The Tall T **** (1957, Randolph Scott, Richard Boone, Maureen O’Sullivan, Arthur Hunnicutt, Skip Homeier) – Classic Movie Review 5697

‘ Taut! Torrid! Tremendous! T Is for Terror!’ Director Budd Boetticher’s tense, punchy, excellent 1957 cult Western The Tall T has a satisfying load of fist-fighting action and a rousing finale as rancher Pat Brennan (Randolph Scott) fights twisted bandit Frank Usher (Richard Boone) to save abducted Doretta Mims (Maureen O’Sullivan).

The lively script by Burt Kennedy (who later turned director) is adapted from an original story by Elmore Leonard called The Captives. It is shot by Charles Lawton Jnr in lovely Technicolor. Boetticher keeps it taut and fast moving in a short running time of only 78 minutes, so he has our attention.

All three stars are on around their best form, with Boone as notable a villain as Scott is a hero. Also in the cast are Arthur Hunnicutt, Skip Homeier, John Hubbard, Henry Silva, Robert Burton as Tenvoorde, Robert Anderson, Fred Sugerman and Chris Olsen.

It was originally called The Captives, changed to The Tall Rider, then finally just before release to The Tall T, the name of Tenvoorde’s ranch at the start.

7 Men from Now (1956) launched Scott and Boetticher into a successful collaboration that totalled seven films, including The Tall T (1957), Decision at Sundown (1957), Buchanan Rides Alone (1958), Westbound (1959), Ride Lonesome (1959) and Comanche Station (1960).

Of her later films, it was The Tall T that Maureen O’Sullivan liked the best.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 5697

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