Born in a saloon, Joe Maybe is a fast-on-the-draw wannabe bank robber. After a failed robbery attempt, Joe is pursued by a marshal, who accidentally falls off a cliff in the pursuit. Intent on robbing the bank in the next town, Joe arrives riding the marshal's horse, and the town judge assumes from the tin star in the saddlebag that Joe is the deceased marshal. Thus begins a tale of deception and intrigue with a touch of romance in the entertaining western-drama "Ride a Crooked Trail."
War-hero Audie Murphy is too clean cut and well scrubbed to be a convincing outlaw; his amiable screen presence is even a bit naive and shy for romance. Even Joe's sins lie only in intent and not in deed; his shooting tends to wound, not kill. Thus, no surprise that Walter Matthau as the colorful Judge Kyle steals every scene; with a fondness for the bottle and a legal philosophy all his own, Matthau's Kyle takes a shine to the marshal's young impersonator and makes him the town's lawman. When a lovely young woman, played by Gia Scala, who has a history with Joe, arrives from New Orleans, Joe passes her off as his wife, and the plot thickens. Complicated by a young orphan with a dog, the woman's outlaw lover who has the town's bank as his next target, and the bank president's nosy wife, the good-natured film takes several turns and always remains engaging.
Beyond Matthau, the rest of the cast is adequate in undemanding roles. Jesse Hibbs, who directed Murphy in his autobiographical film "To Hell and Back," maintains a steady pace, avoids mawkishness with the orphan and dog, and provides a few decent action sequences. While no classic, "Ride a Crooked Trail" is a fun movie. Predictable and concerned with story over action, this western may appeal more to adults than children. Nevertheless, the film is good family entertainment with any hints of illegitimacy, prostitution, and adultery air brushed away as only 1950's movies could.
War-hero Audie Murphy is too clean cut and well scrubbed to be a convincing outlaw; his amiable screen presence is even a bit naive and shy for romance. Even Joe's sins lie only in intent and not in deed; his shooting tends to wound, not kill. Thus, no surprise that Walter Matthau as the colorful Judge Kyle steals every scene; with a fondness for the bottle and a legal philosophy all his own, Matthau's Kyle takes a shine to the marshal's young impersonator and makes him the town's lawman. When a lovely young woman, played by Gia Scala, who has a history with Joe, arrives from New Orleans, Joe passes her off as his wife, and the plot thickens. Complicated by a young orphan with a dog, the woman's outlaw lover who has the town's bank as his next target, and the bank president's nosy wife, the good-natured film takes several turns and always remains engaging.
Beyond Matthau, the rest of the cast is adequate in undemanding roles. Jesse Hibbs, who directed Murphy in his autobiographical film "To Hell and Back," maintains a steady pace, avoids mawkishness with the orphan and dog, and provides a few decent action sequences. While no classic, "Ride a Crooked Trail" is a fun movie. Predictable and concerned with story over action, this western may appeal more to adults than children. Nevertheless, the film is good family entertainment with any hints of illegitimacy, prostitution, and adultery air brushed away as only 1950's movies could.