Tall Man Riding (1955) User Reviews

Return For Revenge!

[bsmith5552 · 6/10 · 1 December 2006]

The "Tall Man Riding" of the title is Randolph Scott in another of his series of "B" Plus (or "A" Minus, if you will) 80 minute westerns made during the 1950s.

In this entry Larry Madden (Scott) is riding to the town of Little River when he happens upon a man being attacked by three others. He takes the part of the pursued and kills one of the attackers. The man he has helped turns out to be Rex Willard (William Ching) the son in law of Tuck Ordway (Robert Barrat) a powerful rancher with whom Madden has some issues. It also seems that Madden had been romantically involved with Ordway's daughter Lorraine (Dorothy Malone) who is now married to Willard.

Riding into town Madden meets an old nemesis Seabo Pearlo (John Baragrey) the owner of a local saloon, and his "singer" Reva (Peggie Castle). Lawyer Luddington (John Dehner) is also there and we learn that Madden has hired him to find out if Ordway truly owns his ranch, Warbonnet. It turns out that he doesn't and the property falls into the public domain.

Meanwhile Pearlo frames Willard for the murder of the gunman and Lorraine comes to Madden for help. He reluctantly agrees to attend the inquest but is ambushed by Pearlo's gunman, The Peso Kid (Paul Richards). Reva nurses him back to health and he returns to town in search of the Kid. However he learns that the Kid is planning to kill Willard on his way to trial with Deputy Barclay (Mickey Simpson). Madden is unable to prevent the murder and returns to town to learn that Pearlo has designs on Ordway's ranch.

Not being interested in the ranch Madden decides that it's time to confront Ordway. The two agree to meet in a showdown in a darkened room where Madden learns that Ordway is almost blind. Madden returns to town to confront the Kid. Then there's the land rush for Ordway's property. Madden decides to join in and................................

The romance between the Scott and Malone characters is a little hard to be taken seriously as he was twice her age at the time. But there's plenty of action in the picture to compensate. Director Leslay Selander gives us a slam bang land rush, plenty of gun play and a knock down drag out fight between Scott and Simpson (and their stunt doubles).

All in all a very entertaining western.

Randolph Scott rides for vengeance ........

[revdrcac · 6/10 · 10 June 2006]

Randolph Scott starred in many fine westerns in his decades-long career. His strong, gentlemanly demeanor gave way to steely determination when confronting the villains who were unfortunate enough to face him . This film again finds Scott out for vengeance in what turned out to be a pretty decent shoot-em-up film.

Although Scott & John Dehner give their usual strong performances, the script ultimately lets them both down. It is full of clichéd western characters that hold few surprises for the seasoned viewer.

All of Randolph Scott's films are worth seeing, but this film from late in his career was not his best. An average film from a great actor.

Look fast for an appearance by character actor Dub Taylor !

Average Studio B-Western

[FightingWesterner · 6/10 · 25 August 2009]

In Tall Man Riding, an uncharacteristically belligerent Randolph Scott returns to his home to ruin and possibly kill the wealthy rancher who bull-whipped him and run him out of town years earlier, only to get in the middle of a deadly feud.

The first half of the film lacks action but it's saved by an interesting second half. Highlights include a rowdy fistfight in the Sheriff's office, another fight inside a stagecoach, and a blind gun battle inside a pitch black room.

Like all studio B-pictures, Tall Man Riding is fun, looks great and has good action sequences but doesn't have a very memorable script. However, Randolph Scott is much more macho and blustery than usual, making this a bit more unusual.

The tall S

[dbdumonteil · 24 March 2010]

Offbeat western;I have often the impression that all those past events are perhaps more interesting than what happens in the present time;it is one of these movies which would have needed some flashbacks .It's all the more necessary since many things happened,concerning not only the principal.

Three scenes are particularly good: Randolph Scott entering his enemy's house when we see a portrait on a wall,showing a still young man with a whip;then the older man,with a whip;The duel in the dark place;the final race which shows more violence in four minutes than in all the rest of the movie.Dorothy Malone is at ease in westerns ("Colorado Territory" ,"Warlock") although she could be Randolph Scott's daughter.

"...he's trying to play an honest hand with a crooked deck."

[classicsoncall · 7/10 · 22 April 2012]

Cool and tall in the saddle, Randolph Scott rides into the town of Little River after a five year absence seeking revenge on the man that got in the way of his plans and lifestyle when he took up with the rancher's daughter, Corinna Ordway (Dorothy Malone). With Malone's name in the credits, I was surprised to see that the stronger female lead here was offered up by Peggie Castle, who did a pretty good job of putting up with big shot Cibo Pearlo (John Baragrey) and his two bit gunslinger The Peso Kid (Paul Richards). As the film plays out, it looks like a coin toss as to which of the leading ladies would wind up with Larry Madden (Scott) by the end of the picture.

