JohnHowardReid
Randolph Scott (Jim Kipp/James Collins), Dolores Dorn (Julie Spencer), Marie Windsor (Alice), Howard Petrie (Sheriff Brand), Hanny Antrim (Dr Spencer), Robert Keys (George Williams), Ernest Borgnine (hotel desk clerk), Dubb Taylor (Postmaster Danvers), Tyler MacDuff (Vance), Archie Twitchell (Harison), Paul Picerni (Jud), Phil Chambers (Ed), Mary Lou Holloway (Mrs Ed), Billy Vincent (fat tough in border store), Fess Parker (potential rowdy), Kathryn Marlowe, Shirley Whitney (saloon girls), Dorothy Seese (girl), Wanda Barbour, Gail Robinson (townswomen), Guy Teague (O'Hanlon), Vincent Perry (Parson Ellsworth), Hope Miller (Maria Domingues), Fess Parker (wild cowboy), Charles Delaney (sheriff), Budd Buster, Leo Curley.Director: ANDRE DE TOTH. Screenplay: Winston Millier. Story: Winston Miller, Finlay McDermid. Photographed in Natural Vision 3-Dimension and WarnerColor by Edwin DuPar. Film editor: Clarence Kolster. Music composed and directed by David Buttolph, orchestrated by Maurice de Packh. Art director: Stanley Fleischer. Set decorator: William Wallace. Make-up: Gordon Bau. Wardrobe: Moss Mabry. Assistant director: Frank Mattison. Natural Vision 3-D supervisor: M.L. Gunzberg. Natural Vision consultant: Howard Schwartz. Visual consultant: Dr Julian Gunzberg. Sound recording: Francis J. Scheid. Producer: Sam Bischoff. Executive producer: Randolph Scott. A Transcona Enterprises Production.Copyright 1955 by Warner Brothers Pictures, Inc. No recorded New York opening. U.S. release: 25 September 1954. U.K. release: December 1954. Australian release: 29 September 1955 (sic). 7,083 feet. 78 minutes.SYNOPSIS: Hired by Pinkertons a whole year after the robbery, a bounty hunter manages to trail three train bandits to Win Forks. Unfortunately, he has few clues as to their identities. COMMENT: The chase western in which the hero was required to track down a gang of outlaws, undoubtedly became the most popular (as well as the most used) of the genre's formulae. An interesting variant (as here) has the hero ignorant of the physical appearances of those he is pursuing. Although there are certainly a large number of films in this vein, "The Bounty Hunter" is definitely one of the most entertaining and suspenseful. Despite the welcome intrusion of 3-D effects (most of which are quite dramatically integrated into the staging, though the delightful shock of the villain's hat being shot off into the camera is perhaps overplayed for its novelty appeal), "The Bounty Hunter" can be viewed as a classy follow-up to the highly successful collaboration of star Scott and director De Toth on "Riding Shotgun". Miller's screenplay presents much the same critical examination of small-town folk and their various self-interests. Perhaps the multiple characterizations are not quite as incisively written, and perhaps they are not quite as vigorously played, but these trifling shortcomings are more than compensated by both De Toth's masterfully fluid direction with its long takes in dazzling tracking shots, and Miller's strong plot that successfully springs a number of tingling but still perfectly logical surprises. Needless to say, the action spots are most excitingly staged (and there's more than enough of them to satisfy the fans). Scott even seems to perform a particularly hazardous stunt himself. On another essential script ingredient, the screenwriter has penned some telling dialogue. And it's all most ingratiatingly acted. Scott paces through with his usual charismatic assurance and charming savoir faire, attractive Dolores Dorn delivers a most believable heroine, while our favorite "B" villainess Marie Windsor colorfully winds a crooked finger at our impervious hero. Howard Petrie makes a sterling sheriff. It's also good to find Ernest Borgnine as the boorish desk clerk and Dub Taylor as a somewhat surly committeeman. Fess Parker can be spotted in a small bit right at the film's end.Lavishly produced on actual locations as well as the studio's thriving back-lot, "The Bounty Hunter" also boasts excellent color photography and a rousing music score.I couldn't spot the villains. No way! But even if you can (which would make you a darn sight more clever than me), you'll find this movie still charged with more than a triple dose of palm-sweating suspense.
Spondonman
Another nice colour Western starring enigmatic goodie Randolph Scott - in a fight I'd prefer him on my side over John Wayne any day. But not his rubbish stunt double.Pinkerton's hire him as a bounty hunter to track down a band of baddies all the way to Twin Forks whereupon he unaccountably makes the townsfolk edgy and nervous with regard to his perceived propensity to shoot people solely for money. He tells them more than once that he has to stay "hyer" for a while to figure out just who the baddies are. However, they all seem like a shifty bunch even Scott's frilly love-interest with parasol and picket-fence; but it's fun trying to guess who the felons really are. For the most part it's routine fodder and yet another nod to Destry Rides Again but there's a couple of surprisingly clunky and almost embarrassingly aimless shooting scenes with hats or objects shot off straight at the 3D cameras – I even laughed during one of these untense moments.Andre De Toth directed slicker Westerns than this but I always enjoy this kind of film with all faults, so enjoyed this one even though I've seen tens of thousands better. A pleasant and wholesome time-passer I wouldn't mind seeing again real soon…and probably will if I know TCM UK.
Tweekums
Protagonist Jim Kipp is a bounty hunter with a reputation for catching those he goes after; it is this reputation that brings the famous Pinkerton Detective Agency to his door. They had been hired to track down those responsible for the robbery of $100,000 from a train during which several people were killed. They only have one clue; the three surviving robbers were last scene at a trading post one year ago. With this tiny piece of information Kipp heads to the post and learns two things; one of the robbers was wounded and they only bought provisions for a three day ride. The only town within three days ride is Twin Forks so he heads there. He soon realises he is in the right place when people start lying to him although he still doesn't know who he is after and there are plenty of other people who believe he might be looking for them as they have committed other crimes. The longer he stays in town the more tensions rise and things become more dangerous for him; especially after he lets it be known that he is expecting a picture of the robbers to come in the mail the next day.This was rather an unusual western in that we don't know who the bad guys are until very end; this serves to keep the tension high as anybody could be a danger. Randolph Scott puts in a solid performance as Kipp; a character that may have been unlikable in other hands... his determination to get the job done is all that appears to matter to him. Dolores Dorn does a decent job as potential romantic interest Julie Spencer although Marie Windsor is more interesting as the sultry Alice. There is a reasonable amount of action here including several shootings and a brawl where one man makes the mistake of attacking Kipp and ends up sitting an a stove... for quite a while! There are plenty of suspects to choose from and when we do learn who the robbers are there are one or two surprises to be had; I must admit I only suspected one of the three! If you are a fan of Randolph Scott's other westerns I'm sure you'll enjoy this one too.
