Le Traquenard des Sans-Loi

When the story begins, Utah (Rory Calhoun) comes upon a lynching party hanging Joe Neal. Although Utah has no idea what's going on, such 'justice' disgusts him and he saves the dying man as soon as the would-be killers leave. That is when Neal informs Utah that local jerks are trying to force out the various ranchers by using a 'vigilante committee' to enforce the law....though there is no law...just greed.

Inexplicably, although Utah Blaine has a infamous reputation as a gunman, he's the guy trying to restore law and order to this town. And, this means he needs to face down the baddies...possibly all on his own...possibly with some help if he can make some friends in this awful town.

This plot is about the most common you'll find in old westerns, particularly B-westerns. I am not so much complaining as saying it is all very familiar. After all, although familiar, Calhoun is very good in the film and I think his westerns tend to be underrated. In other words, they took an ordinary sort of plot but made it just a bit better due to the acting. Worth seeing.

By the way, if you do watch, note the final big battle in the streets of the town. Somehow with 3824 shots fired at the men on horseback, not a single horse was shot...even by the guy firing a shotgun at the men on horseback! Also note that the during Blaine's shootout at the end with the big baddie, neither apparently need to re-load their revolvers!

Rory Calhoun plays the title role in Utah Blaine a film based on a Louis L'Amour novel, a range war story with a different twist.

In this film it's the homesteaders who are the villains. But these homesteaders aren't yeoman farmers or small ranchers. No in Utah Blaine Ray Teal has organized a gang of thugs who call themselves vigilantes. They can do that because the area is unorganized, the town is not official, no mayor, no town council, most important no sheriff. Teal is making war on the ranches currently there.

The film opens with Calhoun coming upon the scene of an attempted lynching which he stops. Turns out to be Ken Christy one of the owners of one of the two big spreads. When Calhoun learns that an old enemy of his George Keymas is Teal's number one gun hand that's all the convincing he needs to throw in with Christy. Doesn't hurt that he has a pretty daughter in Angela Stevens either.

This is a nicely plotted western that moves at a good pace and the unusual plot twist is an added treat. Too bad it was not shot in color, but I'm hardly complaining. A good one for western fans.

Like I have with most of the Western movies I've seen, I watched the preview for this film on the Westerns Channel and decided that since it was on next and I had nothing else to do, I watched it. Rory Calhoun leads the screen and he did a fine job as Mike 'Utah' Blaine. This movie has the same kind of plot you'd expect from the old 50s B-grade Westerns, however, I say that this one is better than some of the others. The actors are a little bit better than some I've seen in other movies like this. And also, this movie has some pretty decent gunfights for its age. I found this movie to be a pretty enjoyable black-and-white Western.

The cinematography, music, storyline, sets & scenery, and plot remind me of the later episodes of Gunsmoke. Definitely 1950s "B", with television type lighting and a hidden trap door to the fake basement. However, the mostly familiar cast adds strength, and the depth of their characterization makes this western very interesting & watchable. I recommend it when there's no great "A" film available. The bad guys are not too evil, and the good guys are not saints. Snappy dialog may be in short supply, but the typical cowboy clichés are few and far between, and there's no lack of action here! Incidentally, this movie falls into the category of westerns made before John Wayne (or spaghetti), eccentric wiseacres, and every scene a colorful climax were box-office requirements. Follow the intelligent & well-written story and you realize that B&W is the perfect genre for Rory Calhoun with a 3-day beard and two six-guns blazing. My only complaint: too much gray and not enough black or white. I miss "High Noon".

I love Rory Calhoun. Especially the guns he wears in this movie. I love Westerns. Especially when it comes to the Christian values that are long gone in this country today. Two of my favorites were The Rifleman and Bonanza where you would hear frequent and "liberal" (pun intended) mentions of "God", "prayer" and "the Bible".

And when it comes to the background music in Utah Blaine, isn't that the same as what was in a Glenn Ford movie? I can't remember the name.