I always enjoy catching Scott in one of his many Westerns, but from today's vantage point, it's curious that he would have been paired romantically with much younger actresses in his films. Sure he was a bankable draw, but it doesn't look very believable today. Malone for example would have been about thirty when this picture was made, Castle twenty eight. They could have been Scott's daughters, who was around fifty seven at the time. Not saying it couldn't happen for real, but it's a bit of a stretch.

There was a scene that impressed me in this film that blew by rather quickly, but I thought I'd mention it. When Scott's character meets Corinna on the range, they get into something of an argument, and Malone brings her riding whip straight down across Scott's hat and face - he didn't even flinch! That seemed pretty remarkable to me, that Scott would see that coming and not instinctively back away. Must have been a tough enough guy in real life.

The picture has it's share of action sequences and the eventual obligatory showdown, two in fact, but I won't count the one against Tuck Ordway (Robert Barrat) because let's face it, the old guy was blind. Madden's square off against Peso was a bit awkward I have to admit, but the bad guy had it coming. Geez, he shot Reva (Castle) in the back!

What I'm curious about now as I've recently started watching the 'Lawman' TV series, is whether Peggie Castle ever sang in that show. She does a spirited dance hall number early in this film called 'A Big Night Tonight'. I'm just about at the end of the first season of 'Lawman' and she hasn't shown up yet portraying her character Lily Merrill, but when she does, I'll be interested to see if she shows her singing talent. She sounded pretty good to me here.

Warbonnet Requiem.

[hitchcockthelegend · 6/10 · 19 April 2014]

Tall Man Riding is directed by Lesley Selander and adapted to screenplay by Joseph Hoffman from the novel written by Norman A. Fox. It stars Randolph Scott, Dorothy Malone, Peggie Castle, William Ching, John Baragrey, Robert Barrat and John Dehner. Music is by Paul Sawtell and cinematography by Wilfred M. Cline.

Petty routine Oater that retains watchable factors due to Randolph Scott, location photography (in Warnercolor) and some straight backed action. Larry Madden (Scott) returns to the town of Little River seeking revenge on the land baron (Barratt) who publicly humiliated him with a whipping. Madden's crime was to date the man's daughter (Malone). Soon enough Madden is dealing with all sorts of problems, liars and cheats, murder, hired assassin, an ambush, prison escape, betrayal, corrupt law and of course affairs of the heart. All wrapped up in under 85 minutes.

There's some interesting characterisations about the place, but the screenplay doesn't have time to capitalise on the potential (eg: one key character is going blind but barely anything is made to add dramatic worth to this issue). Selander does a competent job of directing, but the over all feeling is that the makers were happy to settle for a "B" Western and just chock the play with formula staples guaranteed to please all the family looking for an unassuming afternoon at the theatre. Which on the face of it is enough for Western fans who know what they are getting with these 50s "B" level Oaters.

When you got Randy Scott in square jawed antagonist mode, Dottie Malone batting her eyelids, Peggie Castle showcasing beautiful thighs that could crush walnuts, and Wilfred Cline photographing the Calif Ranch locales, well it's impossible for genre fans to hate really. 6/10

A bit better than average for Randolph Scott.

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 24 October 2009]

After five years' absence, Randolph Scott returns to a town to get his revenge. It seems that the powerful Tucker Ordway (Robert Barrat) had whipped him within and inch of his life because Scott had the nerve to ask to marry Ordway's daughter. But before he can retaliate, he stumbles into the middle of a fight between one bully, Ordway, and another of the town's bullies, Cibo Pearlo (John Baragrey). So now Scott isn't sure which one to take on first or just let the other two kill each other! In this film, Scott plays a harder man than usual. In most of his westerns, he plays a good guy--one that is exceptionally nice and good. Here, though, he isn't quite so kind but a bit more menacing than usual. He wants revenge and all else seems unimportant...until he learns Ordway's dark secret.

In many ways, this is a rather typical western for Randolph Scott, even if he is hell-bent on revenge. There are the usual bosses vying for power and in the end you just know that Scott will do the right thing. A tad predictable in spots, but overall still a very good movie.

By the way, doesn't the Peso Kid look a lot like his head was dipped in plastic? Normally I wouldn't say anything, but wow did he look weird!! Plus, did you also notice that his accent kept changing throughout the film? Also, didn't they make Dorothy Malone's character a bit,...nasty?! This ISN'T the word I wanted to use, but IMDb has rules against using certain words.

andy rides again

[Gaslog · 6/10 · 12 January 2022]

Typical enjoyable Randolph Scott western I used to watch in theaters as a kid. Square jawed Randy always seems to wear nice clean clothes...straight out of the laundry. And he wanders all the countryside with a minimum of supplies tied behind his saddle. That aside, Scott was the likable hero in many popular westerns.

