Day of the Badman *** (1958, Fred MacMurray, Joan Weldon, John Ericson, Robert Middleton, Marie Windsor, Edgar Buchanan, Skip Homeier, Eduard Franz) – Classic Movie Review 8306

Director Harry Keller’s 1957 Day of the Bad Man is a short, sharp, taut and convincing Western with an ideal turn from Fred MacMurray as a judge who has to decide if he can condemn the convicted murderer Rudy Hayes (Christopher Dark) to hang when the man’s four tough brothers have threatened to kill him.

MacMurray is a stalwart, impassive hero as Judge Jim Scott and the suspensefully handled tale builds to a dramatic climax. Edgar Buchanan is effective as the buddy who helps Jim Scott (MacMurray), and Robert Middleton and Skip Homeier are good as the chief bad guys, Charlie Hayes and Howard Hayes.

Lawrence Roman’s screenplay comes from a tale by John M Cunningham.

Also in the essential cast are Joan Weldon as Jim Scott’s fiancee Myra Owens, John Ericson as Sheriff Barney Wiley, Marie Windsor as Cora Johnson, Eduard Franz, Peggy Converse, Ann Doran, Lee Van Cleef, Eddy Waller, Robert Foulk, Chris Alcaide and Don Haggerty as Deputy Floyd.

Day of the Bad Man is directed by Harry Keller, runs 81 minutes, is made and released by Universal International Pictures, is written by Lawrence Roman, based on a story by John M Cunningham, is shot in Eastmancolor by Irving Glassberg, is produced by Gordon Kay and is scored by Hans J Salter.

Universal used the story again for an episode of the TV show The Virginian called ‘The Judgement.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8306

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com