pruiett Another example of a movie made before 1960 that is creatively able to portray anger, violence, love, and romance without profanity, nudity, or crudity. The character Tod is virtuous as are the characters of Chill Wills and his family. The western vistas are captured well by the photographer Dennis Hopper, known in more modern times for non-western roles plays a spoiled and insecure youngest son of the antagonist a role similar to his in the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral.I always enjoy Chill Wills. He adds authenticity to any western. I have never seen him play a villain. This movie is no exception. He is a kind, upstanding, generous family man with a lovely daughter.Just all in all an enjoyable movie. Just wish it did not have to end with the typical "riding off into the sunset" scene. I would rather have the movie 15 minutes longer and develop the good guys after the villains are gone.

alexandre michel liberman (tmwest) It is very hard to define when somebody is a good person, and Tod Lohman (Don Murray) in this western is certainly one. He does not kill Tom Boyd (Dennis Hopper) when in the reverse situation Tom Boyd would have killed him and he also does not kill a horse which would incriminate him, but on the contrary, feeling sorry for the horse, takes him along. Three people who are strangers to him are willing to help him even though this would put them in trouble. At a certain moment R.G.Armstrong (Hunter Boyd) asks the priest: Why are people so willing to help this man who they hardly know? And the priest answers him that this is a matter of the heart. And this excellent western takes us on the journey of a man hunted because he unwillingly was responsible for the death of someone who wanted to kill him. His survival is against all odds, but then if it would be just odds, life would be very predictable… William K. Everson one of the great authorities in Westerns considers this film the best western from 1950 to 1962, between "Wagon Master" and "Ride the High Country". "But in "From Hell to Texas" he (Hathaway) seems to have combined the sentiment and austerity of Hart and the slickness and spectacle of Ford" (A Pictorial History of the Western Film, page 221). Great action scenes, great cinematography, great Henry Hathaway... great film.

j_eyon-2 crammed within the "chase" formula of this western are delightful surprises a pacifist cowboy hero who - nevertheless - is wickedly good with a rifle the chasers aren't villains - they are men whose actions are made understandable - if not condonable good lead actor - Don Murray - whose real life pacifism seems to find perfect expression in this film good supporting actors - Chill Wills - R G Armstrong - J C Flippen - Dennis Hopper - Margofine direction by Henry Hathaway - with shots that seemed to presage Hathaway's TRUE GRIT and most delightful of all - Diane Varsi - in my favorite film of hers

Wilbur-10 Despite the directorial reins of Hathaway, there is nothing on show here to lift 'From Hell to Texas' above the multitude of Western fodder released in the 1950's. Murray plays a young man who is on the run from the Boyd family who think that he murdered one of their brothers. On the way he runs into the kindly father-figure of Amos Bradley and his fiery daughter, Juanita, who take him under their wing.The main character of Tod Lohman isn't particularly interesting - he has a bible in his backpack so we know he's really a good kid - and he is developed along the lines of a Billy the Kid-type misunderstood youth who only needs a bit of parental care to become a model citizen. By midway the film has played all of its cards and can only manage a low pair, as the story wanders towards a conclusion which offers no surprises. A stagecoach chase (complete with jumping from horse to horse in true Yakima Canutt style) and an Indian attack are added in an attempt to add some spice to what the producers must have realised was a pretty dull affair. When even Dennis Hopper comes across as square you know you're not in for an edge of your seat ride. A film of interest to anyone studying Western themes and trends, but for the mainstream fan this is inoffensive but very forgettable.