Rancho Notorious
Critics panned this one for good reason. The plot is replete with themes and turns that have turned their way around better themes and turns than this to rank cliche.
Cowboy Verne Haskell (Arthur Kennedy) is on the trail of his fiancé’s killers. He catches up with one near death at the hands of his partner. Dying the man leaves one clue “Chuck-a-Luck”, a game of chance you could find in more saloons than you could count.
Haskell’s pursuit is dogged, leading to a man who tells him Chuck-a-Luck is a ranch hideout run by a woman, Altar Keane (Dietrich). The informant turns out to be an outlaw who forces Haskell to kill him when he learns the reason for Haskell’s interest. Haskell is arrested for the killing but is released when the outlaw’s identity in learned. A deputy remembers Altar Keane as a saloon singer. Saloon owner Baldy Gunder (Fred Mertz, er William Frawley) connects Keane to outlaw gunman French Fairmont (Mel Ferrer).
Haskell finds Frenchie in jail. What does Haskell do? What everyone does in this situation, he gets himself jailed so he and Frenchie can breakout together. And where does Frenchie take Haskell? Rancho Chuck-a-Luck. There Altar hides bad guys willing to skim her ten percent of their take. Haskell’s problem, which one is the one he’s after? The one who gave Altar a broach he’d given to his fiancé. Next comes the love triangle between Frenchie, Altar, and Haskell.
Altar eventually reveals the outlaw who gave her the broach and resolves to give up her illicit racket, but before she can a gunfight breaks out with Frenchie and Haskell facing off against the rest of the outlaw residents. Haskell kills his man in the fight. Altar takes a bullet for Frenchie and dies. No happy ending, but Haskell gets his broach back. The end.
Next Week: The Battle at Apache Pass
Return to Facebook to comment.
Ride easy,
Paul
Cowboy Verne Haskell (Arthur Kennedy) is on the trail of his fiancé’s killers. He catches up with one near death at the hands of his partner. Dying the man leaves one clue “Chuck-a-Luck”, a game of chance you could find in more saloons than you could count.
Haskell’s pursuit is dogged, leading to a man who tells him Chuck-a-Luck is a ranch hideout run by a woman, Altar Keane (Dietrich). The informant turns out to be an outlaw who forces Haskell to kill him when he learns the reason for Haskell’s interest. Haskell is arrested for the killing but is released when the outlaw’s identity in learned. A deputy remembers Altar Keane as a saloon singer. Saloon owner Baldy Gunder (Fred Mertz, er William Frawley) connects Keane to outlaw gunman French Fairmont (Mel Ferrer).
Haskell finds Frenchie in jail. What does Haskell do? What everyone does in this situation, he gets himself jailed so he and Frenchie can breakout together. And where does Frenchie take Haskell? Rancho Chuck-a-Luck. There Altar hides bad guys willing to skim her ten percent of their take. Haskell’s problem, which one is the one he’s after? The one who gave Altar a broach he’d given to his fiancé. Next comes the love triangle between Frenchie, Altar, and Haskell.
Altar eventually reveals the outlaw who gave her the broach and resolves to give up her illicit racket, but before she can a gunfight breaks out with Frenchie and Haskell facing off against the rest of the outlaw residents. Haskell kills his man in the fight. Altar takes a bullet for Frenchie and dies. No happy ending, but Haskell gets his broach back. The end.
Next Week: The Battle at Apache Pass
Return to Facebook to comment.
Ride easy,
Paul
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