Ride Lonesome (1959)

Another excellent Western in the “Ranown” series. Here Randolph Scott plays a bounty hunter who is bringing in a young outlaw. He is finds himself unwillingly accompanied by a pair of “semi-outlaws” (Pernell Roberts and James Coburn) who also have an interest in the bounty, as well as a recent widow (Karen Steele) whose husband ran the stagecoach way station. The group are pursued by the brother of the bounty (Lee Van Cleef).

Clearly a lot of the plot themes are familiar with the other entries in the series, especially Comanche Station, which also feature a group of outlaws attempting to take over Scott’s bounty. In some ways this is one of the most optimistic of the series: the Roberts and Coburn are only looking to take the bounty being doing so gets them an amnesty and the chance of starting their life afresh. Unlike the similar characters from other films they aren’t inherently evil and are acting mainly out of desperation and a lack of any other way to reform. Despite this optimism Scott’s character doesn’t really get a happy ending – he achieves his aims but it doesn’t seem like this is really going to let him move on.

Unsurprisingly, an excellent film. The blu-ray version as a part of the collection with the others in the series looks excellent too.