MartinHafer The film begins with Mike Ryan (Joel McCrea) heading to a town by stage. They end up being robbed and when one of the robbers loses his mask, his partner blows him away...as he's a man who wants no one to know his identity. That's because in town he's a respectable guy...which is why the sheriff is having a hard time figuring out who's been robbing the stage coaches. Now that Mike's in town to help, perhaps they'll finally have some action.I had to laugh when folks in the movie kept complaining how old the sheriff was and how they needed a young guy...like 52 year-old McCrea (who actually looks a bit older). Still, he was fine in westerns and this one won't disappoint...nor will it particularly impress because so much of the story seems ordinary and familiar.

alexandre michel liberman (tmwest) There are two reasons why this western is above average: first the black and white cinematography of Ernest Laszlo. "Stalag 17", "Inherit the Wind"(where he got an Oscar), "Judgement at Nuremberg" are among his films. Second, the presence of Mark Stevens, as Velvet, a charismatic outlaw who manages to make his talent for playing the piano, the reason for all his crimes. Joel McCrea is good as always and the two women (one falls for McCrea and the other for Steven) add interest to the film, not counting the excellent Farm Girl who also falls for Stevens. In my childhood I used to love westerns where the outlaws used scarves as masks. Seeing this film makes me feel a child again, and enjoy every minute.

stripes-7 Francis Lyon always chose to have one (usually short and out of context) spot in his films that displayed some sort of tenderness, some sort of heart, in a figure that seemed to have neither. In this film, the guy in the black hat (Mark Stevens) happens up on an old abandoned shed in the middle of the desert. He goes in to find that there is nothing of use, but spies an old upright piano. It's long been neglected and is covered in dust. He blows the dust off and sits down to this abused keyboard. Suddenly, he is playing a very beautiful little piece that belies his present roughness and coldness and lets the audience know that it was not always this way with him.That he came from somewhere better, in another place, another time. David Raksin wrote this music. Its very quiet, simple and goes straight to the heart. It's been exactly fifty years since I have heard it last, but I remember every note as if it had been only yesterday.Perhaps one day it will appear again, but for now, I must depend on my memory if ever to hear those quaint chords again.

revdrcac In this western starring Joel McRea, the star goes undercover along the Arizona border to investigate several nasty border ruffians. Mark Stevens co-stars and as always turns in a fine performance. The script is good and holds the viewers interest throughout.Joel McRea was at his best in this western detective yarn..... a story not unlike those from his radio series Tales of the Texas Rangers . A great cast of western character actors make the most of an interesting story.Any western with this cast would be exciting and this film does not disappoint. Enjoy this one, they don't make 'em like this anymore ...