There's not much to recommend this Audie Murphy western except for the performance of Walter Matthau as a whiskey guzzling, shotgun toting Judge. There's little action and the female lead is totally miscast. Gia Scala, an Italian, plays a Cajun with little conviction. Her heavy European accent is all too evident.
Murphy plays Joe Maybe who is on the run from the law for an attempted bank hold-up. The marshal pursuing him accidently is killed and Murphy, taking the marshal's horse and badge, rides into Judge Kyle's (Walter Matthau) town. When confronted by the Judge, Maybe is forced to assume the identity of the dead marshal and become Judge Kyle's marshal.
Into the mix comes Teassa Milette (Gia Scala) a Cajun saloon girl who recognizes Maybe. He quickly silences her and introduces her to the Judge as his wife. Well the crafty old judge sets them up in a vacant house as man and wife. You can imagine the hilarity that this creates. Maybe plans to rob the local bank when the Texas herds arrive. Tessa has a deal with Sam Teeler (Henry Silva) to do likewise. Maybe convinces Teeler to await the arrival of the Texas herds. But some of Teeler's gang have other ideas and try to rob the bank as they had originally planned but fail.
Although Judge Kyle has taken a liking to Maybe, he is growing increasingly suspicious. Well, the cattle arrive, Maybe meets up with Teeler and......................................................................................
There are other casting questions here as well. Veteran western bad guys Leo Gordon and Mort Mills are given only "blink or you'll miss them" roles and are hardly seen. Morgan Woodward appears as Teeeler's rebellious gang member and Joanna Moore is Little Brandy who sets her sights on Murphy. I f you watch real carefully, you may spot Bob Steele being questioned by Matthau at the beginning of the picture. But it is Walter Matthau who was just emerging as a major star who steals the picture. I'd hate to imagine what the picture would be without him.
Murphy plays Joe Maybe who is on the run from the law for an attempted bank hold-up. The marshal pursuing him accidently is killed and Murphy, taking the marshal's horse and badge, rides into Judge Kyle's (Walter Matthau) town. When confronted by the Judge, Maybe is forced to assume the identity of the dead marshal and become Judge Kyle's marshal.
Into the mix comes Teassa Milette (Gia Scala) a Cajun saloon girl who recognizes Maybe. He quickly silences her and introduces her to the Judge as his wife. Well the crafty old judge sets them up in a vacant house as man and wife. You can imagine the hilarity that this creates. Maybe plans to rob the local bank when the Texas herds arrive. Tessa has a deal with Sam Teeler (Henry Silva) to do likewise. Maybe convinces Teeler to await the arrival of the Texas herds. But some of Teeler's gang have other ideas and try to rob the bank as they had originally planned but fail.
Although Judge Kyle has taken a liking to Maybe, he is growing increasingly suspicious. Well, the cattle arrive, Maybe meets up with Teeler and......................................................................................
There are other casting questions here as well. Veteran western bad guys Leo Gordon and Mort Mills are given only "blink or you'll miss them" roles and are hardly seen. Morgan Woodward appears as Teeeler's rebellious gang member and Joanna Moore is Little Brandy who sets her sights on Murphy. I f you watch real carefully, you may spot Bob Steele being questioned by Matthau at the beginning of the picture. But it is Walter Matthau who was just emerging as a major star who steals the picture. I'd hate to imagine what the picture would be without him.