User reviews

"Colt 45" was one of series of fast paced little westerns that Randolph Scott turned out during the 1950s.

This one is centered around the introduction of the Colt 45 six shooter to the old west. Steve Farrell (Randolph Scott) is a Colt 45 salesman in the town of Red Rock pitching his wares to the local sheriff (Charles Evans). His prisoner, Jason Brett (Zachary Scott) escapes as he is being moved, steals Farrell's two colts and kills the sheriff. He implicates Farrell in the escape and the towns people arrest him for the murder of the sheriff.

Meanwhile Brett and his gang have embarked on a campaign of robbery and murder with the colts as the center piece of the crimes. After four months, Farrell is finally cleared and released by the new sheriff (Stanley Andrews). Farrell just happens to have a second set of Colt 45s and sets out to catch Brett.

Farrell comes upon a stagecoach holdup by Brett and his gang and boards the coach. Inside he finds Beth Donovan (Ruth Roman) the wife of the ambitious but spineless Paul Donovan (Lloyd Bridges) who is a member of Brett's gang. She is helping the gang in fear for her husband's life. Farrell with both guns a blazing foils the hold up attempt and takes the coach into the town of Bonanza.

Farrell meets the town sheriff Harris (Alan Hale Sr.) who appoints him as a deputy. Harris it turns out is in with the gang and goes to Brett to plot Farrell's downfall. At the persistent urging of Donovan (and amid the protests of Beth), Brett decides to take over the town. Brett cleverly fingers Farrell as the leader of the Colt 45 gang diverting suspicion from himself. Farrell manages to escape and Harris forms a posse to bring him in. With the help of Chief Walking Bear (Chief Thundercloud) Farrell plans his revenge on Brett. Meantime Brett takes over the town and................

Randolph Scott found a second career in these little 80 minute westerns appearing in them exclusively from about 1946 to the end of his career. As he aged some thought he began to resemble silent screen great William S. Hart and that the age lines added character to his face.

For Alan Hale Sr. the great character actor of the 30s and 40s, this was his second to last film. Zachary Scott plays the villain as a slightly mad ever dangerous cold blooded killer. Ruth Roman was a little young at the time to be taken seriously as a love interest for Randolph Scott. Lloyd Bridges is good as the cowardly Donovan. Chief Thundercloud (who's real name was Victor Daniels) is best remembered for playing "Tonto" in the Lone Ranger serials and "Geronimo" in the film of the same name. Also in the cast are Ian MacDonald as Miller and Hal Talliaferro as a stagecoach driver.

In the 1950s, Randolph Scott made a number of westerns at Warner Bros., ranging from the sublime (Andre De Toth's CARSON CITY) to the ridiculous (this one). COLT .45 (1950) has got a number of things wrong with it, including ludicrous plotting, but is at least fast-paced, well-cast and dotted with frequent bursts of violence and gunplay. The screenwriter seems to have bent over backwards to tie a standard lawman-vs.-stage robbers tale to the Colt .45 revolver which is apparently being introduced to the west at the time this film takes place. The plot has to do with an outlaw's theft of a pair of the title six-shooters and the robbery-and-killing spree that results. The owner of the guns, Steve Farrell (Randolph Scott), a salesman for the Colt company, takes off after the villain with a second pair of the six-guns. At various points during the action, Farrell is accused of complicity with Brett (Zachary Scott), the robber he's pursuing.

Zachary Scott makes a suitably snarling, mustachioed villain in a performance seemingly fueled by ample infusions of "fire water" consumed between set-ups. Ruth Roman makes a spunky and attractive heroine as the wife of a miner (Lloyd Bridges) who's in cahoots with Zachary. Alan Hale (Sr.) plays a corrupt sheriff also working with Zachary.

The most interesting thing about this western is the inclusion of a tribe of Indians who pop up at convenient moments to help hero Farrell. Given the pervasiveness of corrupt whites in Bonanza Creek, the backlot town where the film takes place, the Indians prove to be Farrell's only dependable allies. The chief is played by respected Indian actor Chief Thundercloud, who adds virtually the only note of historical authenticity to the entire film. At one point, one of the Indian women supplies heroine Roman with a very fashionable white buckskin jacket that she sports for the rest of the film.

