Albuquerque (1948)

Good movie but grossly overrated

Best movie ever!

Go in cold, and you're likely to emerge with your blood boiling. This has to be seen to be believed.

Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

Released in 1948, "Albuquerque" is a Western starring Randolph Scott as Cole Armin, who arrives in the New Mexican town to work for his wicked uncle's ore-hauling freight line. When he discovers overt corruption, he switches to another company with an eye on his partner's sister (Catherine Craig). Meanwhile his uncle hires a hottie spy (Barbara Britton) from out of town to destroy the competition.Reviewer msroz said it best in describing "Albuquerque" as an "okay and likable western, neither exceptional nor routine." The story is interesting, but loses momentum here and there; aspects of the film are better than the whole. One aspect that's great is the cast: Scott's amiable as the protagonist, George Cleveland is effective as the wannabe godfather of Albuquerque, Lon Chaney is formidable as one of the main heavies and the two women are gorgeous, especially Catherine Craig. She's both stunning and winsome. Another great element is the scenic Southwest locations, shot in Sedona, Arizona, and Iverson Ranch, California.As long as you can adapt to the old-style of fimmaking "Albuquerque is a worthwhile Western, but it's hampered by the negatives noted above.The film runs 90 minutes.GRADE: B-

"Cole Armin" (Randolph Scott) is a former Texas Ranger who decides to accept an offer from his uncle, "John Armin" (George Cleveland) to help him run a freight office in Albuquerque. What Cole doesn't know is that his uncle is exceedingly corrupt and practically runs the town like an evil tyrant. When he discovers that some new friends are being run out of business he quits working for his uncle and joins them in starting a rival freight company. Naturally, this represents a direct threat to John Armin's interests and he sets about trying to destroy his new rivals using whatever means are at his disposal. Filmed in 1948, this movie was probably well-received in theaters and at drive-ins during this time. And while it is certainly enjoyable enough today it definitely shows its age. Randolph Scott performs well enough I suppose as does George Hayes (as "Juke") and Catherine Craig ("Celia Wallace"). Likewise, both Barbara Britton ("Letty Tyler") and Catherine Craig added some nice scenery as well. All things considered, this was an entertaining movie which should satisfy those looking for a decent western to pass the time. Slightly above average.

"Dames" director Ray Enright's "Albuquerque" amounts to an average horse opera about the rivalry between two freighting firms in the rural New Mexico territory. Randolph Scott plays the straightforward hero with his usual clean-scrubbed countenance and apparel. As Cole Armin, Scott discovers legality is thicker than blood. You see, our hero's uncle has summoned him to take over his business. Scott discovers that his uncle is a sidewinder in a wheelchair. Cole quits his uncle cold and goes to work for the opposition after he returns the ten-thousand that his uncle's thieves steal from them. The opposition is a brother and sister named Ted and Cecilia Wallace. Nevertheless, the villainous uncle does everything that he can to sabotage his rival's business. The competition involves driving wagons filled with ore down a steep, winding road. Dependable Gabby Hayes handles the comic relief and works with Cole and the Wallaces. The use of matte shots to put the heroes on the side of a mountain looks pretty good for its day and age. They aren't many surprises but the action is fast and furious for a Scott dust raiser. Lon Chaney, Jr., makes a good villain and he dies while charging our hero with a six-gun. The opening scene with a runaway stagecoach is marvelously staged by Enright and the perils on the trail in the home stretch are sturdy. The production values are more than adequate. George Cleveland's wheelchair antagonist John Armin foreshadows the same kind of villain that Gabriele Ferzetti played in Sergio Leone's "Once Upon A Time in the West." Ironically but fittingly, the villain dies at his own hand. This western concludes with Hayes' girlfriend clipping his abundant whiskers.

At first I thought this was going to turn into another B western since it has a cast that includes Gabby Hayes, Russell Hayden and Lon Chaney in it, but then the plot quickens and it starts to get better as time goes on.Randolph Scott plays Cole Armin, a happy-go-lucky guy who decides to come to Albuquerque and work for his wheelchair-bound uncle, John Armin (George Cleveland) in his freight business, only to find out that his uncle has got the town under his thumb and is willing to resort to murder in order to keep it that way. Cole decides he doesn't want any part of his uncle's business and goes to work for honest-guy Ted Wallace (Hayden) and his sister Celia (Catherine Craig) who are the only freight competition in town against his uncle. They get a contract to transport ore for the miners down from the mountains, but Cole's uncle tries to sabotage it every step of the way, including bringing in beautiful Barbara Britton to spy on them and having Lon Chaney pick fights with Cole.But that's all for naught because Britton starts to fall in love with Hayden and she informs Cole as to what his evil uncle is up to. It all ends in a gun battle on the street and the bad guys get their just rewards, including John Armin.I'm glad the previous poster mentioned the cheap "Cinecolor" process that Paramount originally used because I was wondering why the film had a washed-out, 'colorized' look to it. It's even more apparent on the new Universal DVD that's recently come out.Still, it not bad. Even Gabby Hayes was bearable.6 out of 10