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The Desperados Are in Town
In this western, a young man tries to walk the straight and narrow, but he is impeded by his past. The trouble begins when the young fellow flees his family's Texas dirt farm and becomes an outlaw. He is advised by one of the desperadoes to return home. The boy does, and with hard work, makes the farm successful. Harvest time rolls around. He is just about to celebrate when the outlaws ride up and force him to help them pull a local bank job. He refuses and kills the gang leader and his brother. Meanwhile, the boy's past is revealed to the town banker. Seeing that he truly has gone straight, the banker forgives him. The boy marries and lives with his lovely bride upon his land.
Insights
Plot Summary
A former outlaw, living a quiet life under an assumed name, is forced to confront his past when his old gang targets him for a crime he didn't commit. He must prove his innocence and protect his new life, even if it means returning to the dangerous world he left behind. The film follows his struggle to evade the law and his former associates.
Critical Reception
Critically, 'The Desperados Are in Town' received a mixed but generally favorable reception, particularly for Randolph Scott's performance in his later career. It was seen as a solid, if not groundbreaking, entry in the Western genre, appreciated for its straightforward narrative and Scott's signature stoic portrayal.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for Randolph Scott's reliable performance as a stoic hero.
The plot is a familiar but competently executed Western trope.
Solid direction and pacing for a mid-50s Western.
Google audience: Audience reception information for this film is not readily available through common aggregators.
Fun Fact
Randolph Scott made this film as part of a multi-picture deal with Columbia Pictures after leaving Warner Bros., marking a significant phase in his prolific Western career.
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