The film is set during the James K. Polk administration immediately after the Mexican War, placing the action sometime in the 1840s. Given that photography was a brand-new (and quite time-consuming) technology back then, it's anachronistically amusing to see posters featuring a black-and-white head shot of Randolph Scott distributed to peace officers in the film.

Shot in color, COLT .45 is a relatively low-budget affair with shooting restricted to the Warner Bros. backlot and nearby studio ranches.

Yes its just a routine B western. But its above average and worth your viewing time.

The villain is a rotten creep as portrayed by Zachary Scott. Randolph Scott is of course stalwart and solid in the lead role. Lloyd Bridges provides solid support.

But I really like this film because Ruth Roman is not your typical pretty b-western actress here. She is tough, forceful, physical and believable as well as very beautiful. She really pops in Technicolor wearing that fringe buckskin. Absolutely gorgeous and she out-acts every male in the movie.

The immortal Stanley Andrews, the stentorian-voiced ultimate Sheriff of all Western movies and later TV's Death Valley Days, contributes his dignified screen presence.

This film is a triumph of great casting over what could otherwise be routine.

I have one major problem with this film. Set in the late 1840's or early 1850s, it highlights the introduction of the "Colt .45 revolver". Actually, the gun depicted in the film is a Colt's DRAGOON .44 cap & ball sixgun. I don't know why the title, "Colt .45" is stuck on this film, when "Colt .44" would have been just as sexy-sounding, and would have been historically accurate, as well. The introduction of a reliable, durable and accurate revolving pistol did really revolutionize things in the Old West, as depicted in the film but still, the name of the gun is wrong. I guess the film maker either didn't know or didn't care about the inaccuracy. All that being said, This is still a film worth watching. The reason is Randolph Scott, of course. I have been a huge fan since viewing "Ride the High Country" about 25 years ago. Over time I have seen most of his Westerns and while the films themselves vary in quality, the performance of Mr. Scott is almost always excellent. This is a lesser offering, granted, but the presence of Mr. Scott makes it worth the time. I'd rate it a 7.

Randolph Scott is a salesman for Colt Firearms traveling the west demonstrating his company's newest invention, the .45 revolver to law enforcement. At a police station a slimy weasel of a man makes off with his demonstration models and goes on a robbery and killing spree, aided by the superiority of the revolver to the average one shot pistols. Scott sets out to clear his name and retrieve his guns.

Like all studio backed B-pictures, this looks good and is technically well made with good action sequences but with a somewhat forgettable script.

However, this has some novelty as probably the only fifties western where all the lawmen are portrayed as crooked villains and/or stubborn dummies while the Indians are the good guys, saving the hero's bacon on more than one occasion!

I particularly enjoyed the lighting and Technicolor in this.

One good thing is the few scenes that Ruth Roman is in ( a great underestimated actor in my opinion; ) two the use of colour which is excellent down to every detail and three the debatable way guns dominate so much of the fiction and non-fiction of the history of America. As for the story the Colt.45 gun falls out of the ' good ' hands of Randolph Scott into the over the top acting hands of Zachary Scott. Native Americans quite rightly get tired of being shot at and at least in one scene Randolph Scott is nice enough to save one. Fast paced it is directed at full force and I must confess I am fascinated by the Western genre. This may have been an A feature in 1950 but it is not in the same league of Westerns like ' Shane, ' ' Tension at Table Rock ' or the almost unknown ' Fury at Showdown. ' And all made by Anthony Mann. But this is a film worth watching despite the far too many ' easy ' deaths by gunshot and the saddening normality of it.

The Colt.45 is what Randolph Scott is selling, the latest item in weaponry. While selling a pair to a sheriff who's ordered them, prisoner Zachary Scott breaks free and kills the sheriff and steals the weapons Randy was about to sell. After convincing the townsfolk that he wasn't in on the jailbreak and the killing of their sheriff, Randy takes his display models and goes after Zach.

