Ride Lonesome (1959)
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83% of critics liked it
(6 reviews) -
72% of users liked it
(449 ratings)
This is one of several solid B-grade Westerns produced at the height of the genre's popularity in the '50s by the partnership of director Budd Boetticher, star Randolph Scott, and writer Burt Kennedy. Scott stars as Ben Brigade, a taciturn bounty hunter who captures wanted murderer Billy… More This is one of several solid B-grade Westerns produced at the height of the genre's popularity in the '50s by the partnership of director Budd Boetticher, star Randolph Scott, and writer Burt Kennedy. Scott stars as Ben Brigade, a taciturn bounty hunter who captures wanted murderer Billy John (James Best) and heads for Santa Cruz, where a reward awaits Brigade and a rope most likely awaits the killer. There's more to Brigade than meets the eye, however; his actual quarry is Frank (Lee Van Cleef), his prisoner's brother and the man who killed Brigade's wife. At a trading post where Brigade and his prisoner have stopped, Indians attack. The bounty hunter saves the life of Mrs. Lane (Karen Steele), wife of the post's deceased manager. Lane decides to accompany her rescuer to Santa Cruz, so Brigade, counting on a showdown with Frank, hires outlaws Sam and Whit (Pernell Roberts and James Coburn) for protection on the duration of the journey. During the trip, Sam and Whit discuss betraying Brigade and turning in Billy John themselves for a reward and pardon. Coburn made his screen debut with the film. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi
- Directed By
- Budd Boetticher
- Genres
- Western, Classics
- In Theaters
- Feb 15, 1959 Wide
- On DVD
- Nov 4, 2008
Critic Reviews
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Geoff Andrew, Time Out
Beautifully scripted by Burt Kennedy, with excellent performances all round as the characters evolve through subtly shifting loyalties and ambitions, it's a small masterpiece.
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Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
There is hardly any pretense of action or suspense as the characters move, almost aimlessly, through an open landscape, testing each other's strengths and weaknesses through conversations that become psychological chess games.
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Michael E. Grost, Classic Film and Television
Richly styled Western with some of the most sympathetic characters in Budd Boetticher.
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Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Perhaps the best in the "Ranown" series, alongside Seven Men from Now, Ride Lonesome one never once strikes a wrong note.
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, Film4
A model of the genre.
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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Randolph Scott
as Ben Brigade
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Karen Steele
as Mrs Lane
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Pernell Roberts
as Sam Boone
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James Best
as Billy John
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Lee Van Cleef
as Frank
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James Coburn
as Whit
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Dyke Johnson
as Charlie
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Boyd Stockman
as Indian Chief
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Roy Jenson
as First Heavy
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Boyd 'Red' Morgan
as Outlaw
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Bennie E. Dobbins
as Outlaw