fred MacMurray gives a good acting as a career safecracker wrongly suspected of killing who takes off the bullying cattle king who attempts to carry out close range. Fred McMurray's apparent decency brings him acceptance but his past may yet catch up with him. Acceptable support cast as Lyn McCarthy as the tough as well as green sheriff, at the same time being a fanatically fair person. And Dorothy Green plays his sister and widow who falls for MacMurray. Look out to for the smiling youthful James Coburn as a nasty hoodlum, clearly proving his promising presence , before his successful appearance in Magnificent seven by John Sturges.

The movie is powered along by a nice cinematography by Wilfred Cline showing barren backgrounds and foregrounds, ruined buildings, and adequate outdoors. As well as an a thrilling and enterprising early musical score from Jerry Goldsmith in the day when he was still billed Jerrald Goldsmith.

This absorbing and spare picture was well directed by Paul Wendkos, making an acceptable second-feature western in rare economy. Paul was a fine craftsman who directed a lot of films as cinema as TV. He directed all kinds of genres, as drama, thriller, action, WWII, comedy, Mafia movie, such as Deadline assault, The flight, The chase, The great escape : the untold story, The story of a Mafia wife, Celebrity, The cry for love ,Betrayal, A woman called Moses, The tattered web, The Mephisto Walz, Johnny Tiger, Bad seed, The taking of flight 847, The execution, Awakening of Candra , Gidget, Gidget goes Hawaiian, Gidget goes to Rome. And Westerns as Guns of Magnificent Seven, The ordeal of Dr Mudd, The face of the fugitive, among others

I enjoyed this film for the fact that Fred MacMurray was the star and also because James Coburn played a minor role. The latter was noticeable even though he had only a few lines to speak. It was interesting to see him at the beginning of his career flash that big toothy grin of his. Fred was a bit staid for his role as a bank robber and with his honest looks not quite believable as the criminal type. He didn't seem to fool any of the supporting cast either. Perhaps that's why he changed direction in his career somewhat after this film. Still for a low budget western it's worth watching.

If the big idea of "High Noon", which this movie resembles, was "Duty", then the big idea of "Face of a Fugitive" is "The Rule of Law". The plot hinges on a young sheriff's devotion to the law against the power of wealth and force ... and on a criminal who while trying to dodge the law, ends up defending it. Two lines stood out to me. In one, someone describes the sheriff as always reading his law books, "the way other men read the Bible". In the other notable line, the sheriff argues with his girlfriend that the law, not guns, must prevail, while the girlfriend says that he's wrong, that guns are more powerful. This movie suggests that both are correct, to a degree, but that ultimately, the law is both firmer and more generous, even to a fugitive.

Reasonably taut western-suspense has MacMurray, unwittingly on the run after his brother (Hayes) kills a lawman then dies during a bungled escape from custody. He quickly establishes himself with an alter-ego and his forthright, courteous style captures the attention of local widow (Green) whose young, somewhat precocious daughter (read matchmaker) has taken a shine to the amiable MacMurray. Trouble with local thugs (Baxter and Coburn principally) and a more pragmatic need of cash, prompts MacMurray to "go-straight" and take on a job as the struggling sheriff's (McCarthy) deputy, but his past is going to catch up with him soon.

"Fugitive" can sometimes be a dark little suspense-thriller, carried effectively by MacMurray's sombreness as he reflects on the life of crime that ultimately cost his kid brother's life and now threatens to derail his chance at a future with Green. Baxter is prominent as the town bully, flanked by an imposing James Coburn in his second movie. Coburn has more dialogue and presence than would ordinarily be attributed to a minor supporting actor in that part, perhaps indicative of his potential.

Climactic ending has a gunfight in an abandoned town under the cloak of a dust storm, as MacMurray attempts to redeem himself before judgement day. A western in appearance only, the themes are very transferable with good suspense and tension throughout.

A Face of a Fugitive is an adult western with an emphasis on character ( in the vein of Saddle the Wind, Warlock and Man of the West) and it's an engaging watch. Not much action, however, the plot and intelligent dialogue pulls you in. There's a severe somber tone, but if you're in an austere mood, then this slow moving Paul Wendkos directed film is up your street. But what really make this film work is Fred MacMurray, his acting is superb and his dialogue is quite philosophical. And what a nail biting, inventive showdown finale in a dilapidated ghost town.

A routine but atmospheric western which builds to a memorable climax and is given distinction by an early score by 'Jerrald' - as he then was - Goldsmith; with good performances by James Coburn in an early heavy role and as the sheriff by an actor whose career was largely confined to television called Lin McCarthy.