This is an average B western from Warner Brothers and it really turns on the character that Zachary Scott is playing. Zach is a really loathsome punk, but a clever one who realizes that until these weapons come into widespread use, those that possess them can be king of the mountain. He also thinks fast on his feet and avoids capture and turns the tables on Randy on more than one occasion.

Colt.45 coming out at the time that Broken Arrow and Devil's Doorway were running benefited from those far better westerns in terms of influence. Part of Zach's scheme is to frame some innocent Indians for a stagecoach robbery that Randy foils. Because of that Randy makes friends with Chief Thundercloud and his whole tribe. Colt.45 takes its place in the history of the big screen western with a more sympathetic attitude towards Indians.

Scott's leading lady is Ruth Roman who is certainly pretty and capable, but her part is rather ill defined. She's the wife of one of Zach's henchmen Lloyd Bridges another real punk, but not as clever. She switches loyalties, but really doesn't help much.

In the cast in one of his last roles for Warner Brothers where he was a contract player for about 15 years and almost exclusively appeared in films for that studio is Alan Hale. He plays another sheriff, a corrupt one.

Colt.45 is a fast paced, but badly edited film, still fans of both Scotts, Randolph and Zachary should like it.

Just watched this on TV. Title should have been: "Colt .44"! Every pistol or revolver in the movie, and there were plenty, were ALL cap & ball and not a single cartridge handgun. A Colt .45 is a cartridge introduced in 1873 and used in Colt SAA revolvers, not a one was seen in this film. Please do a little of your own research in order to verify my claim. Thank you.

I'm amazed that it wasn't until the second page of these comments that someone pointed out that the title of this movie was just plain wrong. Did some studio people panic and think, "but what if nobody's ever heard of a Colt .44"? All the publicity posters, worldwide, showed Scott brandishing the much more familiar Colt .45 "Peacemaker". And none of this is mentioned in the "Goofs" for the movie, although it is pointed out that "Colt's first .45 caliber weapon was the Single-Action Army revolver, first made in 1871".

Hilarious really.

If you were a young boy in the 1950s, this one is for you. Lloyd Bridges, Zachary Scott and Ruth Roman all give lusty performances in traditional roles: The spineless, devious husband, the evil, sadistic outlaw and the ill-fated woman who tries desperately to stand by her man. Interesting to note that Ian McDonald plays a character named Miller in this movie, and was Frank Miller in High Noon. And on the the DVD I have it looks great, just as fresh and bright as it did 60 years ago. Just a few more reasons why I love this film.

Randolph Scott, as jut jawed and heroic as he's ever been, is gun salesman Steve Farrell. One day, in a prison, he's showing off his pride and joy, and sadly this will assist outlaw Jason Brett (Zachary Scott) in a jailbreak. Wrongfully locked up when it's assumed that he must have been an accomplice, Steve is soon released, and sets out to bring the bad guy down. Brett, of course, is having the time of his life utilizing Steves' prized Colt .45s.

This is an okay, routine Western. It does benefit from some good action scenes, and the cast makes the most of the situation. The very pretty Ruth Roman is engaging in an under written role as Beth Donovan, the wife of Paul Donovan (Lloyd Bridges), one of Bretts' cohorts. Randolph Scott doesn't have to stretch himself at all, but he's in good form, while Zachary Scott commands a great deal of the attention as the thoroughly nasty, overconfident villain who feels emboldened by his new weapons. Bridges is fine as the weaselly Paul, who's not as degenerate as Brett, but is absolutely no rose, either. Alan Hale provides a rock steady presence as the morally compromised Sheriff Harris (this, unfortunately, was one of his final roles, as he died later the same year). Ian MacDonald, who later gained his greatest fame as the gang leader Miller in "High Noon", is also playing a character named Miller here. And Indian actor Chief Thundercloud is able to play his proud character Walking Bear with some dignity.

Direction (by Edwin L. Marin), production design, cinematography, and music are all handled capably, making this decent entertainment for 74 minutes.

