Tall in the Saddle *** (1944, John Wayne, Ella Raines, Ward Bond, George ‘Gabby’ Hayes, Audrey Long) – Classic Movie Review 5343

John Wayne is on fine form and so is Ella Raines in director Edwin L Marin’s bouncy, well-written and entertaining compact little 1944 Western with a straightforward thriller plot about a murdered ranch owner, the man who brought ranch hand Rocklin (Wayne) in as new foreman.

‘Boy, oh boy, has somebody come to town!’ croaks stage driver Dave (George ‘Gabby’ Hayes). That someone is a new ranch foreman, Rocklin (Wayne), a man’s man with tough attitudes (‘Touch that gun, and I’ll kill you!’) who finds his new boss dead. Wayne’s Rocklin starts off thinking little of the ladies, but changes his mind on meeting feisty ranch owner ‘Arly’ Harolday (Raines).

With the stars on fine form, there is top character work, too, from Hayes, Ward Bond as ‘Judge’ Robert Garvey, Audrey Long, Elisabeth Risdon, Russell Wade, Russell Simpson, Russell Hopton, Frank Puglia and Emory Parnell as Sheriff Jackson.

Michael Hogan and Paul J Fix’s screenplay is based on Gordon Ray Young’s story.

This RKO Radio Pictures film is shot at Agoura Ranch, California, in black and white by Robert de Grasse, produced by Robert Fellows, scored by Constantin Bakaleinikoff and Roy Webb, and set designed by Albert S D’Agostino and Ralph Berger.

Also in the cast are Donald Douglas, Paul Fix, Raymond Hatton, Harry Woods, Erville Alderson, Walter Baldwin, Hank Bell, Clem Bevans, Wheaton Chambers, George Chandler, Frank Darien, Frank Orth, William Desmond, Ben Johnson, Cy Kendall, Robert McKenzie, Sam McDaniel and Eddy Waller.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 5343

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