Ride Beyond Vengeance *** (1966, Chuck Connors, Michael Rennie, Kathryn Hays, Claude Akins, Bill Bixby, Joan Blondell, Gloria Grahame, Gary Merrill) – Classic Movie Review 11,708

Director Bernard McEveety’s robust 1966 Western film Ride Beyond Vengeance is based on the 1956 novel The Night of the Tiger by Al Dewlen, and stars Chuck Connors, Michael Rennie, Kathryn Hays, Claude Akins, Bill Bixby, Joan Blondell, Gloria Grahame, and Gary Merrill.

Connors stars as skin trader Jonas Trapp who seeks vengeance after he has been branded by drunken Elwood Coates (Akins) and sadist Johnsy Boy Hood (Bixby), who claim that he has rustled cattle.

McEveety’s dour Western, surprisingly violent for its day, is worth the ride for the ruggedness of the tale and for the admirable cast, especially the old-timers in support.

Chuck Connors in TV’s The Rifleman (1962).

Connors had just had a TV hit with the series Branded (1965–1966), though he is best known as Lucas McCain in the series The Rifleman (1958–63).

Also in the cast are Paul Fix, James MacArthur, Arthur O’Connell, Frank Gorshin, Ruth Warrick, Marissa Mathes, Harry Harvey Sr, William Bryant, Jaime Farr, Buddy Baer, Robert Q Lewis, Larry Domasin, and William Catching.

It is written and co-produced by Andrew J Fenady.

Glenn Yarbrough sings the title song.

It was released by Columbia Pictures in January 1966.

The budget was an estimated $650,000.

Producers Mark Goodson (1915-92) and Bill Todman (1916-79) are the famous TV panel and parlour game devisers of What’s My Line?, The Price Is Right, Beat the Clock and Call My Bluff.

 © Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,708

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

Joan Blondell in Topper Returns.