rooster_davis This is a fine Western-era movie and you will not be disappointed if you watch it. It's a good story and a very fine script with realistic dialog and character development.James Cagney was in only a couple of Westerns so far as I know, this being one of them, and after seeing 'Tribute To A Bad Man' I wish he had been in more of them. He makes a very appealing and authentic Western character. Don Dubbins, who plays the part of the young Pennsylvania grocery clerk who 'went West', is really good too, and plays his role in earnest. Irene Papas did a very good job at her part, but did not stand out quite as much as did the other leads. In fairness to her, I don't think her role gave her the chance to.The movie's plot is pretty well covered elsewhere, so I'll discuss other things. For one - this is a gorgeous movie - awesome scenery, and scenes beautifully set up and filmed. In many scenes it's a treat for the eyes, and there's plenty of good story to go with the visuals.The movie opens in one of those beautiful scenes, with Don Dubbins riding along on his horse as his voice-over gives us a quick intro into who he is and the adventure he is about to encounter. It ends with one of my favorite movie endings. In another fine scenic, as Dubbins rides off into the distance he says in voice-over (and here comes the spoiler) "I never saw Mr. Rodock again, and I never saw Jocasta again. But I carried them with me wherever I went, and I loved them both my whole life long." Dubbins' delivers these lines perfectly.This is a really enjoyable movie. Guys, your wife or girlfriend will sit and watch it with you and she'll enjoy it too. Give this one a watching next time it comes on and you will not be disappointed.

classicsoncall It pains me to say this because Jimmy Cagney is one of my favorite actors, but the whole time I watched him in this picture I kept thinking of Dan Blocker's Hoss Cartwright from "Bonanza". Cagney had added a fair number of pounds over the years, and no longer resembled the slim hoofer that he was back in the 1930's when he established himself as a top flight gangster in film. I'm sure that vest he wore added to my perception.In the story, Cagney's character Jeremy Rodock was one mean a-- rancher and horse trader. He subscribed to the one man rule of law in the absence of legal authority, and I got a pretty good idea that he wouldn't have been in favor of our current president's redistribution of wealth agenda. I had never heard the term 'hangin' fever' in a fair share of Westerns I've seen before, so I'm guessing the term was made up for this picture, but it served pretty well for Rodock's brand of justice.As always, Cagney's performance in the story is credible, but after seeing him in many other vehicles, it's hard to warm up to his presence in a Western. The same goes for his appearance in "The Oklahoma Kid', featuring another personal favorite, Humphrey Bogart. Both appeared in that picture as opposing outlaws, and though a largely forgettable film in each actor's repertoire, they did participate in one of the wildest bar room brawls you're likely to find, recommendation enough in my mind to check that one out.Irene Papas also takes center stage in this story as the long time companion of Rodock. Her disillusionment with Rodock's personal code meets it's strongest test in the growing admiration of young Steve Millar (Don Dubbibs), who hires on after his role in an opening gunfight. It would have been interesting to see what would have happened if he attempted to run away with Jocasta (Papas) before that miles long walk through the desert.Brilliantly filmed in gorgeous Eastman Color, "Tribute To A Badman" might not have been the best title for this story, as Rodock was as fair minded as they came when dealing man to man. Cross him though and there was hell to pay. That, I think, could have been a useful alternate title.

alexandre michel liberman (tmwest) I don't agree with the title because Cagney is not a bad man at all. He is just a man that in order to manage his business of breeding horses has to take the law in his own hands where there was no law at all. This western probably did not get the box office results it deserved because James Cagney and Irene Papas are not the actors you would expect in this genre. But Cagney has a superb performance in what is above all a love story, where he is a man with a hard character which becomes more human with the influence of his mistress, Irene Papas and Steve Millar(Don Dubbins, the narrator of the story.), who works for him. Irene Papas's acting reminded me a lot of Katy Jurado. Cagney and Papas are very similar to the couple played by Tracy and Jurado in Broken Lance. The efficient direction of Robert Wise, and the two main actors make this an above average film.

349th Heavy Weapons Crew You simply must see Vic's riveting portrayal as the young disillusioned, but still proud Lars Peterson stands up to a cruel and ruthless land baron. Vic has the pivotal role of this top-rated James Cagney western. Vic's show down with Cagney will hold you spellbound!