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Wanted outlaw Tris Hatten turns up in Apache Bend, looking for former sweetheart Millie Street, a saloon girl. Clay Gipson, the little brother of Sheriff Wade Addams' girlfriend, spots the fugitive and informs the sheriff, who knocks Hatten cold and takes him to jail.

Town opinion turns against the popular Wade, who is suspected by girlfriend Linda's father, rancher Tom Gipson, of being after a reward for Hatten that rightfully should go to the boy, Clay. In truth, Wade is trying to protect the child, particularly when the notorious Barlow gang rides into town to try to spring Hatten.

A reporter named Tatum helps damage the sheriff's reputation by revealing Clay to be the informant. Clay is wounded by a gunshot, bringing dad Tom to his senses. After shooting two of the Barlows, proving his courage, Wade must apprehend Hatten, who has had a gun smuggled to him in jail. Hatten shoots the reporter, but can he outdraw Wade?

There's an earthy and no-frills feel to this 1956 Western directed by Gerd Oswald and starring Hugh O' Brien as the sheriff who is trying to do the right thing by not revealing that his girl's brother informing about a killer named Tris Hatten who is played by Raymond Burr. Stark photography and harmonica soundtrack gels well with the overall serious tone. It's not the most exciting western, but it's very well made, compelling in a gradual way and more character based, though I felt the father was an idiot for wanting his son to be known as the informer for the sake of pride. It's well acted by all, especially by Hugh O' Brien who isn't only charismatic but comes across really fed up of being a sheriff. A couple of shootouts are well done.

There seems to be a lot of the same kind of people that inhabit the town that Hugh O'Brian is the sheriff of as there were in High Noon where Gary Cooper was the law. O'Brian gets about the same amount and kind of support that Cooper did.

The Brass Legend has Sheriff O'Brian getting a tip from young Donald MacDonald that notorious outlaw Raymond Burr is in the area and keeping company with a lewd saloon woman Rebecca Welles. Before they get down to business O'Brian has the drop on Burr.

Well by God this is not according to the code of the west where you're supposed to face the bad guy down and maybe get killed. Bad enough that Welles believes it and makes no secret about it, but half the town thinks like she does and thinks that Burr got a raw deal.

Further they don't like that O'Brian tried to keep young MacDonald's name out of it thinking that one of Burr's friends might want to shoot the snitch even if he's 12 years old. Sure enough a particular low life specimen does.

O'Brian is a stalwart hero in the mold of Wyatt Earp whom he just started playing on television. Burr is always an interesting villain and Welles as the vengeful saloon woman is fascinating.

The Brass Legend a good B western, fans of O'Brian and Burr will not be disappointed.

Hugh O'Brien plays Sheriff Addams--one of the few inhabitants of a stupid old west town. I say stupid because the folks don't seem all that bright and they seem to appreciate their sheriff about as much you'd appreciate Eczema!

Clay Gipson is a 12 year-old who happens to see the wanted killer, Tris Hatten (Raymond Burr). When he tells the sheriff, Addams is able to capture the baddie. Oddly, many of the townsfolk seem to feel sorry for Hatten--even though he's killed several people! As I said, it's a very stupid town!! So, the trick is to bring Hatten to trial and convict him--while at the same time Addams and Gipson remain alive to see it! But, the conspiracy of stupids is strong!!

The biggest weakness of this film is how fickle and stupid the townspeople were--a bit too stupid if you ask me. I also thought a few of the characters were ridiculous--such as Hatten's girlfriend (???). Clay's father wasn't much better. But, O'Brien does a nice job as does Burr--who is always great in baddie roles. On balance, worth seeing but far from a must-see picture.

Compact Low-Budget Western with some Off-Beat Ingredients.

The Two Leads...Hero Sheriff Hugh O' Brien and Outlaw Raymond Burr.

In the Mix is almost a Prerequisite in the Prolific 50's Western...A "Kid".

From Highly-Praised and Popular Films like "Shane" (1953) Onward. Including TV"s "The Rifleman".

Were Examples of Popular Culture Icons that Showcased the "Boom".

Family Life in Post-War America was a "Celebratory" Procreative Parade of Offspring.

The Down-Home, Salt of the Earth "Americana" Manifested in the Western Genre.

After the War it was Obligatory to Reflect Contemporary Reality...Arriving "Boomers".

Mostly this was Nothing More than "Ornamental" and for the Most Part, at Best it was Non-Intrusive, but at Worst it could Cause Cringes and Interfere by way of Irritations.

The Adolescent in this Little-Seen or Appreciated Movie, the "Kid" is Used in just the Right Way.

He is Substantial to the Plot, Yields Firearms, and Helps His Friend the Sheriff in Apprehending the Outlaw.

Also, Against the Norm, He is Attacked and Shot of His Horse for His Involvement.

This is Highly Unusual in the Code-Dominated, Ultra Conservative Decade.

Non-Adults were Rarely Allowed to become Victims of Abuse or Violence in Mainstream Movies.

There's an Unusual Gunfight in the Saloon Presented in an Off-Handed Display.

To Cap it Off, the "Showdown" Mano-Mano between Good and Evil is Not your Standard Stand-Off in the Streets.

Worth a Watch for the Strange Way the Film Presents the Ever-Present Genre Cliches.

This was made about the time b westerns were in decline. I watched it just to see Hugh O'Brian (TVs Wyatt Earp)and Raymond Burr ( TVs Ironside). Not bad but but no where near being a classic. Hugh O'Brian plays the strong Sheriff and Raymond Burr as usual is very strong in the role of the bad guy Poor script and low budget show up throughout the movie. I must have been difficult at that time to put much money into a b western. Enjoyed watching for old times sake, alaways have a soft spot for the western.