La città dei fuorilegge

This movie essentially begins with a small group of mercenaries, who had fought on the losing side in the Mexican Civil War, riding back to the United States with very little to show for their efforts. So, to remedy that situation, their leader, "Brett Sullivan" (Dale Robertson) has come up with a plan for them to rob the bank in the sparsely populated town of Carson City, Nevada and then ride off before any of the villagers can do anything about it. Unfortunately, when they finally ride into town, they are shocked to discover that it has grown quite a bit since they were there six years earlier. Not only that, but it also just happens to be hosting a heavyweight boxing championship that is bringing in visitors from all around as well. So, rather than continuing on with their earlier plan, Brett quickly devises a new scheme that involves stealing the $100,000 prize fund from the boxing match instead. But to do that, he must also contend with two other gangs of outlaws who share a similar interest in this money as well. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that this was an okay Western which benefited from solid acting from several actors including Richard Boone (as "Johnny Ringo"), Lloyd Bridges ("Gar Stanton"), Jeanne Crain ("Linda Culligan") and the aforementioned Dale Robertson. One slight criticism I have is that it also contained a number of sub-plots which, I believe, could have used a bit more development. But that's just a minor issue. Be that as it may, I thought still thought it was good enough for the time spent and I have rated it accordingly. Average.

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 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.

The Corbett-Fitzsimmons fight of 1897 draws to Carson City every outlaw of the territory, eager for the pickings. But Brett Stanton has bigger ideas! Like robbing the box office of a high profile prizefight.

City of Badmen is an unusual western, mainly due to its setting - a prizefight- as well as being a caper. It's a fairly intriguing western with enough conflict and some intelligent dialogue. A little talky at times and it takes a little time to get going, but it does draw you in, at least mildly. The best acting is from Dale Robertson who has a conscience and is conflicted over his criminal life - he clashes with his brother (Lloyd bridges) as well as Richard Boone, who, in no surprise, is the heavy. If you like unusual westerns with a unique setting and characterisation, then City of the Badmen is right up your creek.

A great deal of care has been taken to ensure authenticity in the settings of the period and details concerning the fight. The boxing style itself has changed so radically since 1897 that John Day and Gil Perkins, who are seen as Corbett and Fitzsimmons, trained industriously for their boxing scenes to create the authentic style. A veteran stuntman, Gil Perkins has staged some of the most exciting fights in screen history (John Wayne and Randolph Scott brawl in The Spoilers comes to mind)

Offbeat, if predictable, color western of the early '50s, with a cast of big name major players. See it at YouTube, at present(2018)

The plot surrounds the designs of 3 small outlaw gangs to make off with the substantial take of ticket sales and bets on the historic heavyweight bout between "Gentleman" Jim Corbet and challenger Bob Fitzsimmons in Carson City, Nevada, shortly before the turn of the century. Dale Robertson is the well-spoken tall dark and handsome leader of one of these gangs, a strong cue that he is the leading man of this yarn. The leaders of the 3 gangs and the sheriff seem all too familiar and chummy with each other to ring true. As 3 supposedly notorious outlaw gangs, one would think the sheriff would have at least one outstanding warrant against each. Instead, he offers to deputize the leaders of each, to supposedly ensure that their gangs won't pull any shenanigans during this big media event. The other 2 leaders immediately turn down this offer, but Robertson eventually accepts it and arm twists the other two very reluctant leaders to follow suit. Of course, each still plans to make off with the bonanza, together, if not alone.

Jean Crain, as the one time girlfriend of Robertson, doesn't get much screen time, despite top billing. She is the romantic object contested between Robertson and man-about-town Jim London. Crain and Robertson go back and forth several times about whether they want to hook up again, but we can guess the eventual outcome, after Robertson decides which side of the law he wants to be on.

Richard Boone plays Johnny Ringo, leader of one of the gangs. If that name sounds familiar, "the" Johnny Ringo was a notorious badman in Texas and around Tombstone, AZ, and enemy of the Earp brothers, with as much legends as facts surrounding his name. You will no doubt encounter his name occasionally in other Westerns. Since we have an exact date for the present yarn, in the fight, I can say that "the" Johnny Ringo had been in the grave for 15 years. An imposter? Lloyd Bridges plays Robertson's brother(as different in looks from Robertson as one can image brothers to be!) Lloyd doesn't buy into his brother's ambiguity as to which side of the law he wants to be on, and eventually comes to grief.

The fight itself receives minimal screen time and appears a rather dull affair. The champs look to have pitifully ordinary physiques compared to present day contenders. Could have used Errol Flynn to give the fight a bit of charisma. At least they got it right that Fitzsimmons emerged the new heavyweight champion(but reportedly only after his wife yelled a new punching strategy during a bout).