Stranger on Horseback (1955)

Joel McCrea plays a circuit court judge who rides into a town controlled by a land baron called Bannerman (John McIntire), whose son may have committed a murder. The judge presses the point with arresting and trying the son, and ends up trying to escort the son and witnesses to a nearby town for trial. During this time the Bannerman's niece, Amy Lee, falls for the judge—perhaps impressed by his ability to stand up the the uncle—which complicates things slightly.

Phil Hardy's encyclopedia of The Western rates this film very highly; I'm slightly less positive. That said it has some interesting ideas and characters (the sycophants who surround Bannerman are especially well done), doesn't drag (but it's only 66 mins), and a decent (non-superfluous) romance plot, so there's generally a lot to like. It just doesn't especially stand out to me.

The UK Odeon DVD (from the "Darn Good Westerns" collection) is not great, and obviously comes from a damaged and unrestored print (complete with original BBFC certificate at the start!). DVDBeaver's review of the American disk suggests it's probably the same and so the screenshots there are a pretty good indication of quality. There's some funny colours in places, and a slightly unconvincing "painted-on" town during some of the shots at the end. (The DVD also also looks somewhat interlaced—having taken a few pictures on my computer—but I didn't notice this on my TV)

Pictures