Taking Down The Local Ponderosa

[bkoganbing · 8/10 · 21 June 2010]

Some of the same plot elements in the far more expensive James Stewart western, The Far Country which came out the year before are to be found in this fine Randolph Scott B western Tall Man Riding. Like Stewart in his film, Randolph Scott is a tough and touchy guy you don't push too hard and like Stewart he has two leading ladies and you're not quite sure which one he'll end up with in the end.

Tall Man Riding is a range war western and Scott's the loner who's ridden back into town and into the middle of said war. On the one side is John Baragrey the owner of the local saloon and a man pushing homesteaders in on the local Ponderosa owner and Scott finds him repugnant on general principles. On the other side the local Ponderosa owner is Robert Barrat who was making his farewell big screen appearance. Scott was courting Dorothy Malone, Barrat's daughter and Barrat thought him not worthy. He ran Scott out of town after administering a public whipping to him. Malone's now married to William Ching.

The only friend Scott does make is saloon girl Peggie Castle who is the personal squeeze of Baragrey. She'd like to trade up if she can and finds Randy quite to her liking. She even saves him from a bushwhacking.

Tall Man Riding has enough hard riding and gunplay to suit western fans and it is also a harbinger of the westerns soon to be populating the small screen with more adult themes. There are two other roles of note in Tall Man Riding, John Dehner plays a sleazy lawyer and Paul Richards plays a gunfighter on the payroll of Baragrey.

In my description you will also notice some plot similarities to Destry Rides Again and the climax involves a land rush which while not as spectacular as the one in both versions of Cimarron is still exciting enough and done well enough with the small budget this B film had.

Tall Man Riding is a really good Randolph Scott western, one of the better ones he did in the Fifties.

Feisty Females Western Slang and Plenty of Action

[LeonLouisRicci · 7/10 · 12 April 2015]

This one Lacks the Edge of the Scott/Boetticher Films that were truly Special, but it is Above Average in the absolutely Abysmal Amount of Westerns that were made in the Fifties. Along with Randolph Scott there are Two Strong Female Leads (Dorothy Malone and Peggie Castle).

However the Villains are quite Dull Including the Peso Kid (Yep). Colorful Locations and a lot of Western Style Dialog help the standard Plot. Plenty of Gunplay with one Excellent Expressionistic Duel in an abandoned Ranch House.

Overall, Delivers the Goods for Fans of Western Movies and has Enough Differentness to set it Apart and Thankfully No Stupid Ballad intruding on the Opening.

A nuts and bolts western with the baddie even wearing the obligatory black hat

[JurorNumberThirteen · 3/10 · 12 September 2014]

This filim is from the' C' rated "wild west category not even reaching the lofty heights of 'B' western. It's the time when men were men and anyone who was'nt a white anglo saxon male knew it. A nuts and bolts western with the baddie even wearing the obligatory black hat. The very squared jaw hero is played by Randolph Scott with a grimace, some very run of the mill lines and very little else.

When I was growing up these kind of movies were very much Sunday afternoon TV fare. Scott was never one of my favourites lacking the humour in his roles that Wayne, Widmark and Stewart could provide. Age was also taking its toll in this movie, Scott looking too old and stiff in the action sequences compared to someone like the great Kirk Douglas . Dorothy Malone plays the weepy eyed love interest who just goes thru the motions, but the second female role is handled with confidence and strength by Peggie Castle making a lot of what she is given.

Solid Randolph Scott western

[Tweekums · 8/10 · 26 May 2012]

Scott plays Larry Madden, a man who left the town of Little River after being whipped by local landowner Tucker Ordway... now he wants revenge! He isn't the only one who wants to destroy Ordway; Cibo Pearlo, owner of the town's saloon wants him dead too. One might think that Madden and Pearlo would join forces but they dislike each other as much as they dislike Ordway! Madden wants to kill Ordway in a fair fight but as Ordway has a reputation as the fastest gun around he has a second plan so that even if he is dead he'll get his revenge... he sent a lawyer to Washington to ascertain the legality of Ordway's land claim and has discovered it is not legal. As with most westerns there are romantic possibilities; here the question is will Madden end up with Cibo's girl Rivo or Ordway's daughter Corinna, who he was involved with before.

