This is another example of a fine 50's B western -- one which in many respects outranks a number of it's "big brother" cousins. The action begins with Larson (McMurray) escaping from a deputy transporting him to prison for a bank robbery. Larson's kid brother shows up unannounced in the midst of the action and gets fatally wounded in an exchange of gunfire with the deputy as they are escaping. They manage to stow away on a train, where we find out some of the history of these men and their motivations. Along the way the brother dies and Larson takes the alias of Kincaid while plotting how to evade the law, which is now seeking him for murder (of the deputy, which his brother shot). Kincaid ends up in a small town and in short order gets involved in various ways with the locals while needing to escape the roadblocks before the wanted poster with his picture arrives! On the surface, this is pretty standard fare for a western. It stands apart from the typical film of its genre, however, because of the thoughtful way the characters in the story are handled. One gets a sense of realism, not so much from the clothing or set designs, etc., but from the way the characters in the story respond to circumstances and each other. The people in this story are real, genuine, believable people -- unlike the stereotypical "invincible, tough as nails" western heroes that dominated the genre in this period, or the mysterious, aloof personas found in the spaghetti westerns that followed. For example, there is a barroom fight in the film with the clichéd "one man vs. the group of bad guys". However, instead of the whole group mobbing the protagonist and beating him to a pulp, they allow the fight to be one-on-one between the two who are truly in conflict, preserving their own dignity and that of the ones actually fighting. That is not to say that they have no involvement or investment, but what part they do play is sensible and believable.It is this interaction and sincere character development along with an engaging plot which makes this a movie that is not only a decent way to pass time, but a true pleasure to watch. Oh, and it has a fun early part by James Coburn and a thrilling climax, too. And if you watch this and enjoy it, I would also highly recommend another similarly forgotten B-western of this era: "Gun the Man Down" with James Arness. I give both this and the aforementioned title a solid 7.5. Easily recommended.

**SPOILERS** Interesting western about a hardener bank robber Jim Larsen, Fred MacMurray, who has a sudden change of life after a aborted escape that cost the deputy sheriff's, who was escorting him to prison, George Allison, Francis De Sales, life. This never would have happened, Allison's death, if it wasn't for Jim's kid brother Danny, Ron Hayes, who just happened to show up from out of nowhere with a couple of horses and cash to help his big brother escape. As if Jim really needed him to be there in the first place!Shot and seriously wounded during the shootout Danny becomes a drag in Jim's escape attempt and when he finally expires, from his gunshot wound, Jim in his trying to get the wounded man to a doctor had lost all chance of escaping. In that all the roads leading out of the territory had been sealed off by the posse thats tracking him down!Knowing that he's now stuck with nowhere to go Jim decides to take on a new identity and blend in with the local population, at the town of Tangle Blue, as the friendly and likable, something that people in that profession are not at all noted for, mine inspector Ray Kincaid. This sham on Jim's part does work for a while until he get's romantically involved with the town's newly installed lawman Sheriff Riley's, Lin McCarthy, widowed sister Ellen, Dorothy Green. It's then that Jim is forced to take sides in taking on this crazed and unpredictable, in just what outrageous act he's going to do next, landowner Reed Williams, Alan Baxter. The land that Williams claims he owns is in fact owned by the US Government yet still the land obsessed Williams threatens to shoot anyone-even Sheriff Riley-who as much as dares, by taking down the barbwire fence he has surrounding it, to enforce the law!Fred MacMurray is as good as ever as hunted fugitive Jim Larsen who realizes that the life of crime that he's been leading will only lead him into an early grave like it did his kid brother Danny. Jim also knows that sooner or later he'll have to pay for his crimes and that running away form them will only makes things even worse! Like committing a new slew of crimes, like in the killing of Deputy Sheriff Allison, in his trying to escape from the long arm of the law. ***SPOILERS*** It's when Jim decided to go straight in him preventing Sheriff Riley from being murdered by Williams and his band of murderous cut throats that in a way cleared the books on all the crimes he committed up until then. But only with the sheriff his sister Ellen and the grateful people of Tangle Blue not with those who ended up being victimized, in Jim's string of train and bank robberies, by him.

I must admit, I have never before liked any movie that starred Fred McMurrey. This is a first.The action moves slowly here, as much of the tension has to do with how the characters think and interact. However, that's exactly what makes it special. Even the female lead has important lines, which is exceedingly rare in this genre. McMurray's character is one you would expect Gary Cooper to have played, and he pulls it off surprisingly well.While not a classic, this is an extremely well-made Western, and I highly recommend it.

I enjoyed this film for the fact that Fred MacMurray was the star and also because James Coburn played a minor role. The latter was noticeable even though he had only a few lines to speak. It was interesting to see him at the beginning of his career flash that big toothy grin of his. Fred was a bit staid for his role as a bank robber and with his honest looks not quite believable as the criminal type. He didn't seem to fool any of the supporting cast either. Perhaps that's why he changed direction in his career somewhat after this film. Still for a low budget western it's worth watching.