edwagreen Barbara Stanwyck in still another gritty performance, with no nonsense at all. As a leading member of Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid's cattle rustling group, Stanwyck as always shows that she is up to the task.Realizing that the western area is changing with all the settlers coming in, she correctly predicts the end of the era and that the gang will be wiped out. Butch and Sundance certainly aren't glamorized here as they were with Paul Newman and Robert Redford's "Sundance Kid" in 1969.Despite her participation in this illegal enterprise, Stanwyck is looking for something better in the men she chooses and she finds that in Barry Sullivan, who has infiltrated the gang, a Pinkerton Detective man.A good film which is filmed with traditional lines-"We can't go back," and "I made my path."

MartinHafer Considering that "The Maverick Queen" was the first widescreen film from Republic Studios, you'd think it would be a prestige picture. Well, apart from sporting a once A-list actress Barbara Stanwyck (who looks pretty awful in color under such heavy makeup), it was far from a memorable movie.The film is about Butch Cassidy and the Hole in the Wall gang. It seems they are being aided, covertly, by a lady (Stanwyck) who runs a business called 'The Maverick Queen'. When a guy comes into town saying he wants to join the gang (Barry Sullivan) and that he's Jeff Younger (of the famous Younger gang), Stanwyck goes gaga for the guy and blindly pushed him into a role in their next robbery. At first the ruse seems to work--until the REAL Younger shows up--then it sure looks as if Nelson's days are numbered. Will his new sweetie just stand back and let the gang do him in or will his sheer manliness win her over to his side--getting her to give up EVERYTHING she's ever worked to create?! Well, in real life, the answer would clearly be NO--but this is a movie after all! As the film progressed, I kept feeling like I've seen this film before. The notion of a butch female gang leader falling for a lawman and betraying the gang is very old and very clichéd--and other actresses like Marlene Dietrich and Joan Crawford (among others) made similar flicks....VERY similar flicks. Additionally, in a scene when there is a showdown and Nelson's character attacks Sundance, not once does Sundance call out for help from his gang who is waiting outside!! Because of bad writing there is never any suspense in the film if you've seen many westerns--you know what MUST happen with each and every cliché--especially the ending. The bottom line is that although this movie looks nice with its location shoot and color widescreen print, the story itself is pure B-movie all the way. It's pretty indistinguishable from a Roy Rogers or Gene Autry film the studio made in previous years--films which cost a whole heck of a lot less to make and with much more modest pretensions. Passable entertainment but no more and perhaps my score of 5 is a bit generous.Please note: In the film, Sundance is killed. However, in real life he died in South America--thousands of miles from where the film is set! Historical accuracy....who needs it?!

bkoganbing In The Maverick Queen you will find the characters of Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid in support of Barbara Stanwyck. But Howard Petrie and Scott Brady aren't anything like Paul Newman and Robert Redford. You won't hear Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head. And Brady as Sundance is a sexual predator as well.The Maverick Queen was made in the last days of Republic Pictures which was the home of the B movie cowboy. Gene Autry and Roy Rogers and a bunch of others toiled there for a while. The last of them, Rex Allen, had just finished doing his series. The films that these guys did were now being made for television. Something like The Maverick Queen would never have been made at Republic ten years ago.This movie is about sex, it concentrates on Barbara Stanwyck who operates against her own interest because of her attraction for Barry Sullivan. She's tired of the Sundance Kid as a lover, in fact she urges him to take a bath before putting the moves on her again when we first meet her.As for Brady when it becomes obvious about her attraction to Sullivan, he tries to kill Stanwyck and later attempts to rape Mary Murphy. Rape was not something found in Republic westerns. The film is directed by Joseph Kane who directed a ton of films there with Autry, Rogers, and the rest of the cowboy stars. The Maverick Queen boasts some nice location photography and was the first of Republic's films to be filmed for the wide screen. It's based on a Zane Grey novel and I never would have dreamed that Grey would have written anything like that. Joni James also sings the title song over the credits and I liked her rendition of it.Unfortunately The Maverick Queen should have been done when the Code was finally done away with, a lot of plot holes might not have occurred. It also should have been in the hands of director not from the grind 'em out school of B westerns. It might have been a whole lot better.

chazz-7 Stanwyck's portrayal of the outlaw woman Kit Banion is an all-time classic. This role sets the standard for strong western women in the cinema. Stanwyck perfect for the role of the beautiful and strong-willed Kit Banion, leader of the Wild Bunch outlaw gang who can ride and shoot with the best of them. Stanwyck more than holds her own, matching wits and pistol shots with outlaws and lawmen alike. However, her lawless days are numbered when she falls in love with a Pinkerton agent (Barry Sullivan) who infiltrates the gang. Good supporting cast with familiar supporting actors. Visually pleasing with great western scenery, shot on location in southrn Colorado. Exciting action scenes liven up a sometimes plodding script. Well worth watching. A must see for fans of classic westerns.