- Day of the Outlaw
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Day of the Outlaw 
Directed by Andre De Toth Produced by Philip Yordan
Sidney HarmonWritten by Philip Yordan Starring Robert Ryan
Burl Ives
Tina Louise
Alan MarshalMusic by Alexander Courage Cinematography Russell Harlan Editing by Robert Lawrence Distributed by United Artists Release date(s) July, 1959 (US) Running time 92 min. Country United States Language English Day of the Outlaw is a 1959 film starring Robert Ryan and Burl Ives. It was directed by André De Toth; this film being his last Western feature film. Parts of it were filmed on location in snowy Bend, Oregon.[1]
Contents
Plot
Blaise Starrett (Robert Ryan) is a ruthless cattleman at odds with homesteaders in a small, bleak western town called Bitters. Just as a feud between Starret and a local farmer is about to come to a bloody end, Jack Bruhn (Burl Ives), and his band of thugs ride into town. They are on the run from the law after robbing a bank. He is a wounded outlaw, a former cavalry officer but that doesn't stop him and his gang holding the town's civilians hostage. Starrett must now find a way to save his town, and redeem himself in the process. By helping the bad guys escape, or so they think, across the snow-covered mountains.
Cast
- Robert Ryan as Blaise Starrett
- Burl Ives as Jack Bruhn
- Tina Louise as Helen Crane
- Alan Marshal as Hal Crane
- Venetia Stevenson as Ernine, Vic's Daughter
- David Nelson as Gene, Bruhn's Gang
- Nehemiah Persoff as Dan, Starret's Foreman
- Jack Lambert as Tex (Bruhn's gang)
- Frank DeKova as Denver, Bruhn's Gang (as Frank deKova)
- Lance Fuller as Pace, Bruhn's Gang
- Elisha Cook Jr. as Larry Teter (town barber) (as Elisha Cook)
- Dabbs Greer as Doc Langer, Veterinarian
- Betsy Jones-Moreland as Mrs. Preston (as Betsey Jones-Moreland)
- Helen Westcott as Vivian
- Donald Elson as Vic, General Store Owner
Production notes
Russell Harlan's stark black & white cinematography captures the bleakness of the North American winter on location near Mt. Bachelor, Oregon. Hungarian director Andre De Toth’s also created several terrific scenes, especially the Saturday night "dance" (where the women desperately try to fight off the outlaws’ loutish advances) and the extended final sequence in the chase across the mountains.
Day of the Outlaw received poor reviews when it was released in 1959. However it is now considered to be an unusual western with a good story and fine acting with scenes that maximise the coldness of the temperatures on screen. Also featured in a supporting role is David Nelson, the other son of Ozzie and Harriet Nelson.
References
External links
- Day of the Outlaw at the Internet Movie Database
- Day of the Outlaw at AllRovi
- Day of the Outlaw at the TCM Movie Database
Categories:- English-language films
- 1959 films
- American films
- 1950s Western films
- Western film stubs
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