King_man With a well known cast, one would have hoped this would have at least reached the level of a B+ Western. Unfortunately, it struggled to make it to the B- range. The problems were myriad: a very standard plot, a bad musical score that grated, actors with no spark, and a final battle scene that was the antithesis of exciting. Without giving any spoilers, the plot involved various characters with hidden agendas all having converged on an Arizona town in the closing stages of the Civil War. Cowboys, Indians, Rebs, and Unionists all thrown together could have had a bit of life but here, the mix had no yeast and didn't rise. What should have been a climactic battle scene was a visual humor feast. The renegade Indians sat on their horses like targets at a Coney Island arcade but this was countered by townsmen not using any cover as they threw lead. In the usual B-Western tradition, a hero with a 6-gun was much more deadly than a Star Trek red-shirter with a rifle. All in all, it was depressing seeing these actors reduced to showing up for work in an effort like this one.

Spikeopath Actually, wearing a blindfold during a sitting for this movie seems like a pretty good idea given how lifeless it is. When you see it's produced by A.C. Lyles then realistic expectations are needed, his low budget Westerns grabbed the aged coat tails of a genre that had moved onto a different plain than the one Lyles now traversed. Lyles was astute enough to fill out these Oaters with names familiar to genre fans, regardless of the advent of time or box office appeal, so some interest in the said picture was there from the off. Some of these Westerns rose above their budget limitations to be better than average, the likes of Johnny Reno, Waco and Stage to Thunder Rock, while not essential Western viewings, are good time wasters for the undemanding fan. The trouble with Arizona Bushwhackers is that it promises so much more than it can ever deliver. Proudly it tells us that it's in Technicolor and Techniscope, and it stars Howard Keel, Yvonne De Carlo, John Ireland, Marilyn Maxwell, Scott Brady, Brian Donlevy, Barton MacLane and James Craig. Hell! The opening narration is even by one James Cagney. And with a plot involving spies and gun runners in the town of Colton, where Union and Confederate operatives dwell, it's all in place for some solid "B" entertainment. Unfortunately it's a lame duck once Caggers has finished his narration.Story limps on as the various citizens of Colton potter around wondering about who is trustworthy? Who will get caught out? Who will survive? And isn't it about time the Indians showed up? The actors, bless em', give it a good go, shuffling about in some sort of one- take wonderland, while director Lesley Selander tries hard to beef up the plot with the odd action scene; including a fight between two one armed men that I'm pretty sure isn't meant to be funny. It all builds to a hopelessly weak finale where the Indians do indeed turn up and they file in for cannon fodder duties. The colour photography is washed out, the scenic locations barely realised, and the musical score is 101 rank and file. Lifeless all told and only fans of the fading stars should seek this out so as to tick off of their completist lists. 3/10

tavm This is the second of Howard Keel's westerns for producer A.C. Lyles that I've seen in the last several days and the fourth of Lyles during that same period. They've all been pretty enjoyable for the conventional oaters they are in the compact 90 or so minutes they run for. Among other players from previous of Lyles' pictures are: Marilyn Maxwell, Scott Brady, Brian Donlevy, John Ireland. Also, Yvonne De Carlo is the leading lady here. Keel is a rebel (Southern) turned Union soldier who becomes the new sheriff. But one doesn't know which side he's on until the middle portion. Anyway, there's also the appearance of one Roy Rogers, Jr., who shouldn't be hard to recognize especially since his character's name is Roy. Oh, and as one would expect in these oaters, Indians are also portrayed as savages though once they start moaning in pain, one by one, I couldn't help laughing since they sound soooo unconvincing! One more thing, since Ms. Maxwell's character is from New Orleans-which is a two-hour drive from where I currently live-I couldn't help but think that just three days before, when our house was out of power during Hurricane Issac, I relistened-for perhaps the upteenth time-to a cassette of her on "The Abbott & Costello Show" originally from the radio days of the '40s and she was singing "Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans?" during what the announcer referred to was New Orleans Jazz Week. Incidentally, this particular ep had the comedy duo performing "Who's on First?" since this was also the week Joe DiMaggio was recuperating in bed. Okay, so in summary Arizona Bushwackers was another of these old-fashioned westerns that I managed to enjoy for the entertaining yarns they are. P.S. James Cagney did the beginning narration for his old friend Lyles who produced the only picture Cagney directed: Short Cut to Hell.

bkoganbing Arizona Bushwackers was the last of three B westerns that Howard Keel made during the Sixties. He also did Waco and Red Tomahawk. He also appeared in support of John Wayne and Kirk Douglas in the acclaimed War Wagon. This film ain't no war wagon.It's not horribly bad film, Arizona Bushwackers, it's just a very tired one. A lot of hackneyed clichés jammed into the 90+ minutes of the running time. Howard Keel plays a former Confederate who earns a pardon from the Union Army and an out from a federal prison by agreeing to join the Union Army, but serve in the western frontier as opposed to the war in the east.Keel even rates a special job as sheriff of a lawless Arizona town called Colton after mayor Brian Donlevy calls for help. Saloon owner Scott Brady and partner Marilyn Maxwell like the wide open town that Colton is and don't cotton to no law and order.In fact Keel himself has never really forgotten his rebel roots and has been biding for time to pull something off.All these plot strands get themselves resolved in one of the dumbest Indian attacks I've ever seen staged on film. The once popular players set themselves all around with various weaponry on either side of the main street and the Indians ride by and just keep getting picked off.Others in Arizona Bushwackers include Barton MacLane, Yvonne DeCarlo, James Craig, and John Ireland. It's a regular convention of movie names who hit their peaks during the forties and fifties. It's also the farewell film of director Lesley Selander who did just about a gazillion B westerns in his day.No matter how dumb the film, it's nice to see all these stars together in one film. And the opening narration is given by a bigger movie name than all of these who did the off camera speech as a favor to his friend, producer A.C. Lyles.For nostalgia fans only.