Thursday, November 9, 2023

TALL TEXAN 1953 (TUBI)

An obscure, but very well done western/film noir hybrid.

The film opens with a wagon hauling several people as passengers. One of them is Ben Trask (Lloyd Bridges) who is being taken to prison in Texas.

They come upon a young Indian brave who has been wounded and decide to take him with them. He tells them of some gold and the people agree to give him a pony to escape his own tribe if he shows them where the gold is located.

The group come top a small creek just beneath an Indian burial ground. The gold is there and the young brave steals a pony and escapes. His tribe shows up and makes the group give up their guns in order to grt some gold, but they are warned to stay off of the burial ground.

Everyone has gold fever and Trask tries to keep things under control. When a stranger named Josh Tinnen (Luther Adler) enters the picture, things start taking a turn for the worst.

Tinnen and Sheriff Chadbourne (Samuel Herrick) plot to steal more gold and Tinnen even goes to the burial ground and takes some gold, which the Indians see.

Soon everyone is turning on each other as well as having to deal with the indians. This is a very tightly wound little western directed by Elmo Williams and released by the Lippert Corporation.

The excellent cast which includes Marie Windsor, Lee J. Cobb, Syd Salor, and Dean Train do a very good job with Windsor turning in one of the best performances of her career.

I can't figure out why this isn't better known in the film world, but if you get the chance, check it out. I really think you'll like it.

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