RIDE A CROOKED TRAIL

US, 1958, 87 minutes, Colour.
Audie Murphy, Gia Scala, Walter Matthau, Henry Silva.
Directed by Jesse Hibbs.

Ride a Crooked Train was one of a series of westerns made at Universal Studios during the 1950s, star vehicles for war hero, Audie Murphy. They were small-budget, often appears as supporting features. However, as the decades have gone on, their straightforward western storytelling has meant that they have survived better than many other of the more mannered films of the period, which seem stuck in their time.

This time Audie Murphy portrays an ambiguous character, a robber who steals a marshal's star and is, at first, mistaken for a marshal. His dilemma is to rob the bank or to stay and be the lawman for the town. Audiences won't be surprised at the final outcome!

Audie Murphy is a strong presence in these films. His youthful appearance and short stature means that he is often referred to as young although, at this time, he was the same age as Walter Matthau who appears as the older sheriff and judge. In fact, one of the interesting features of the film now is seeing Matthau in a very early role, ten years before The Odd Couple. He shows all the qualities in performance and comic timing that were to make him a star. Henry Silva was at the beginning of a long career as villain.

1. The popularity of Audie Murphy westerns? In the 50s? Later?

2. Production values, small-budget, western locations, the town, the difference in this film with the town being on the Mississippi? The saloons, the hotels, homes, boats? The atmosphere of the west, the musical score?

3. The title, its reference to Maybe's character? The crooked trail leading him to a straight path?

4. The opening, Joe Maybe and his being pursued, his pursuer falling to his death, Joe taking his identity? The situation of the town, the robbery at the bank, the judge and his interviewing people coming in, his response to Joe, suspicions and drawn guns, finding the star, making him the marshal of the town? The ambiguity in Joe's attitude, his accepting?

5. The character of the judge, Walter Matthau's style, comic and serious, drinking, his behaviour in court, the law in his hands, the decisions about the railroad and prices to be paid? His bringing Joe into the court, supporting him? The binge-drinking, the young boy, Jim, helping them in the morning? The boat coming in, Tessa and her calling Joe "Maybe"? The alerting to the judge?

6. Joe, his character, his background story, born in the saloon, the death of his mother, his name? Learning bad things in a hotel, a robber? His telling this story to Jim, Jim born in the saloon - but the judge taking care of him and promising that he would go to college? Joe and Tessa's arrival, having her pose as his wife? The home, the people coming to visit, society in the town, his tour of the bank, Tessa and her meeting the women of the town? Their respectability?

7. Teller, his background, buying Tessa's clothes, her devotion to him, sending him the letter? His arrival with his gang, the confrontation, Joe in the bar, the shooting? Ordering them out of town, doing a deal with Teller? The gang rebelling, coming into town and robbing the bank? Joe and his saving the bank? Teller's return, the plan, explaining everything to Tessa, not letting Joe know? The dance, the explosion, Joe and his pursuit of Teller, Jim telling him which road to go? His confrontation with Teller amongst the cattle, the fight, bringing him back?

8. The judge his suspicions? His following Joe, ready with the gun? The build-up to the night of the bank robbery, the confrontation, Jim shooting the light, Joe going to save the bank, the judge seeing him at the wharf, pinning the badge on him and persuading him to stay? The judge as an eccentric character, serious and comic, living by himself, drinking, kindliness to Jim, the railroad and the speech at the dedication? His concern about the bank?

9. Tessa, her relationship with Joe, with Teller, who paid for her dresses? Staying, pretending, the glamorous clothes, her having to be more soberly dressed, meeting the bank manager and his wife? Not going to the saloon? Jim and his overhearing her talk with Joe (Teller?), his knowing the plan? Her concealing the plan from Joe, going to go with Teller? Her change of heart?

10. Jim, the hotel background, the judge taking him in, his looking after the judge, moving in with Joe and Tessa, overhearing the truth? Shooting the light to save Joe, giving him the directions in which to go?

11. Teller, ruthless, the members of the gang?

12. The background of the river, travel by the river, commerce, the coming of the railroad? The cattlemen bringing the cattle to town? The status of the banks? The popular ingredients of a 19th century story of the west?