Whoever cast Barry Kelley (Lew Agry),Tol Avery (Judge Simon Agry),and Peter Whitney (Amos Agry) as brothers did a pretty good job - they all look like they could have been brothers! Whitney's character might possibly have been used for more comedic affect though, he looked a bit like Andy Devine but without the humor I was expecting. In their own way, each of these guys was a despicable character.

The one player though that seemed completely inappropriate to the story was Craig Stevens as the Judge's personal aide Abe Carbo. He looked like he should have had Randolph Scott's role as the hero of the piece. At sixty years old, Scott looked somewhat worn for the lead role and actor Stevens seemed to outclass him in both looks and demeanor. One thing's for sure, Scott's character Buchanan is about the luckiest gunslinger to appear in a Western. I lost count how many times the bad guys got the drop on him before the final showdown.

If you hang on through the inconsistencies, this is an OK Western but that's about as far as it goes. The burial of henchman Lafe (Don C. Harvey) in a tree was a pretty interesting element and Juan de la Vega's horse (Manuel Rojas) struck me as a dynamic looking animal. If he had the same agent as Trigger and Champion he might have had a longer film career.

Randolph Scott is heading to West Texas when he happens to pass through a horrible town. The place is mostly run by a single family and the sheriff is as corrupt as they come. Well, despite this, Scott tries to accept it all in good humor and put up with it--after all, he'll only be there one night. It's hard, though, as the son of the town's boss is a drunk who has vowed to kill Scott for no particular reason. Surprisingly, someone else ends up killing this angry drunk before Scott even has to worry about this. However, no matter how much he tries, the sheriff and his crooked friends are determined to rob Scott blind and kill him. So when the murder of the boss' son does occur, even though it's obvious that Scott wasn't involved, the sheriff is bent on hanging him. And, when Scott is acquitted, the sheriff robs him and "escorts" him out of town--to be killed. Scott miraculously survives and is determined to get back to this hellish town and make them pay (apparently he took the whole "rob him and kill him" thing personally).

While this is a very simple idea for a film, once again the combination of Budd Boetticher and Randolph Scott results in a film that is so much more than what you'd expect with the material they were given. It isn't that it's a bad script, it's very good, but due to the excellent direction and the great tough but decent character Scott once again plays, it transcends the genre. In a genre that usually included pointless Indian fights, two idiots shooting it out on main street and the other typical clichés, this one manages to be different...and a lot better.

By the way, one reviewer referred to this as a film filled with humor. I sure didn't see anything funny in this film and wonder if perhaps they are thinking about some other movie.

While the western genre is not my favourite one of all film genres (not sure which one is my favourite due to trying to appreciate them all the same),there is a lot of appreciation for it by me. There are a lot of very good to great films, with the best work of John Ford being notable examples.

One of seven films director Budd Boetticher made with lead actor Randolph Scott in the late 50s (a great pairing),'Buchanan Rides Alone' is a fun worthwhile film, very interesting too for being tonally different, that doesn't disgrace either of them, both in fact are fairly well served. It is far from one of their best collaborations, for me it is one of their weaker ones but only because 'Seven Men from Now' and 'The Tall T' particularly set a high standard. It is of good interest though and doesn't deserve to be overlooked.

'Buchanan Rides Alone' has flaws. It does at times get over-complicated and the ending is rushed and underplayed, perhaps ridiculous too.

The film does lack the depth of characterisation that Boetticher/Scott's best outings had, with the villains being rather one-dimensional.

However, Scott has fun and is very likeable here, of his films with Boetticher it's with 'Buchanan Rides Alone' that contains the most likeable main character. The supporting cast are not quite on the same level but do give above average performances if never quite standing out properly, with only Craig Stevens not quite fitting.

What is immediately noticeable and intriguing about 'Buchanan Rides Alone' is its tone. Instead of the tense and elegiac tones from their other films, this adopts a more cheerful and humorous edge, with a snappy, lean (with no ramble or fat to distract) and often very funny script and lively pacing where the film never gets dull. The story is compelling and entertains and intrigues, although for my tastes as said there is a little too much going on and clarity suffers.

Boetticher directs efficiently and the music fits very nicely, having presence but never getting over-bearing. 'Buchanan Rides Alone' is a great looking film, the photography in particular being beautiful to watch.

Summarising, a fun ride and worth a look. Boetticher and Scott did better though. 7/10 Bethany Cox