discount1957 This is Selander's first film for Producer Lyles and his best Western for years. Like all of Lyles' Westerns, the main fault is the pedestrian screenplay which features Andrews as the hired killer seeking revenge for the death of his wife at the hands of Bettger and Cabot. He finds them ensconced as sheriff and saloon owner respectively, from which positions they're bleeding the town dry. Thus Andrews can liberate the town as well as secure his revenge in a corpse-strewn finale. Jaeckel has a marvellous part as Bettger's sadistic deputy.Phil Hardy

longchamps Having just seen this movie for the first time, I am surprised by the amount of skepticism thrown at it by other reviewers. I found the movie to be quite captivating, not only by virtue of the constant intensity, but also the deep relational intrigue between the characters. The hatred between Dana Andrews and Bruce Cabot is scathing. DeForrest Kelly is excellent as the cowardly, wife-beating "tin-horn" without an ounce of decency. Dana Andrews is gives an appropriately sullen performance, in light of his wife's death the first scene. Silent Star Richard Arlen gives a solid performance as the honorable town doctor. The most compelling performance in the movie without doubt was Lyle Bettger's. The viewer is never quite sure where his tormented character's allegiance lies. Colleen Gray's appearance here is similar to her minor but famous appearance as John Wayne's love interest in Red River. Bruce Cabot is excellent as the perpetually conniving and cold-blooded arch villain. The tension between the two town factions is perpetual, with Andrews character always caught in the crossfire. Solid Western feature with a fantastic cast.

kevin olzak 1965's "Town Tamer" was the fifth of producer A.C. Lyles' run of 13 Paramount B-Westerns from the mid 60s, and one of the best, with a cast filled with more veteran performers than usual (Sonny Tufts?). Author Frank Gruber adapted from his own novel, starring Dana Andrews in the title role of Tom Rosser, whose wife (Coleen Gray) was accidentally shot by hired gun Les Ring (Lyle Bettger), on behalf of gambling house troublemaker Riley Condor (Bruce Cabot). Years later, Rosser is hired by businessman James Fenimore Fell (Barton MacLane) to take down Condor in a different town, where the corrupt judge (Pat O'Brien) and lawmen are in his pocket, leaving the citizens to hope that Rosser will succeed; if not, vigilantism will become the last dreaded resort. The most intriguing aspect is the town marshal, Les Parker, the very same gunman who murdered Rosser's wife, his unpredictable behavior keeping both sides guessing. Lon Chaney, now 5 for 5 for Lyles, enjoys a major role as Mayor Charlie Leach, who doubles as livery stable owner, Richard Arlen returns as town doctor, Richard Jaeckel makes for a despicable deputy, Bob Steele, Philip Carey, and Roger Torrey among Condor's men. In his second of four Lyles Westerns, DeForest Kelley delighted in telling the story of how he was doubled in his early fight scene opposite Dana Andrews, and how BONANZA'a Michael Landon volunteered to do it, and with his back to the camera remains easily recognizable taking the spills!

bsmith5552 "The Town Tamer" was another of those nostalgic westerns produced by A.C. Lyles featuring a cast of recognizable performers from the past. Modestly budgeted and filmed in color and wide screen they gave many of the performers their last hurrahs.This one was directed by veteran "B" western director Lesley Selander and is the story of a veteran town tamer marshal Tom Rosser (Dana Andrews) who is hired by the railroad boss James Fell (Barton MacLane) to clean up a town that soon will have the railroad coming in.The town is under the control of gambler Riley Condor (Bruce Cabot) with whom Rosser has an axe to grind. The town marshal (Lyle Bettger) also has a past he wishes to hide. Rosser meets Susan Tavenner (Terry Moore) on the stagecoach into town and takes a liking to her. Unfortunately, she is married to a tin horn gambler (Deforest Kelley) who is also a wife beater in the employ of Condor.The town mayor/livery stable owner Charlie Leach (Lon Chaney Jr.) and doctor (Richard Arlen) are trying to raise a vigilante group to take back their town. Condor on the other hand has Deputy Johnny Honsinger (Richard Jaekel)and gunfighter Atkins (Phil Carey) and several allies lined up against them. Rosser not now being a lawman, wants to kill Condor "in his own way".In addition to those mentioned above, several other veteran performers are in the cast. Pat O'Brien, in an all too brief appearance, plays a dishonest judge, Sonny Tufts and Bob Steele as Condor's vigilantes, Jeanne Cagney as café owner Mary Donley, Donald Barry and Robert Ivers as Texas cowboys and James Brown and Richard Webb as railway workers. Veteran stuntman Dale Van Sickel, who plays a bartender, can clearly be seen doubling for Dana Andrews in the fight scenes.There's plenty of action including fights, bushwhacking and gun play to satisfy the viewer. It's better than most of the similar films of the period due in large part to the veteran director and the large cast of seasoned veterans.