Hell's Crossroads (1957) User Reviews

Underrated Dramatic Western; Stephen McNally, a Fine Cast and More

[silverscreen888 · 7/10 · 12 October 2005]

This by my standards is a very good B/W 1957 western, with several action scenes, strong dramatic confrontations, very good characters and unusually-fine acting and directing. However, I believe it to be very important because it stands between the older filmmakers' depictions of real western badmen and lawmen and the later, freer and less-historical treatments (made as partly-fictionalized biographies). Also, its theme, the attempt by a man to seek redemption from earlier crimes, became a staple item in films and not only in westerns, largely on the basis I assert of two films--"Bend of the River", and "Hell's Crossroads". This western was written from John K. Butler's story with Butler and Barry Shippman providing the taut screenplay. Franklin Adreon directed with unusual skill with cinematography supplied by John L. Russell Jr., art direction by Frank Arrigo and set decorations by Mowbray Berkely and John McCarthy Jr. Alexis Davidoff was costume supervisor, and did a creditable job. The story concerns two peripheral members of the Jesse and Frank James and Younger brothers gang. As Vic Rodell, handsome Stephen McNally wants to go straight; Robert Vaughn as Bob Ford has ridden only once with the James' gang. Returning home at risk, they find Peggie Castle who is the elder Ford's daughter eager to see Vic, and her brother. But they are wanted. The elder Ford, played very strongly by Harry Shannon, once intervened to make sure Rodell did not marry Paula. Now she wants him again, and he refuses to consent. They agree to wed anyway, since Vic has a plan. Mssouri's legislature is getting ready to pass an Amnesty Act; he may have to serve a year or two, but she agrees to wait for him. While he was gone with Quantrill's raiders and James, having killed no one since the Civil War, she had married her father's choice, a dull bank clerk shot in a bank raid--by the gang. But what she resents is the time they've lost together; and she knows he is a good man. On the trail of the James gang comes a Pinkerton Man, ably played by Barton Maclane and the County Sheriff, Grant Withers. They nearly catch Vic and do capture Bob Ford. This means that before he can try to meet Paula in the capital, and try to make a deal with the Governor (played with verve by Frank Wilcox) he has to try to kill no one but still rescue Bob from a lynch mob, one permitted to act by the corrupt town marshal Morris Ankrum and led by bitter townsfolk anxious to hang a former rebel without a trial. He is begged by Paula's father to help, and he does--by recruiting the James gang. Then he heads for St, Joseph, and is trapped in a hotel room by the wily Pinkerton man; he overcomes him, by knocking him out, and escapes. Soon Paula talks to the Governor--and learns the Legislature has narrowly defeated the amnesty measure. He offers her a deal for Bob and Vic--if either brings in Jesse or Frank dead or alive, he can earn a pardon. She tells him Vic is a boyhood friend of Jesse's, that he will not do it. Vic confirms this later, and leaves her, planning to hide out for a year until the Legislature reconsiders the bill. Then Bob comes to the Governor and takes to the deal, warning him he will have to kill the dangerous Jesse to do the job; the Governor agrees. On his way to hiding, Vic says goodbye to Jesse, played strongly by Henry Brandon and angering his volatile brother Frank, portrayed by fine actor Douglas Kennedy. Vic disappears; and Bob Ford has to wait while the gang plans and executes a raid on Northfield, Minnesota, which stirs up hatreds and proves bad for the gang also. Jesse has been calling himself Mr. Howard; Bob goes to his house and kills him as he decorates a Christmas tree for his children's holiday with his wife (Jean Howell) in the next room--shooting him in the back. This brings Vic out. Paula swears she had no idea this was to happen; he accuses her of having killed him--because the James gang will now be after both Bob and him. They soon capture Vic. This sets up an exciting climax; Vic escapes and hides behind some rocks. The James gang surrounds him, firing to kill. Paula has gone to her father who is won over, and they come in a wagon to save Vic; but cowardly Bob hesitates, until he reconsiders and joins them. A very satisfying climax to the film follows. For an unpretentious feature with stock music, B/W scenery and a small budget, this is a well-scripted, moving and well-acted film. This is I assert one of Stephen McNally's best parts; he is dangerous, award level, darkly-attractive, and his acting along with Shannon's dominates every scene he is in. Young Robert Vaughn as Bob Ford is attractive but not particularly powerful; as Paula, Peggie Castle is lovely and intelligent. A very underrated western, a clever and seminal fictionalization of historical western characters.

Dreadful Movie and Bad History

[aimless-46 · 2/10 · 10 October 2007]

"That dirty little coward that shot Mr. Howard", the coward was Bob Ford and Mr. Howard was Jesse James. Ford murdered James, who was unarmed and straightening a picture when Ford shot him in the back. Ford had been promised amnesty (for another murder-he had never been involved with Jesse or the illegal activities of the James gang) and a $10,000 reward.

