gordonl56 BEST OF THE BADMEN - 1951An action packed RKO western with a top flight cast that seems to just miss the mark. The cast includes, Robert Ryan, Walter Brennan, Robert Preston, Claire Trevor, Lawrence Tierney, Bruce Cabot, Jack Buetel and Barton MacLane.Bruce Cabot is the leader of a group of Confederate troops who refuse to surrender after the war ends. The men were part of Quantrill's Raiders and there is still a reward out for their capture. Robert Ryan is the Union officer in charge of tracking the Confederates down. This he does, and brings the group in. After they swear allegiance to the Union, they are released. This does not sit well with Jayhawker, Robert Preston. He runs a large detective agency and wants to hang the men for actions they took while with Quantrill. This quickly leads to trouble as Preston's men arrest the just released from Army service, Ryan. He is given a jumped up trial and sentenced to death. It is only the help of Preston's estranged wife, Claire Trevor that allows Ryan to escape.Ryan soon hooks up with the Ex-Confederates, and starts a war against Preston and his detective agency. They hit every bank and stage line that hires Preston's men as guards etc. Plenty of gunfights and chases abound throughout the film, but it really seems to go nowhere. As much as I like Robert Ryan, and I do, I think someone like Randolph Scott would have been better in the role.Bruce Cabot as the Confederate leader and Lawrence Tierney as Jesse James, are both seriously underused, while Claire Trevor seems to be just window dressing. Robert Preston is good in his bit as the carpetbagger lawman, as is the always reliable, Walter Brennan. Not by any means is this a bad film, but it could have been better with a firmer hand at the controls. This was the last feature film from director, William D. Russell who moved to television the next year. The d of p was Edward Cronjager. His work includes several decent westerns and film-noir. These include, CIMARRON, WESTERN UNION, I WAKE UP SCREAMING, CANYON PASSAGE, DESERT FURY, RELENTLESS, THE CAPTURE and POWDER RIVER.

Spikeopath Best of the Badmen is directed by William D. Russell and written by John Twist and Robert Hardy Andrews. It stars Robert Ryan, Claire Trevor, Robert Preston, Walter Brennan, Bruce Cabot, John Archer and Jack Buetel. It's a Technicolor production with cinematography by Edward Cronjager and music by Paul Sawtell."This story tells a forgotten chapter in the violent history of the West. Months after the tragic war between The States had ended there was still no peace on the Western Frontier."William Russell's Western is an energetic entry into the pantheon of Oaters, it's one that involves the often filmed topic of the Jayhawkers or Bushwhackers who roamed the West causing hurt and pain in the aftermath of the Civil War. Best of the Badmen ropes in the brothers James and Younger, a few other scalawag types (Curly Ringo/Doc Butcher) and gives them a leader in the tall form of Robert Ryan's Jeff Clanton. How and why Clanton, and ex Union Major, joined the Confederate guerrilla unit? Is a nifty bit of story telling that adds a vengeful bite to what otherwise could have been standard B Western formula.Once motives and character traits are established, film goes about its business with guts and determination. A fight, a pursuit or a sneaky act is never far from the plot, there's even a romantic thread that's not over stretched, allowing the splendidly attired Miss Trevor as the estranged Lilly Fowler to light up the screen. The narrative has some smarts about it, Clanton and his gang are out to ruin "The Fowler Agency" (an obvious nod to the Pinkerton Agency) which is run by dastardly Matthew Fowler (Preston), but although Clanton wants revenge on Fowler, he's still a good guy at heart and will not let his gang become murderous terrorists. Honour among thieves? Yes indeed, but of course it's not going to be all plain sailing when the group is full of such strong personalities.Although clearly not an "A" list Western, the cast assembled is approaching "A" list quality. Ryan (The Naked Spur/The Day of the Outlaw/The Wild Bunch) in the genre speaks for itself, but he's also surrounding by an assortment of fine Western and film noir character actors. Preston (This Gun for Hire/Blood on the Moon), Trevor (Key Largo/Man Without a Star) and Brennan (Red River/My Darling Clementine), all deliver the expected committed performance. One of the film's weaknesses is under using some of the secondary performers, especially Lawrence Tierney (Dillinger/Born to Kill), who as Jesse James only gets a couple of lines! However, Bruce Cabot (King Kong/Fury) and John Archer (White Heat) do get to earn their pay. Rounding out the noticeable bad guys are Robert Wilke (High Noon/Night Passage), Jack Buetel (The Outlaw), Tom Tyler (Blood on the Moon) and John Cliff (River of No Return).There's some distracting back screen work within the piece, and Cronjager's photography never gets a chance to shine, the latter not helped by a standard print of the film that needs a good scrub up. But the cast, story, action and execution of said story, definitely make this a better than average Western. 7/10

alexandre michel liberman (tmwest) I saw "Best of the Badmen" when I was nine years old, loved it could not stop talking about it for weeks. curious that it was b&w probably they were trying to cut costs by making part of the copies in a less expensive way. Few actors were as good as Robert Ryan, specially in westerns, and his presence is what most counts here. Same goes for Claire Trevor. I was a bit deceived with the James brothers, they are kind of insipid in the film, after seeing so many films about them and the Youngers we got spoiled and expect for a bit more of their character to be shown. Funny that Cole Younger acts as their leader (in the film), I don't think they would have accepted that. The story is pretty routine stuff, but that is exactly the charm of the westerns of the fifties. Tremendous difference between the Jack Buetel of "The Outlaw" and the "nice" Younger that he plays here. I greatly enjoyed seeing this western after so many years, it remains very good. (and in color)

thinker1691 This is a story written about the West and some of the more famous individuals who really participated in it's inception. For many in the audience, this movie star's Robert Ryan and the great and magnetic presence he brings to the silver screen. The story is called " Best of the Bad men. " Proportedly it is set in the 1860's shortly after the Civil War. The last of the rebel hold outs have been captured by Major Jefferson Clanton (Robert Ryan) and the Union army and offered the oath of Alligence to the United States. This does not sit well with the carpetbaggers who believe the Rebels should be tried and hanged. Robert Preston is Matthew Fowler a greedy, mob-stirring businessman who is out to crucify Clanton for denying him his bounty on the former bad men. Walter Brennan, Bruce Cabot and Jack Buetel make for a formidable bunch as the beginnings of the infamous James and Younger gangs. For a touch of feminine beauty we have beautiful and seductive Claire Trevor as Lily Fowler. Together, the entire cast makes for a rousing yarn set in the Old West. There is plenty of explosions, gun-fights, fist-fighting, fast horses and double dealing to keep the audience interesting and for once, our hero Robert Ryan doesn't have to play the heavy. OK, the story is a bit far-fetch, but fun none-the-less. Recommended to anyone who wishes to slay a somber afternoon. ***