Silver Lode (1954)

61% of users liked it
(175 ratings)

Next to Slightly Scarlet, Silver Lode is the best of the many 1950s collaborations between producer Benedict Bogaeus and director Allan Dwan. Clearly inspired by High Noon, the story covers three hours in the lives of a group of westerners. As the townsfolk prepare for the Fourth of July… More Next to Slightly Scarlet, Silver Lode is the best of the many 1950s collaborations between producer Benedict Bogaeus and director Allan Dwan. Clearly inspired by High Noon, the story covers three hours in the lives of a group of westerners. As the townsfolk prepare for the Fourth of July celebration, stranger Dan Duryea rides into view, followed by three tough-looking hombres. Duryea claims to be as US marshal, and further claims that he has a warrant for the arrest of the town popular sheriff, John Payne. A few hours away from his marriage to Lizabeth Scott, Payne assumes that no one will believe the troublemaking Duryea, and that his spotless record will speak for itself. But since it is impossible to confirm or deny Duryea's allegations, the seeds of doubt are planted in the minds of the townspeople, and before long virtually all of Payne's "friends" have turned against him. It soon becomes clear to the movie audience that Duryea is lying, especially after he guns down one of his own men. But Duryea is able to pin the blame of the killing on Payne, and in a twinkling the sheriff is a hunted man. The only person willing to give Payne the benefit of the doubt is town trollop Dolores Moran (Mrs. Benedict Bogeaus), who hides the sheriff while telegrapher Frank Sully tries to find out if Duryea is telling the truth. Building slowly and methodically to a slam-bang climax, Silver Lode is an above-average psychological western--and, like many "guilt by supsicion" films of the 1950s, a thinly veiled attack on McCarthyism. Best line: when Duryea bursts into Dolores' boudoir to see if Payne is hiding under the bed, she moans "Oh, what is this? A French farce?" ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 32 min.
Directed By: Allan Dwan
Genres: Western, Action & Adventure

In Theaters: Jul 23, 1954 Wide
On DVD: Mar 15, 2005

Critic Reviews

Fernando F. Croce, Slant Magazine
A daylight nightmare staged in real time, the deceptively modest Silver Lode has a dynamism and ingenuity that outclass the stolidity of many more established features.
Sean Axmaker, Parallax View
The usually inexpressive John Payne is excellent as the tarnished hero Allan Dwan's sturdy 1954 western that twists into a nightmare of victimization and mob hysteria.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Along with the unique Passion (1954), this is my favorite of Dwan's Westerns.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
This anti-McCarthyism western was inspired by High Noon, only it's more explicit.

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Featured Audience Ratings

jay n

Only okay western with Lizabeth Scott miscast as the sweet young thing.

Cast

            Lizabeth Scott as Rose Evans

            Dan Duryea as Ned McCarthy

            Dolores Moran as Dolly

            Emile G. Meyer as Sheriff Wooley

            Robert Warwick as Judge Cranston

            John Hudson as Michael "Mitch" Evans

            Harry Carey Jr. as Johnson

            Alan Hale Jr. as Kirk

            Stuart Whitman as Wickers

            Frank Sully as Paul Herbert

            Morris Ankrum as Zachary Evans

            Florence Auer as Mrs. Elmwood

            Roy Gordon as Dr. Elmwood

            Edgar Barrier as Taylor

            Paul Birch as Rev. Field

            Sheila Bromley as Townswoman

            Lane Chandler as Man at fire

            Joe Devlin as Walt Little

            John Dierkes as Blacksmith

            Frank Ellis as Searcher

            Byron Foulger as Prescott

            William Haade as Searcher

            Myron Healey as Rider

            Al Hill as Townsman

            I. Stanford Jolley as Searcher

            Burt Mustin as Spectator

            John Payne as Dan Ballard

            Gene Roth as Townsman

            Ralph Sanford as Joe bartender

            Margo Woode
            
            Al Haskell as Deputy

            Barbara Woodell as Townswoman
See full cast

Silver Lode (1954)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

jay n

Cast