Expiação

Randolph Scott lookalike Rod Cameron is "Sands", a former lawman who travels to a Texas town to investigate the shooting of his newspaper-man brother. Upon arrival, he quickly discovers the town, indeed the territory, under the heel of "Matt Garson" (Reed Hadley). With the help of his secretary "Dusty" (Cathy Downs) he vows to avenge his brother's death. It's quite eerily shot - much of the action takes place at night, in torrential rain, but the story is all just a bit too well travelled, and neither the actors nor the script offer much by way of innovation. This is still a perfectly watchable B-feature that dawdles for the first half hour before finally picking up just enough speed to hold the attention. It's too long - but then films were frequently elongated to accommodate the paying public's appetite for cinema, rather than because the story justified it.

Panhandle is directed by Leslie Selander and written by John C. Champion and Blake Edwards. It stars Rod Cameron, Cathy Downs, Reed Hadley, Anne Gwynne, Blake Edwards, Dick Crockett and Rory Mallinson. Music is by Rex Dunn and cinematography by Harry Neumann.

John Sands (Cameron) has to return to his gunfighter ways when news reaches him that his brother has been murdered...

Filmed in Sepiatone and a little more serious than many other 1940's Westerns, Panhandle is a satisfying experience for genre enthusiasts. Formula is rife as we would come to know it in Oaters, though, as picture ticks off the check list: badman turned good who is forced to turn bad again for revenge, romance tingling in the air, quick draw shoot-outs, punch-up, weasel villain and his hired cronies, poker games with the inevitable cheat called out and the "hooray" finale. All of which is nicely directed and performed by the cast. The location scenery doesn't get much chance to shine through, and in truth the Sepiatone does little to improve the picture, but this is easily recommended to the Western faithful. 7/10

Blake Edwards is best known for writing and/or producing and/or directing Pink Panther movies and "Victor/Victoria" but he also has 32 acting credits, most in uncredited parts.

But in "Panhandle," he plays a slimy, neurotic gunsel who simply itches for a chance at the hero, played by Rod Cameron.

Edwards is just one of the superior actors who play the bad guys, led by that marvelous and well-rounded Reed Hadley, possessor of one of the greatest voices in show biz history. And who also played heroes, from Zorros to Public Defender.

There is an astonishing cast in "Panhandle." I mean, when Trevor Bardette, Lee "Lasses" White, Neal Hart, and Herman Hack are all uncredited atmosphere, you know there is a great bunch who are credited.

There are two leading ladies: Cathy Downs, lovely and well cast, and Anne Gwynne, adorable and feisty.

Blake Edwards and John C. Champion are credited as co-writers and they have produced a top-quality script, with one flaw: Veteran gun-slingers would immediately re-load after firing, even if they had a second, or third, pistol. Our hero didn't.

It's a common error, and probably most people wouldn't notice since it is so common. Otherwise, the writers and director Lesley Selander did a good job of paying attention to details.

For one thing, when someone asked directions, he said "thank you," and there were other, similar touches making this look and feel realistic.

Finally, Rod Cameron: He was another varied and talented actor. He doesn't get the credit he deserves. He played this part, though, beautifully, always showing just the right emotion or attitude appropriate to the situation.

He had a long career and even late in life got called on for TV parts, so he did get some credit within the industry, and he certainly has many fans among us Western aficionados.

I highly recommend "Panhandle," and there is an excellent copy at YouTube, with, interestingly, the credits in Spanish.

John Sands is a famed ex lawman ,most celebrated for having faced down Billy the Kid .He is now living in Mexico ,having fallen foul of the law in the States,and is working as a storekeeper when news reaches him that his brother has been murdered .He vows to return to America to avenge his brother despite knowing full well this places him at risk of arrest . He is drawn into enmity with the ruthless Matt Garson who is also his rival for he hand of Garson's secretary (Joan O'Carroll)and to complicate matters he law is on his tail.

Blake Edwards -a man mostly known for his acerbic comedic scripts-co wrote this movie and the screenplay is above average for the genre, and the era .Add some lively action ,including the old genre staple of a bar -room brawl ,and some capable performances and the result is a good and watchable B movie that devotees of the Western will especially enjoy

"Panhandle" is a B-western from Allied Artists...the same company formerly known as Monogram Pictures. I am not sure of the name change and assume it was simply because Monogram had a pretty poor reputation and the name change would possibly evoke more positive imagery to the consumer. However, despite this, "Panhandle" was actually a pretty good film...better than I expected.

John Sands (Rod Cameron) was a feared gunman long ago. However, he tired of the life and retired to a small border town. But this quiet life is interrupted when he learns that his brother was murdered in another town. And, when he arrives in the town, he realizes NOTHING is done without the local boss' permission. In other words, Matt Garson (Reed Hadley) is clearly behind his brother's murder. But since he's the boss, he has lots of men to go through and John will sure have a difficult time getting to him.

Apart from one woman who is inexplicably nasty towards a poor Mexican guy, the acting was very good and the villain easy to hate. I also thought Cameron and the fight scenes were done very well. I have no major complaints about the story and it held my interest throughout.