La Cité des tueurs

City of Bad Men was released by 20th Century Fox in 1953. The story takes place in Carson City, Nevada in 1897. The whole territory is excited about a boxing match between Gentleman Jim Corbett & Bob Fitzsimmons. Several gangs of bad men converge on the town including Dale Robertson & his brother, Lloyd Bridges & another gang led by Richard Boone. A plot evolves to steal the large proceeds from this prizefight. Robertson meets up with old flame, Jeanne Crain, and begins to have 2nd thoughts about being involved in this robbery. Robertson & Crain look great together & should be remembered as on of the top romantic screen teams ( they were together previously on 1951's Take Care of my Little Girl ). Others in the cast included Carl Betz (later on the Donna Reed show) and Whitfield Connor who tries to marry Crain, but he's obviously no competition for our hero, Robertson.

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)

Technicolor Studio A-Western with a Good Cast and an Off-Center Story of Bad-Men Planning to Rob the Gate at a Heavyweight Championship Bout in Carson City.

Dale Robertson Posing a Solid Figure is a bit Stiff as the Good-Bad Leader of His Bunch and Richard Boone as "Johnny Ringo" the Head of a Rival Gang makes a Slimy Villain.

Lloyd Bridges has a Meaty Part as Robertson's Brother.

Somewhat Plodding but Original Take on the Western in the Decade of Westerns.

The Romantic Triangle with the Beautiful Jeanne Craine and Carole Matthews Doesn't Amount to Much.

The Tension Builds Steadily in the Over-Crowded Town.

Leading to a Good Climax with the Robbery and Attempted Getaway.

Overall, the Off-Kilter Story and Luscious Production Helps this one Rise Above.

The Enormity of Westerns on the Big and Small Screen in the 1950's.

Thrilling Western concerning the twenty-four hour reign of terror that branded a prairie town city of Bad Men and at the end takes place facing off between Brett Stanton and Ringo Kid close in for a show-down. After various years in Mexico Brett Stanton : Dale Robertson, his brother : Lloyd Briges and their band go back Carson City to carry out a big robbery. But they are other gangs as Jonny Ringo : Richard Boone band, and Bob Thraikill bunch planning to run off with the proceeds from Fitzsimmons-Corbett heavyweight fight. As penniless Johnny Ringo and his band with schemes on their own and no intention of abiding Brett's plan. Lot of people have come there from all over to see the heavyweight tournament prizefight between Gentleman Jim Corbett and Bob Fitzsimmons .You ride into Carson at the eight of its gun-slinging glory in the eve of of the Corbett vs. Fitzsimmons heavyweight championship!. A frontier town in the wild roaring frenzy of fight-time! The most famous boxing bout of an era! The most notorious killers of all time, all in one motion picture!

20th Century Fox movie with great main and support cast, being lavishly produced and efficiently directed. Furthermore, it contains a colorful and glimmer cinematography by Charles Clarke. As well as rousing and stirring musical score by Cryl Mockridge. This is an ambitious and large-scale film dealing with the historical combat between Fitzsimmons and James, Jim, Corbett, whose character was already been portrayed by Errol Flynn in Gentleman Jim directed by Raoul Walsh . This is an interesting movie though lacks some inspiration and being interesting enough . However, there is not central drive in the storyline, delivering various sub-plots with no much interest, as the triangular love story. Stars Dale Robertson as the good/bad bandit intending to make a quick dishonest heist. His partenaire is the gorgeous and sweet Jeanne Crain. Being well accompanied by a great support cast, such as : Richard Boone, Lloyd Bridges , Carole Matthews, Whitfield Connor, Frank Ferguson, Hugh Sanders as sheriff, James Best, John Doucette, Rodolfo Acosta , Harry Brown, Robert Adler, Kit Carson, Fred Arlich, Carl Betz, Leo Gordon's movie debut and several others. John Fay, the tough actor who plays Corbett, was also used to sparring for the cameras. He, besides, fought Kirk Douglas in "Champion" and Tony Curtis in "The Square Jungle".

This offbeat motion picture produced by Leonard Goldstein was professionally directed by Harmon Jones. He was a craftsman who worked as a production manager, editor, producer and filmmaker. He directed all kinds of genres as Westerns, drama, Thriller, Comedy, Film Noir, such as : The beast of Budapest, Wolf Larsen, Gorilla at large, Target zero, Canyon river, The pride of St Louis, Bloodhound of Broadway, As young a you feel. And he directed a lot of episodes of notorious TV series as Land of giants , Death valley, Voyage to the bottom of the sea, The Virginian, Iron Horse, Perry Mason, Gunslinger, Daniel Boone, Iron Horse, The Monroe, The Zorro, among others. Rating 6. 5/10. Decent and above average Western.

"City of Bad Men" is unusual in that although much of the film is fictional, the setting is quite real. In 1897, Carson City, Nevada, of all places, hosted the heavyweight boxing championship of the world! The story begins as the two boxers, Jim Corbett and Bob Fitzsimmons are in training there in Nevada...readying themselves for this match.

In the midst of all the hubbub associated with the match, Brett Stanton (Dale Robertson) and his gang of thugs arrive. It seems Stanton is from Carson City but he and his men have been gone six years and they chose now to return. At the same time, two other gang leaders are in town and between the three gangs, there's no way the Sheriff and his men can maintain order. So, the Sheriff makes an odd proposal...that the three gang leaders be deputized to help him maintain order....which sounds rather nutty! What's next? See the film.

While I did find some of the plot tough to believe, particularly Stanton's actions and motivations, I did enjoy the film and the final confrontation with Ringo was pretty amazing...and exciting. Overall, however, I really liked the film for one big reason...it lacked most of the usual clichés you expect in westerns.