In "Hell's Crossroads" (1957), they recreate the event, although this time Jesse James is hanging decorations on his Christmas tree. I mention this because it is about the only time the movie approaches historical accuracy despite claiming to chronicle the exploits or Bob Ford (Robert Vaughn) and a friend named Vic Rodell (Stephen McNally).

What actually happened was that in 1882 Jesse James, living peacefully under the Mr. Howard name, recruited Bob Ford and his brother Charlie for one last robbery. Bob had never been involved with the James gang (which was long disbanded by that point) and the three men were living in the same house while planning the robbery.

Unfortunately the producers of "Hells Crossroads" decided the true story was not good enough. So they replaced brother Charlie with friend Vic, threw in a romance between Vic and Bob's sister Paula (Peggy Castle) and made the two men longtime members of the James Gang. The film's climax takes place a few days after Jesse is killed. It features Frank James (Douglas Kennedy) and Cole Younger (Myron Healey) coming after Bob and Vic to avenge the 1882 killing; and Cole Younger is killed in the poorly staged climatic gunfight. In fact Cole was in prison from 1872 until 1901; and died of natural causes in 1916 (outliving everyone associated with the real James gang).

The historical nonsense showcased in "Hell's Crossroads" is nicely matched with the film's poor direction and staggeringly bad acting. By 1957 Warner Brothers was cranking out several weekly westerns for television; most of which are now available on DVD. I challenge anyone to find a single episode of "Cheyenne", "Maverick", "Gunsmoke" or "Have Gun Will Travel" that is quite as lame as this film. Peggy Castle made a career out of appearing in these television westerns. What is sad is that the television casts she worked with were far stronger than the ensemble she must struggle with in this lame movie.

If Stephen McNally is the leading man you can safely assume that they are pulling from the absolute bottom of the casting barrel.

Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.

Hell's Crossroads

[CinemaSerf · 6/10 · 2 December 2023]

Frank Adreon has taken more than a little care to inject some character into the folks in this exciting little B-western. "Vic" (Stephen McNally) is on fine form as the prisoner offered parole on the condition that he captures - alive - the infamous train robber Jesse James (Henry Brandon) with whom he used to ride. Historians of the James gang and their activities may well dislike this now, as it begins to deviate rather from fact. "Vic" reunites with an old flame "Paula" (Peggy Castle), she is the sister of the Ford members of the gang - Bob (Robert Vaughn) and Clay (Harry Shannon) and whilst there are some elements true to the facts, including the slaying of James, the rest of the film is just an hybrid of stories used to created a "loosely based on" kind of adventure - and it is perfectly acceptable at that. It's got plenty of shoot-outs, fast-paced riding - even an attempted lynching, and Vaughn, Pinkerton man "O'Connell" (Barton MacLane) and Shannon work well with some decent photography to keep the pot boiling along nicely.

Superior

[Rifleman44 · 10/10 · 29 March 2006]

This is an excellent western. With the exception of unlimited rifle ammo fire, the movie was made in super black & white and is well shot and directed. I think that it is excellent in authenticity of equipment and props while the story line might be a little off. Certainly could be one to allow the kids to see without worry. MUCH better than most westerns. Mr. Man from Uncle plays the part of a coward who finds his courage and comes to the aid of his allies. The casting was extremely well done with each of the role players being a natural for their part. Look at the background props and see how well they were thought out. If I had a person from overseas come visit, I would show this movie as one which represents a good western movie.

An unusual point of view

[searchanddestroy-1 · 27 February 2023]

This is however not the first western speaking of the killing of Jesse James, remember Sam Fuller's I SHOT JESSE JAMES. And decades later, in 2007, you will have this movie THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD. This Republic pictures stuff is not that bad, thanks to Stephen mcNally, but I prefered the Fullers' picture, made eight years earlier. Samuel Fuller was also not Franklyn Adreon, you can't compare those two directors.... So HELL'S CROSSROADS is only a pretty agreeable time waster, not more. Robert Vaughn is also a good surprise, I did not expect to see him in such a film. But after all, why not?

Hell's Crossroads

[coltras35 · 6/10 · 23 March 2023]

When a heist goes wrong, Jesse James and his gang must scatter to elude the authorities. Outlaws Bob Ford (Robert Vaughn) and Vic Rodell ( the excellent Stephen McNally) are nabbed, but the governor offers them amnesty in exchange for their help in bringing Jesse and his brother Frank to justice.

The history, of course, is inaccurate, but I never expected westerns- or any other genre - to be accurate. Western genre is entertainment- and this film is entertaining enough, even though borders on the routine. An interesting story, a thoughtful script and a good of acting makes this b-western watchable.