StyleSk8r At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

Keeley Coleman The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

Quiet Muffin This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

Kimball Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

classicsoncall Anyone know what the filmmakers were going for here? Judging by the fair amount of positive reviews the movie has it's following, but I chalk that up to Columbia's technical achievement with it's cinematography and color format. Around the time the picture made it's way to the half way point, it felt like it was turning the corner on drama and going for comedy. I guess Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams has to take some credit for that, but how in the world did his character Nitro Rankin come up with the idea to rob the Red Valley Bank? It sure came as a surprise to his buddy Cheyenne (Glenn Ford), who would have robbed it in the first place if he had only gotten to the town a little sooner. Adding to the comic element of the story, Cheyenne uses one of those Yosemite Sam lines from the then current Warner Brothers cartoons of the era; he says to Red Valley sheriff Steve Upton (Randolph Scott) - "...if you make one false move, I'm gonna blast ya"! It was pretty much right there I decided I didn't have to pay real close attention to the story any more. And besides, I was waiting to find out who was wearing the hammered silver rowel spur that the Sheriff made a big deal about when the story opened. Turns out the script went as clueless about that as much as old Uncle Willie. One thing you shouldn't do with Edgar Buchanan is make him a conflicted character. Yeah, he saved the day for Red Valley by taking out skunk banker Clanton (Porter Hall), but I wonder if he gave back his share of the take.

bkoganbing Randolph Scott and Glenn Ford were once outlaw pals together, but now Scott's a sheriff and young Ford is still hiring his gun out. He gets hired to pull a bank job, but is delayed getting to town and those that hired him get someone else. That leads to all kinds of complications, a lot for a film that's not even 90 minutes long.Randy and Glenn both got girls here. Claire Trevor plays her usual good time gal with a heart of gold. And Evelyn Keyes is the daughter of Edgar Buchanan who falls for Ford big time without realizing who he is or why he came to the town that Scott is the sheriff in.It's B western, but unusual for the time and for Columbia Pictures it was given the full technicolor treatment. The Desperadoes marked Glenn Ford's first film in technicolor, a process reserved only for some of the more expensive films from bigger studios. Harry Cohn was certainly not one to shell out for it. And definitely not during war time.The plot gets a bit convoluted as both Ford and Scott are put to the test of friendship versus expediency/duty. The plot also involves some high class hypocritical skunks in Randy's town who are the real outlaws as far as the film is concerned.The four leads do a fine job and the best supporting performance is Guinn Williams as Ford's lovable explosive lunkhead of a sidekick. The climax involves a cattle stampede and a shootout in the town saloon and is one of the best ever done in a western film.Fans of the four leads and westerns in general will enjoy this one.

Scarecrow-88 This is simply a good ole fashioned western..not overly complex or long. It doesn't deceive itself in thinking that it was made but for entertainment. Still, it is one of those westerns you can watch once and be done with without returning. It features former partners Randolph Scott and Glenn Ford whose friendship is strong despite the fact that Ford's Cheyenne Rogers has been part of bank robbing(he even steals Scott's Sheriff Steve Upton's horse without knowing it his good friend for which he is thieving). In Red valley, Upton is under heavy scrutiny for a bank robbing that ended with several dead. Claire Trvor portrays Countess Maletta, a friend of Cheyenne's who gives he and buddy "Nitro"(Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams)a place to stay for the time being. Cheyenne desires to go straight, but finds that hard when Jack Lester(Bernard Nedell)and his bad bunch want to rob Red Valley's bank. It is actually Jack who is behind the murders, but Cheyenne's troubled past is hard to get away from. He and Nitro will be charged with the murders they didn't commit(the robbery was one Cheyenne didn't commit)and it will be Upton who must somehow save the day before Lester gets away with murder. There are sub-plots which include Cheyenne's falling in love with Alison McLeod{Evelyn Keyes;the irony of the story is that Alison's father, Uncle Willie, is actually in cahoots with Banker Stanley Clanton(Porter Hall)in a planned united theft with Lester to steal the town of Red Valley's loot}. Will Upton uncover Uncle Willie and Banker Clanton's treacherous scheme? Will Uncle Willie be able to go through it without his conscience always bothering him? This film has a terrific barroom brawl and a dandy of a climactic shootout. Columbia couldn't have picked a better genre to begin the coloring process as this film has some fine mountainous shots as men give chase on horseback and such. Don't expect to get your socks blown off, but the film is simple and well paced.

bob the moo When the bank is robbed in town the result is murder. However behind closed doors the whole robbery was organised by the bank manager and several other important townsfolk – the murder happening because their first choice man for the job didn't show up. When the man does turn up it is too late, but it turns out Cheyenne is also a friend of the sheriff, Steve. When Cheyenne meets Alison, he turns over a new leaf and decides to go straight, however not only does his past start to catch him up, but the real robbers decide to frame Cheyenne for the crime. The whole thing puts stress on the friendship between Steve and Cheyenne.With the veteran Randolph Scott in the lead role I decided this western was worth a try. The plot starts out quite serious – a top level plot to swindle money out of the bank's customers but the plot is a little complicated by a series of rather convoluted plot devices (the most unlikely of which being the man who was meant to do the job, turning up late, being a friend of the sheriff and then changing his ways). This unlikely events sort of mess the film around a little bit but not too badly. After a while the film develops a sense of mocking humour that almost makes it a spoof of sorts – this is best seen in the bar fight where poker players continue regardless of one of their players being knocked out and the barman desperate to keep his business in good condition just long enough to sell it! These little comic touches are quite unexpected and pretty welcome as it really helps lighten up the film and make it more enjoyable.The cast are OK but are also helped by the humour of the film. For leading man, Scott has almost a supporting role to play and does very little. Glenn Ford's Cheyenne has more screen time and is really the leading character. He does well with it and is quite charismatic in the role. Support is not great but is pretty enjoyable – especially those characters whose roles are more about laughs than anything else. Added to the comedy are a couple of good fight scenes, a stampede and a final shoot out. Not all of these work that well but they help keep the light-hearted tone of the film.Overall, not a great western but quite fun to watch. It may not all work but the tone of gentle, almost self-mocking humour really helps it to be enjoyable.