This B-western is packed with action including several shootouts, brawls, the ambushing of a stagecoach and a spectacular scene where people rushed to claim Ordway's land. These scenes were all impressively filmed and looked believable despite nobody bleeding when shot! Scott did a fine job in the lead role and supporting actresses Dorothy Malone and Peggy Castle were suitably spirited as Corinna and Rivo. Being a story about revenge I thought I'd know how it would end early on but due to an interesting twist that cliché was avoided.

Randolph Scott may have been getting on a bit when he made many of his westerns but he still had it in him to look believable as a tough guy; in fact here it works to his advantage as he is out for revenge for something that happened five years previously... something that wouldn't have been believable if he'd been in his early twenties! It does however mean he is a bit too old to be involved with the films two romantic possibilities as he is old enough to be their fathers.

Overall this is a great little film; if you are a fan of the western genre it is well worth watching; I'm surprised it isn't better known.

Top notch Scott western

[coltras35 · 10/10 · 27 June 2021]

Larry Madden returns to Little River and finds himself in the middle of a land war. On one side is Tucker Ordway , owner of the Warbonnet Ranch and the father of Larry's former sweetheart; and on the other, gambler Cibo Pearlo , bent on taking over the ranch. Which side will Larry support?

Adapted from a Norman Fox - a prolific author who also penned Gunsmoke which turned into a 1953 western - novel, Tall Man Riding has an excellent narrative with the characters and their motives unwinding adeptly with Scott's character taking centre court as he seeks revenge against a rancher for whipping him and running him out. The edge comes from Scott's rather aggressive and bitter performance. The others characters such as the wormy main villain and Peggy Castle are well layered.

Gripping from start to finish, the action is exciting, plenty of shootouts, stagecoach chases, a gun duel in a dark room; the fist fight between the deputy and Scott is brilliantly staged as it drags out from the office to the street. It's one of the exciting western fights I have seen. The land rush at the end rounds up things nicely. The dialogue is sharp, too.

I liked the ending part of the reason I gave the rating that I did

[jordondave-28085 · 8/10 · 12 May 2023]

(1955) Tall Man Riding WESTERN

Based on the Norman A. Fox novel, starring Randolph Scott as Larry Madden coming back to a small western town to settle a score after he saving a life of a person he doesn't really like. Unlike the remade Westerns of "True Grit" and "3:10 To Yuma" at least this was a western movie that had never been done before even though they're hundreds and thousands of Western books these days instead of making something never shown on screen a Hollywood studio rather remake Westerns that are already good. The story touches on 'staking land claims', total corruption amongst sheriffs who are already bought, underhanded lawyers and misunderstandings regarding a relationship between the protagonist and the settlers. This movie in my opinion has a similar experience to a Randolph Scott/ Budd Boetticher movie not because it has a superficial ending.

Another Scott winner

[pmtelefon · 8/10 · 4 September 2023]

Randolph Scott has an another winner with "Tall Man Riding". It's a fast moving, exciting western. Scott delivers another solid performance. His supporting cast is also good. The movie also has some really terrific stunts, including a one for the books big time brawl. Randolph Scott made a lot of really good westerns and "Tall Man Riding" is one of his best. I've seen it quite a few times now and it always hits the spot. (IMDB has a six hundred character minimum so now I have to ramble on for a little white longer. So, how's your day going? Mine's going fine. Thanks for asking. Seventeen more characters to go...)

A Few Good Twists

[dougdoepke · 29 April 2013]

Not many westerns feature two girls in the feminine lead. Here it's Peggie Castle (Reva) and Dorothy Malone (Corinne), each playing a good girl. Now you know the manly Scott (Madden) will end up with one of the two but which one. It's a non-formula screenplay with a couple of interesting twists. Okay, Scott, heck-bent on revenge, is not exactly new, but the rest remains an interesting variation on land ownership, along with shifting alliances and an Oklahoma style land-rush.

Scott is his usual uncompromising self, showing again why his cowboy career endured into his sixties. (Here he's 57! but trim and agile as ever). Then too, Baragrey (Pearlo) makes a sleekly calculating rival and saloon owner. I just wish Warner's had hired a more imaginative director than the thoroughly pedestrian Selander; his list of "shoot-it fast and under-budget" Westerns looks to run to nearly 100 or so. Maybe that's why Paul Richards (Peso Kid) doesn't get to project his usual amount of quirky evil. There's one really eye-catching and acrobatic brawl. However the showdown shoot-out amounts to a flatly staged disappointment.

Anyhow, it's a good cast in one of Scott's entertaining mid-level westerns.

randolph scott always produces a good film

[sandcrab277 · 10/10 · 28 July 2019]

The only phony looking part of the film was the famous paul richards "pecos kid " draw ...it was really bad and herky jerky ... i expected better from the main sleezeball ... and the other two sleezballs, john baragrey and john dehner ... they got thier due in the end... and randy gets the girl