Six out of 10.

Colt .45 (AKA: Thundercloud) is directed by Edwin L. Marin and written by Thomas W. Blackburn. It stars Randolph Scott, Ruth Roman, Zachary Scott, Lloyd Bridges, Alan Hale Senior and Chief Thundercloud. Music is by William Lava and cinematography by Wilfred M. Cline.

"A gun like any other source of power, is a force for either good or evil, being neither in itself, but dependent upon those who possess it."

Another of the Warner Brothers Westerns to star Western legend Randolph Scott, this one sees Scott once again team up with Marin for another lively and colourful bout of yee-haw shenanigans. Scott is gun salesman Steve Farrell, who has his new Colt .45's stolen by outlaw Jason Brett (Z Scott). As Brett and his gang wreak havoc across the lands, Farrell sets out with angered urgency to end the rampage.

1950 was a big year for the Western genre, there was strong psychological releases such as Broken Arrow, Devil's Doorway, The Furies, The Gunfighter and Winchester '73. While John Ford was laying down one of his super Cavalry movies with Rio Grande. Colt .45 is a mile from the class of those, but as the box office success of it shows, there was then, and still is now, a great deal of enjoyment to be garnered from this type of Randy Scott Oater.

There's a unpretentiousness about the film, while the portrayal of the Indians here, who have a significant say in the story, is on the good side of good. Z Scott makes for a good villain without going over the top, Hale, who would pass away this same year, is good value as always and Roman looks the pretty part in a thankless role. Marin directs at a clip, instilling gusto to the plentiful action, and Cline brings the picturesque landscapes to colourful life.

There's of course some suspension of disbelief needed, while certain plot developments are daft, but once the dramatic twists align themselves with the frivolity, it rounds out as a good time for all the family; and of course those into gun porn! 7/10

This film was good, but there are some things that I question. First off, Scott was 24 years older than Ruth Roman, making him an unlikely suitor for her. Also, the Colt .45 was introduced in 1873, so the setting could not be earlier than that as some have suggested. I wonder why Scott was kept in the local jail for four months after he was suspected of being partners with Zachary Taylor in robberies. He should have been able to prove that he was a representative of the Colt Company with a telegram to the company. Failing that, he would have been tried and sent to prison if found guilty, not sitting in the local jail for months without a trial. Lloyd Bridges seemed to be a poor excuse for a husband with his treatment of Ruth Roman. I didn't understand that relationship. Other than that, I found the film enjoyable.

I'm a fan of Randolph Scott's westerns. They have a nice late night feel to them that always hits the spot. "Colt 45" is a pretty good one. It's fast moving with a short running time. It doesn't overstay its welcome. Scott was good as always. Ruth Roman was dreamy. Zachary Scott was a complete nut. The body count in "Colt 45" is off the charts. I wonder what Peckinpah would have done with this one.

Colt 45 is certainly a lite western for RS but nevertheless is worth a shot. What I found most interesting are how many familiar actors from later big movies make their lesser screen appearances here. Ruth Roman is the only female in the picture and has everybody's attention. She even manages to throw some dirt at and a knockout of RS. Probably the only time this has happened to Scott on screen. She is a few years ahead of Far Country with Jimmy Stewart. Walter Coy, Aaron Edwards in The Searchers, has an uncredited role here that you'd have to Search for. Lloyd Bridges predates his paranoid role in High Noon with a complete weasel of a character here. The catch of the day is Ian McDonald playing Miller here, a member of Zachary Scott's gang; later as Frank Miller in High Noon.

As for the flick, Scott looks clean shaven even after forty days of soft time in jail. Brother Zachary looks like a very light weight Clark Gable. The sexual symbolism is a little too obvious here but for young kids it was all surely missed. Just relieved that RS is clearly interested in Roman with Ruth more than his colts. This is one western where the Indians (unnnamed tribe) are the good guys. It's not The Tall T or Commanche Station but if you are a fan of RS, and I certainly am, you can't miss with a Colt 45.

Its a film to kill some time and it was of its time. Comical at times with its depiction of natives.