THE RAWHIDE YEARS

US, 1955, 85 minutes, Colour.
Tony Curtis, Colin Miller, Arthur Kennedy, William Demarest, Peter Van Eyck.
Directed by Rudolph Mate.

The Rawhide Years is said to be the only western that Tony Curtis made. He portrays a young gambler, helping a seasoned gambler, but having second thoughts about people being robbed of their money. Pirates attack the riverboat where he works and his partner is lynched and there is a price on his head, though they were both innocent.

After working on a ranch for three years, he decides to go back to find his girlfriend, who sings on the riverboat. A genial drifter, played by Arthur Kennedy, tries to help him but they get into various tangles, doing a Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid, jumping into a river, rescued by the riverboat, only to have a second pirate attack.

There are some dramatics, a possible lynching, shootouts.

The film was directed by Rudolph Mate, the cinematographer, who directed Tony Curtis in The Prince Who was a Thief, Forbidden, The Black Shield of Falworth.

1. An entertaining western of the 1950s? Star vehicle for Tony Curtis?

2. Colour photography, the river, the riverboat, the towns, the ranches, the mountains? The musical score?

3. The story of Ben Mathews? On the riverboat, young, partnering the gambler, his reaction to the old man losing all his money, the reaction of the Sheriff and warning, Ben giving the money, Comfort winning, returning the money, Matt Comfort and his being impressed, offering the job? The gambler, the parting of the ways with Ben?

4. The pirate attack, the robberies, the statue of the Indian taken, Ben being beaten, overboard, the lynch party with the gambler, Ben and Zoe, his escape?

5. Ben, the Rawhide years, his work, letters to Zoe, their stopping, taking his pay? The enquiries about travel? Rick, overhearing, stealing the horse, offering to be a guide, the posse pursuing him, diving into the water, the escape? Camping, Rick reading the letters, wanting the money? Their being picked up by the river boat, the captain and his welcome?

6. The second pirate attack, Ben and his intervention, the mask, planning to pursue the pirates? Rick and his covering him, as if in coma? His escape?

7. Going to see Brand Comfort, confessing about killing, discovering the statue, the fact that Brand was in league with Boucher? The attempt on Ben’s life, his return, the documents from the safe?

8. Boucher, managing riverboat, Zoe beholden to him, her performances? Helping Ben, having to turn on him when Boucher was present?

9. Rick, working for Boucher, coming to help Ben, the lynching party?

10. Ben, confronting Boucher, his trying to burn the documents, the fight, retrieving them, having Boucher at gunpoint, his being shot by his men, coming downstairs, the confession?

11. Ben vindicated, and happy ending with Zoe?