Colt .45 (1950)

Waste of time

Load of rubbish!!

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

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

Colt .45 (AKA: Thundercloud) is directed by Edwin L. Marin and written by Thomas W. Blackburn. It stars Randolph Scott, Ruth Roman, Zachary Scott, Lloyd Bridges, Alan Hale Senior and Chief Thundercloud. Music is by William Lava and cinematography by Wilfred M. Cline."A gun like any other source of power, is a force for either good or evil, being neither in itself, but dependent upon those who possess it."Another of the Warner Brothers Westerns to star Western legend Randolph Scott, this one sees Scott once again team up with Marin for another lively and colourful bout of yee-haw shenanigans. Scott is gun salesman Steve Farrell, who has his new Colt .45's stolen by outlaw Jason Brett (Z Scott). As Brett and his gang wreak havoc across the lands, Farrell sets out with angered urgency to end the rampage.1950 was a big year for the Western genre, there was strong psychological releases such as Broken Arrow, Devil's Doorway, The Furies, The Gunfighter and Winchester '73. While John Ford was laying down one of his super Cavalry movies with Rio Grande. Colt .45 is a mile from the class of those, but as the box office success of it shows, there was then, and still is now, a great deal of enjoyment to be garnered from this type of Randy Scott Oater.There's a unpretentiousness about the film, while the portrayal of the Indians here, who have a significant say in the story, is on the good side of good. Z Scott makes for a good villain without going over the top, Hale, who would pass away this same year, is good value as always and Roman looks the pretty part in a thankless role. Marin directs at a clip, instilling gusto to the plentiful action, and Cline brings the picturesque landscapes to colourful life.There's of course some suspension of disbelief needed, while certain plot developments are daft, but once the dramatic twists align themselves with the frivolity, it rounds out as a good time for all the family; and of course those into gun porn! 7/10

This can't be. A routine western starring Randolph Scott? Well, you have to have a measuring stick, and almost all of his other westerns are better than this one. It's juvenile fare, with several continuity errors, a stretch of a story and a mediocre script. But Randolph Scott is in it. He is joined by a pretty good cast of Hollywood veterans in Alan Hale Sr., Ruth Roman and Lloyd Bridges. The villain is played by Zachary Scott, who tries too hard as an irredeemably bad guy with anger issues. He sneers and shouts his lines for emphasis, as this is his first western and he seems uncomfortable in the role. There is lots of gunplay and fistfights, Indians who often come to R. Scott's rescue and a lot of questionable motivation on the part of all involved. If it sounds more interesting than it actually is, you are right. But don't forget - Randolph Scott is in it.

Highly watchable Western about confronting between robbers and a hero incarnated by Randolph Scott.The film is set in post- Civil War, at Red Rock ,the pattern of the other celebrated cow towns of the Old west . Randolph Scott is Steve Farrel a gun salesman wielding some Colts gifted by Samuel Colt , when he's reunited with the sheriff there takes place escape of Brett. Then Steve is wrongly accused of accomplice , after that he's freed and seeks revenge. Brett is wanted by 5.000 dollars of reward for information leading the leader of 45's gang. Later on , Farrell is appointed deputy, he along with Sheriff Alan Hale are fighting to stifle the conflicts among the bandits led by Zachary Scott and his gunfighter hoodlums as Lloyd Bridges, among others. Farrell is only helped by an Indian chief named Walking Bear played by Chief Thundercloud.The picture gets action Western,shootouts, thrills, and is quite entertaining. It's a medium budget movie with good actors,technicians, production values and pleasing results. Fine Western in which the gang of the 45's colt raid stagecoach and pacific people ,robberies in post-civil war .Stylish,fast paced,solid ,meticulous and a violent look with numerous shootém up.Randolph Scott leaving times ago the secondaries roles as when he was still playing supporting roles in top films as ¨Jesse James¨(Henry King), ¨Virginia city¨(Michael Curtiz) and ¨the spoilers'(Ray Enright).Scott also played an famed outlaw in ¨Doolins of Oklahoma¨(Gordon Douglas).The support cast make equally notable performances. The film is shot in California State as is reflected on the colorful cinematography by cameraman Wilfred Cline.Nice storyline by Thomas Blackburn, usual and notable Western's screenwriter. The film is well directed and it will appeal to Western lovers and Randolph Scott fans .This motion picture is realized with sure visual eye by Edwin L. Marin. He made a variety films of all genres, though especially Westerns,the best are starred by Scott,all well screen-written(Abilene,Canadian Pacific,Cariboo trail,Fighting man of the plains).In fact his last films were Westerns until his early death at 52 .

Colt 45 is certainly a lite western for RS but nevertheless is worth a shot. What I found most interesting are how many familiar actors from later big movies make their lesser screen appearances here. Ruth Roman is the only female in the picture and has everybody's attention. She even manages to throw some dirt at and a knockout of RS. Probably the only time this has happened to Scott on screen. She is a few years ahead of Far Country with Jimmy Stewart. Walter Coy, Aaron Edwards in The Searchers, has an uncredited role here that you'd have to Search for. Lloyd Bridges predates his paranoid role in High Noon with a complete weasel of a character here. The catch of the day is Ian McDonald playing Miller here, a member of Zachary Scott's gang; later as Frank Miller in High Noon.As for the flick, Scott looks clean shaven even after forty days of soft time in jail. Brother Zachary looks like a very light weight Clark Gable. The sexual symbolism is a little too obvious here but for young kids it was all surely missed. Just relieved that RS is clearly interested in Roman with Ruth more than his colts. This is one western where the Indians (unnnamed tribe) are the good guys. It's not The Tall T or Commanche Station but if you are a fan of RS, and I certainly am, you can't miss with a Colt 45.