A still rugged MacMurray - you know he's the hero as he goes by the name of Ray Kincaid - handles the physical stuff and the fisticuffs well, and he meets the usual pretty widow; although as befits his by now rather mature years on this occasion he's also responsible for a younger sibling.

While fans of "My Three Sons" and the Flubber films might not believe it, Fred MacMurray was the star of a wide variety of films up until the 1960s--romances, comedies, Film Noir and even Westerns. So I assume that an awful lot of people would be surprised to see a tough-as-nails version of Fred in FACE OF A FUGITIVE.

The film begins with Fred being under arrest for bank robbery. However, he is in the process of escaping when his brother intervenes and shoots the deputy. Both the deputy and brother are killed in the process and Fred is assumed to be the guilty party--which he is not. So now he's not just on the run for robbery but murder.

When he arrives in a far off town, no one there knows his identity. However, they have heard about the murder and are on the lookout for Fred. But, at least for a couple days, they don't have wanted posters, so they have no idea what he looks like. Unfortunately for Fred, he can't leave town because deputies have the roads out of town covered--in case this killer tries coming in or out of the city. So, he's stuck, at least for now, and begins to make friends in the town--particularly with a pretty lady as well as the sheriff.

Overall, it is an exceptional western--even with "Steve Douglas" in the lead. I particularly like how it ended--it was exciting yet a bit vague--which I enjoyed. Good acting and a good script--this one is a keeper.

It was pretty interesting to watch Fred MacMurray be a bad guy! He plays a bank robber who busts free only to find his younger brother had come to rescue him, under the misguided idea that he needed help. In their escape the younger brother not only gets shot himself, but he shoots and kills a deputy...and then dies. Fred MacMurray manages to make it out of town and into another where he befriends the sheriff, his niece, and widowed sister.

At the end of the day even though he is a thief, he is still a man of principal and this is his undoing in the end.

Fred macmurray should have stuck to my three sons because he is neither a cowboy nor a westerner .... this film should have been scraped before it was made.... macmurray just doesn't cut the mustard ... please start over again fred

A small great western with one star only Fred McMurray a sort of neglected actor, even had made greatest pictures as Double Indemnity, The Caine Mutiny, Pushover, The Apartment, just named a few, he had a natural gift and versatile to play different characters, although it was enough due he hadn't a handsome type as Hollywood's standard needing for.

He plays a lone Bank robbery Jim Larsen that ends up catch by a Deputy that on get on the train to taking him to the jail to be judge aftermaths, when his silly young brother Danny Larsen (Ron Hayes) steps in to unleash Jim, on the run a shoot-out takes place and the Deputy was gunned down by Danny that also was deadly wounded by shot, Jim decides take the train back aiming for carry in to a doctor, sadly Danny went to die on wagon train, thus in a pickle Jim pack Danny in a mail bag and throwing him at river, thru a disguise as mining manager Kin Kincaid reaching in a small town where the legalist local Sheriff Mark Riley (Lin McCarthy) in quandary due a fence built by a cattle rancher Reed William (Alan Bates) on state-owned lands, it creates a clash of interests among them.

Kincaid must leaves the town at once due the next train will bring the poster displaying the face of the Deputy's killer, although two things hold him there, the stubborn and adamant Sheriff about to die concerning the fence and his widow sister Ellen Bailey (Dorothy Green) whereof both have a mutual romantic interest, trapped in the city Kincaid gets a day job as Deputy at fence dissention escorting the inapt gun Sheriff against Redd Williams's flunkies among them the still unknown and upcoming star Purdy (James Coburn) that later will be wrapped on Fence's barbed wire famous sequence, fine compelling movie about a final redemption of an erratic man also I would like to emphasize the stunning performance by Lin McCarthy that never had a fair opportunity on majors classy movies, just a regular as guest star in several TV Series!!

Thanks for reading.

Resume:

First watch: 1984 / Source: DVD / How many: 3 / Rating: 7.

Half way thru movie, the Sheriff tells McMurray to be in the office at 6am then he takes a puff & gives the most hilarious face at the Sheriff. LOL.

I must admit, I have never before liked any movie that starred Fred McMurrey. This is a first.

The action moves slowly here, as much of the tension has to do with how the characters think and interact. However, that's exactly what makes it special. Even the female lead has important lines, which is exceedingly rare in this genre. McMurray's character is one you would expect Gary Cooper to have played, and he pulls it off surprisingly well.

While not a classic, this is an extremely well-made Western, and I highly recommend it.