Red Sundown (1956)

A nice but fairly generic low-budget western from the 50s. Rory Calhoun plays a young gunfighter who swears to renounce violence to a dying acquaintance. However when he arrives in the next town the only suitable jobs are being a deputy sheriff or working for the local evil cattle baron.

A potentially interesting variation on the theme appears early, when the sheriff makes the point that it isn’t all the cattle baron’s doing and some of the smaller ranchers are involved in a little bit of rustling. Unfortunately this isn’t really followed up on later when the focus is more on stopping the cattle baron and his hired gunslinger.

Jack Arnold is a decent director (especially for fans of giant ants) and this is a well-made and enjoyable B-Western. However it isn’t hugely different from an number of other films from the period.