Ride Lonesome (1959)

83% of critics liked it
(6 reviews)
73% of users liked it
(424 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 John (James… 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

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 13 min.
Directed By: Budd Boetticher
Genres: Western, Classics

In Theaters: Feb 15, 1959 Wide
On DVD: Nov 4, 2008

Critic Reviews

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.
Michael E. Grost, Classic Film and Television
Richly styled Western with some of the most sympathetic characters in Budd Boetticher.
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.
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.
, Film4
A model of the genre.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Perhaps the best made B Western ever.

Read all 6 critic reviews

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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Stella D

randolph scott, pernell roberts, lee van cleef and james coburn. not my favorite in the ranown cycle but still damn good stuff
Walter M

"Ride Lonesome" is an entertaining western with a good cast about a group of characters trying to escape their past. It starts with bounty hunter Ben Brigade(Randolph Scott) capturing murderer Billy John(James Best), intent on bringing him to justice in Santa Cruz. But… More
"Ride Lonesome" is an entertaining western with a good cast about a group of characters trying to escape their past. It starts with bounty hunter Ben Brigade(Randolph Scott) capturing murderer Billy John(James Best), intent on bringing him to justice in Santa Cruz. But first he has to get around his brother's gang. At a way station, they encounter two outlaws, Boone(Pernell Roberts) and Whit(James Coburn), who are helping Carrie(Karen Steele) mind the store since her husband went missing. Despite the men thinking otherwise, she can take care of herself. On the other hand, the situation gets even more dangerous when the stagecoach shows up with everybody killed by Mescalero Indians. That might interfere with Boone and Whit taking Billy back to Santa Cruz themselves in exchange for an amnesty which Brigade might have a slight problem with.
MJS M

This is another film I ?watched? while doing other stuff on the computer. From a visual perspective, this is quite good. There?s some good color cinematography, good use of widescreen, and some really nice desert scenery. Otherwise, kind of boring. A short B-western that?s gained… More
This is another film I ?watched? while doing other stuff on the computer. From a visual perspective, this is quite good. There?s some good color cinematography, good use of widescreen, and some really nice desert scenery. Otherwise, kind of boring. A short B-western that?s gained a bit of a cult following over the years. The plot didn?t do anything for me. Not much else to say.