Western

A Lawless Street

- They were all running out at the same time ... his luck ... his bullets ... his woman !

A Marshal must face unpleasant facts about his past when he attempts to run a criminal gang out of town.

Release Date : 1955-11-15

Language :EnglishFrench

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Columbia PicturesScott-Brown Productions

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Marshal Calem Ware

Original Name : Randolph Scott

Gender : Male

Character Name : Tally Dickenson

Original Name : Angela Lansbury

Gender : Female

Character Name : Hamer Thorne

Original Name : Warner Anderson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cora Dean

Original Name : Jean Parker

Gender : Female

Character Name : Dr. Amos Wynn

Original Name : Wallace Ford

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cody Clark

Original Name : John Emery

Gender : Male

Character Name : Asaph Dean

Original Name : James Bell

Gender : Male

Character Name : Molly Higgins

Original Name : Ruth Donnelly

Gender : Female

Character Name : Harley Baskam

Original Name : Michael Pate

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dooley Brion

Original Name : Don Megowan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mrs. Dingo Brion

Original Name : Jeanette Nolan

Gender : Female

Character Name : Saloon Waiter (uncredited)

Original Name : Victor Adamson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mayor Kent (uncredited)

Original Name : Harry Antrim

Gender : Male

Character Name : Rancher (uncredited)

Original Name : Stanley Blystone

Gender : Male

Character Name : Townsman (uncredited)

Original Name : Rudy Bowman

Gender : Male

Character Name : Townsman (uncredited)

Original Name : George Bruggeman

Gender : Male

Character Name : Townsman (uncredited)

Original Name : Bob Burns

Gender : Male

Character Name : Juan Tobrez (uncredited)

Original Name : Don Carlos

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dean Ranch Hand (uncredited)

Original Name : John Cason

Gender : Male

Character Name : Gambler (uncredited)

Original Name : G. Pat Collins

Gender : Male

Character Name : Hotel Clerk (uncredited)

Original Name : Hal K. Dawson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Barfly (uncredited)

Original Name : George DeNormand

Gender : Male

Character Name : Townsman (uncredited)

Original Name : Richard Farnsworth

Gender : Male

Character Name : Townsman (uncredited)

Original Name : Franklyn Farnum

Gender : Male

Character Name : Abe Deland (uncredited)

Original Name : Frank Ferguson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Townsman (uncredited)

Original Name : Duke Fishman

Gender : Male

Character Name : Townsman (uncredited)

Original Name : Charles Fogel

Gender : Male

Character Name : Townsman (uncredited)

Original Name : Kay Garrett

Gender : Male

Character Name : Townsman (uncredited)

Original Name : Leonard P. Geer

Gender : Male

Character Name : Townsman (uncredited)

Original Name : Augie Gomez

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dingo Brion (uncredited)

Original Name : Frank Hagney

Gender : Male

Character Name : Spectator in Opera Box (uncredited)

Original Name : Sam Harris

Gender : Male

Character Name : Townsman (uncredited)

Original Name : Reed Howes

Gender : Male

Character Name : Townsman (uncredited)

Original Name : Jack Kenny

Gender : Male

Character Name : Barfly (uncredited)

Original Name : Ethan Laidlaw

Gender : Male

Character Name : Townsman (uncredited)

Original Name : Mike Lally

Gender : Male

Character Name : Townsman (uncredited)

Original Name : Jay Lawrence

Gender : Male

Character Name : Townsman (uncredited)

Original Name : Kermit Maynard

Gender : Male

Character Name : Townsman (uncredited)

Original Name : Philo McCullough

Gender : Male

Character Name : Fight Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Frank Mills

Gender : Male

Character Name : Townsman (uncredited)

Original Name : Frank O'Connor

Gender : Male

Character Name : Townsman (uncredited)

Original Name : Artie Ortego

Gender : Male

Character Name : Hiram Hayes (uncredited)

Original Name : Peter Ortiz

Gender : Male

Character Name : Townsman (uncredited)

Original Name : Jack Parker

Gender : Male

Character Name : Townsman (uncredited)

Original Name : Jack Perrin

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bartender (uncredited)

Original Name : Frank J. Scannell

Gender : Male

Character Name : Barfly (uncredited)

Original Name : Jerry Schumacher

Gender : Male

Character Name : Townsman (uncredited)

Original Name : Guy Teague

Gender : Male

Character Name : Townsman (uncredited)

Original Name : Jack Tornek

Gender : Male

Character Name : Tony Cabillo (uncredited)

Original Name : Harry Tyler

Gender : Male

Character Name : Townsman (uncredited)

Original Name : Wally West

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mr. Willis (uncredited)

Original Name : Charles Williams

Gender : Male

Reviews

talisencrw

@talisencrw

2021-06-23

Yes, I know my rating for this is a tad high, but I just love both Randolph's work in general and Angela Lansbury at this really sexy juncture of her career. They have a really good chemistry together, even though the age difference is a shade on the 'Love in the Afternoon' or 'Lolita' side and can be a bit unnerving. Though I've enjoyed other Joseph H. Lewis films, such as 'Invisible Ghost' and 'Gun Crazy', he still doesn't have the touch for Western material that Scott would later enjoy in his collaborations with Budd Boetticher. It's not as dramatic a difference as comparing apples and oranges, but it is noticeable. At least when it comes to Westerns (I haven't seen other types of films by Boetticher), the guy's definitely an auteur, on the level of, say, an Anthony Mann, Howard Hawks or even John Ford. Very enjoyable, and a work of distinguished quality, definitely worth owning and re-watching.

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

Funny how a man softens to another when once he's killed him. Marshal Calem Ware (Randolph Scott) is tired of Medicine Bend, tired of killing and tired of reprobates trying to kill him. He's also haunted by pain in his past. So when the past resurfaces and yet another scum-bag turns up to put out his light, Calem faces what he hopes will be the final day of reckoning. Brought to us by the Scott/Brown production company, A Lawless Street is directed by Joseph H. Lewis, adapted from a Brad Ward story (Marshal of Medicine Bend) by Kenneth Gamet and features cinematography from Ray Rennahan at French Ranch - Hidden Valley Road, Thousand Oaks in California. Joining Scott in the cast are Angela Lansbury, Warner Anderson, Jean Parker & Wallace Ford. This film came a year before Scott would do Seven Men From Now with Budd Boetticher, the start of which was a run of "adult" Westerns that showcased the best of both Scott and the Western of the 50s. So it's not unsurprising to find that "A Lawless Street" is some way short of the quality of the Boetticher/Scott movies. In fact, Scott may not just be in character for the film, he looks genuinely tired, which is in keeping with the very tired feel of it all. It has proved to be a pretty divisive film amongst Western purists, the routine story not helped by the fact it has been done to perfection before in other, more notable genre pieces. While the script also lacks vim and vigour and Scott is surrounded by very average actors. The ending fizzles out after the promise of so much more, and in fact it's ponderously drawn out. Yet the first half of the film saves it from being a stinker, Lewis' camera-work is fluid and fist fight fans are served up a treat. And we even get Lansbury flexing her tonsils for a delightful little ditty. So it's very much a film of two differing halves, one that sadly doesn't make for a satisfying whole. Much like Switzerland, I'm staying neutral with it, a 5/10 rating is given on proviso that it's noted that where Scott and Lewis are concerned, I'm unashamedly biased.