L'orda selvaggia

If you're anything like me, movies with no regard to continuity are just too distracting to enjoy. This little gem caught me by surprise right from the first few scenes because its continuity is absolutely dead on perfect. There are probably very few people who are fooled by sound stages versus the real outdoors. Not much can be done to satisfactorily convince the viewer that the actors are in the desert when they are actually in a studio with sand on the floor. BUT! This movie uses continuity to make the transition from indoor sound stage to outdoor reality as seamless and believable as I've ever seen. Watch closely as Wild Bill Elliot goes into a crouching position at the campfire on the sound stage to the exact same crouching position at the outdoor campfire. Someone cared about details like this in a 1950 western when it seems like no one in today's movie making industry can keep the level in a water glass within two inches of the proper level from scene to scene.

Watch this movie for everything it has to offer, but while you're doing that PLEASE keep an eye on the near perfect job the continuity department did. I'm afraid this kind of pride in workmanship is a fading Hollywood legend.

Johnny Ringo appears in many westerns and there are many stories about him. No one knows which are true or false. Here he appears with a brother, who is an Army Lieutenant.

Ringo shot and supposedly murdered another lieutenant and the Army is after him. He holes up in a town where his old flame has a restaurant without his gun.

There is a range war going on and he gets drawn into the side of the good guys. He has to pick up his gun again to save the day. Off he rides into the sunset with his brother to face charges vowing to his girlfriend he will return.

Of course he will.

Bill Elliott does a good job. He has been in over 200 films by the time he made this, so he had a bit of experience. Another veteran (Noah Beery Jr.) was also here as Ringo's partner.

Yes, as a French movie buff, the translation of this western title is the same as THE WILD BUNCH - LA HORSE SAUVAGE one; and the most funny is that another Joseph Kane's western, made several years later, MAVERICK QUEEN, had its tile translated in French by the same title : LA HORDE SAUVAGE. Follow me? That said, this purely typical Republic pictures western is rather good, despite Wild Bill Elloit's presence; he, who was used to Z westerns, fifty minutes long. Just good.

On the run after killing a man in self-defense, Ringo (Bill Elliot) lies low in a cattle town that isn't as quiet as he hoped it would be. A power-hungry landowner is trying to push out the local ranchers. When Ringo's sense of justice gets provoked, he throws in with the ranchers to fight against proctor and his band of hired guns. But doing the right thing means risking capture and death, especially when the army puts Ringo's brother, Mike, on his trail.

A fine Bill Elliott western that is intelligently scripted, and features some depth in the characterisation. Grant Withers as Proctor- villain -isn't a pencil twirling villain and has some scruples such as not turning to gunplay, especially against older folk, but his overpowering ambition and losing the leading lady makes him go totally bad. He's quite a shrewd character who seems to be winning the range war, and even manages to oust Ringo - Bill Elliott - out of the way. Speaking of which, Wild Bill acts brilliantly as the gunfighter running from the cavalry and ends up helping the ranchers, and without a gun. Well not until the very end.

The Savage Horde is an engrossing western featuring great performances and nice gunplay at the end. Bob Steele does fine as trigger-happy gunslinger on Proctor's side called Dancer.

Continuing to review movies and/or TV appearances of the original "Dallas" cast, regular or recurring, either previously or during or after the show, in chronological order, we're still in 1950 when Jim Davis is still at Republic once again teaming with leading man William Elliott from Hellfire and director Joseph Kane from Brimstone. Unlike in those last two pictures, here he's a good guy, a Lt. Mike Baker of the calvary, who's in pursuit of his outlaw brother, Elliott, who's killed a captain in his troop in self defense though only he knows it. I'll stop there and just say this was another rousing western from what would be referred to as the good ol' days that had plenty of great action and some good singing too from one of the supporting players, a Stuart Hamblen who later wrote "Open Up Your Heart (and Let the Sunshine In)" which I remember as a child hearing from some other kids not to mention Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm on "The Flintstones". And there's also a couple of fine lookin' ladies to also root for, too! Really, all I'll say is if you're in the mood for some old-fashioned oaters, The Savage Horde should be right up your alley!