Arizona Bushwhackers ** (1968, Howard Keel, Yvonne De Carlo, John Ireland) – Classic Movie Review 9888

The 1968 Arizona Bushwhackers is a typical A C Lyles production employing a ripe bunch of old faithfuls in a routine but watchable 1950s-style B-movie Western.

The story by Steve Fisher (also screenplay) and Andrew Craddock is about captive rebel Lee Travis (Howard Keel), who is allowed a second opportunity with an Arizona lawman’s badge. He sees off chief bad guy Tom Rile (Scott Brady), who as usual of course has been selling guns to the Indians.

It is good to see Western icons Brian Donlevy (as Mayor Joe Smith), John Ireland (as Deputy Dan Shelby), Brady and Barton MacLane (as Sheriff Grover) saddling up one more time, even in these humble circumstances, as well as Yvonne De Carlo, James Craig, Roy Rogers Jr, Regis Parton [Reg Parton], Montie Montana and Eric L Cody.

James Cagney narrates.

Arizona Bushwhackers is shot back-to-back with Buckskin (1968), the last two Westerns produced by A C Lyles between 1963 and 1967. Arizona Bushwhackers was released in March 1968 (US) and Buckskin was released in May 1968 (US).

Arizona Bushwhackers is directed by Lesley Selander, runs 87 minutes, is made by A C Lyles Productions, is released by Paramount Pictures, is written by Steve Fisher, is shot in Technicolor by Lester Shorr, is produced by A C Lyles, and is scored by Jimmie Haskell.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9888

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