Escort West (1959)

Good story, Not enough for a whole film

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

Not much going on here. Made on the cheap by John Wayne's Batjac Productions. Veteran director Francis D Lyon moves the story along without much in the way of character development or a great deal of real western action. Black and white cinematography gives it the look of a television western episode. To it's credit,the film boast a very capable cast led by Victor Mature.Mature seems a bit out of place as a widowed former Confederate soldier taking his young daughter to the Oregon Territory to begin a new life. Leo Gordon,who gets credit as one the screen writers, is his usual intimidating self as one of the cavalry troopers who is up to no good. Ken Curtis, Harry Carey Jr,, Slim Pickens, and Noah Berry Jr are in the cast but are kind of wasted in nothing roles. Faith Domergue and Elaine Stewart portray sisters who are also heading to Oregon to start new lives and you just know one of them will wind up in Vics arms. Domergue is over the top as she hates Mature because her fiancé was killed in the Civil War by the Confederates Rex Ingram turns in a nice performance as the black cavalry quartermaster who is critically wounded in an attack by renegade Modoc Indians.Most of the action is off screen, so we get a lot of Mature and his daughter bonding and Domergue whining and griping.The outcome is fairly predictable. This isn't the worst Western ever made but considering the talent that was available and wasted it's pretty disappointing.Mature once said of his career" I'm no actor and I got 52 movies to prove it!"

"Escort West" takes place in Nevada, a few years after the Civil War has ended. Victor Mature plays Ben Lassiter, a widowed ex-Confederate soldier travelling West with his 10 year old daughter Abbey (Reba Waters). Deadly Indian warriors named the Modocs are on the prowl, and Ben realizes that they have caused death and destruction in a way station that he had very recently visited. He gathers together the survivors: the bitchy, grudge carrying Martha Drury (Faith Domergue) and her much nicer sister, Beth (Elaine Stewart), and amiable old sutler Nelson Walker (Rex Ingram). He promises to stay with them as they make their dangerous trek through hostile territory.There's nothing particularly distinguished about "Escort West", but it's still a solid and engaging movie of this type. An uncredited John Wayne was one of the producers. Director Francis D. Lyon creates some scenes of genuine suspense, and the action is likewise decently executed. This is all photographed in atmospheric, black & white widescreen by William H. Clothier. The antagonists are not exactly a faceless bunch, but they're a fairly scary group of men: relentless, unspeaking, unemotional, one-dimensional killers. The lovely music score is courtesy of composer Henry Vars.The cast is full of familiar faces and excellent right down the line. Mature is just the kind of hero you want in this sort of thing: kind, compassionate, but tough and dependable. Beautiful women Stewart and Domergue are effective, although some might find Domergues' character a bit tough to take. Noah Beery Jr., John Hubbard, Harry Carey Jr., Slim Pickens, William Ching, Ken Curtis, Claire Du Brey, and Syd Saylor co-star. Also in the supporting cast is the great screen heavy Leo Gordon, who co-wrote the screenplay with Fred Hartsook. Child actress Waters is appealing without becoming overly saccharine.This is a good, diverting story told in fairly trim fashion and running a very reasonable 77 minutes long.Seven out of 10.

This is a low budget Western that is a little corny, but highly watchable. Here are its good points:Excellent Civil War theme.Victor Mature is pretty good in the leadVery nice supporting cast with Slim Pickens, Harry Carey Jr., Leo Gordon and Ken Curtis.Story moves along nicely and holds interest. Only a couple of plot holes/inconsistenciesfilmed on location, although only in greater L.A. area, not "Nevada".Here's what dragged it downLittle girl is horribly corny and almost ruins movieFemale lead characters are weak and the actresses are lousy.Whole plot is on the thin side i.e. not that much really happens in this.Indians are not characterized.

An ex-Confederate captain heads west with his young daughter and is caught up in the skirmishes between soldiers and Indians. Victor Mature is the hero of the proceedings as he rescues two women, fights off Indian attacks and saves an army payroll from the hands of renegade soldiers. The two sisters are at odds over the resolution of the Civil War and snipe at each other through the picture. The film has very little pace and spotty action and an awkward romantic plot is thrown in for good measure. Faith Domergue, a B actress who never quite made it to the first rank, is Mature's love interest. Leo Gordon appears as a bad soldier and contributes his talents as a screenwriter for this film.