Director R.G. Springsteen spent many years at Republic Pictures turning out efficient little B westerns, and his expertise is evident in this crisp, sharp little western. From around 1960 to about 1966 Universal churned out a stream of quickie westerns, most of them run-of-the-mill at best and low-grade junk at worst. This tight little oater, however, falls into neither category. A cast of western veterans like Emile Meyer, Ray Teal, Dick Foran and the great Dan Duryea, and a more than competent leading man in Tony Young, combine with a good story and Springsteen's firm hand to make this one of the best B westerns to come out of Universal in that period. Young plays Taggart, a man who gunned down the son of a powerful local rancher who led a gang that attacked his camp and murdered his parents. The dead son's dying father sends hired killers out to track down and kill Taggart. Fleeing through Apache territory, he comes to the aid of an old man and his daughter defending their gold mine against rampaging Indians. Young reminds you of Gary Cooper in his early years, although a bit more animated, and it's a shame his career never really went anywhere, as he's quite good in this (he also shot another western around this time, "He Rides Tall," and is equally as good in that one). Long-time cowboy actor Dick Foran plays the father, and the gorgeous Jean Hale--who years later married actor Dabney Coleman--is his daughter. The story is interesting, the scenery is pretty and Duryea is--as always--tremendous fun to watch. There's some sharp action, although a good chunk of it is obvious stock footage from other westerns, and things are resolved satisfactorily--though somewhat abruptly--at the end, something that didn't always happen in Universal's westerns of the period. All in all, a very watchable little B picture. You could do a lot worse than spending some time on this one.
12 Reviews
An cut above the average actioner...
bsmith555229 May 2001
"Taggart" was an enjoyable little western from "B-plus" department of Universal. It has the look and feel of an Audie Murphy western, however an excellent story and the crisp direction by R.G. Springsteen, make it a cut above the average.
Tony Young plays the title character, a man wrongly accused of murder. Dan Duryea in yet another of his "smiling cad" portrayals, plays the chief villain. The biggest and most pleasant surprise is the casting of screen veteran Dick Foran as the heroine's father. Foran turns in an excellent performance, a fitting epitaph to his long career.
The cast also includes Jean Hale as the heroine, Emil Meyer (Shane) as the town boss, Peter (son of Dan) Duryea and David Carradine as gunslingers and western favorites Ray Teal, Harry Carey Jr. and Bob Steele in other roles.
"Taggart" is a good western.
Tony Young plays the title character, a man wrongly accused of murder. Dan Duryea in yet another of his "smiling cad" portrayals, plays the chief villain. The biggest and most pleasant surprise is the casting of screen veteran Dick Foran as the heroine's father. Foran turns in an excellent performance, a fitting epitaph to his long career.
The cast also includes Jean Hale as the heroine, Emil Meyer (Shane) as the town boss, Peter (son of Dan) Duryea and David Carradine as gunslingers and western favorites Ray Teal, Harry Carey Jr. and Bob Steele in other roles.
"Taggart" is a good western.
Good cast in low-budget western
BrianDanaCamp1 June 2017
Tony Young stars in the title role of TAGGART (1964), a rancher's son who embarks on a mission of revenge after his parents are killed by the son of a town boss. After tracking down the culprit and killing him in front of his father, he is pursued for much of the film by a professional killer, Jay Jason (Dan Duryea), hired by the dying town boss and provided with a dubious warrant. The two men wind up in an abandoned Spanish mission occupied by Adam Stark (Dick Foran), an older man with a young Mexican wife, Consuelo (Elsa Cardenas), and a daughter from a previous marriage, Miriam (Jean Hale). The whole middle section of the film is essentially a five-character drama. The Stark family has a secret, one which compels hot-to-trot Consuelo to come on heavy, first to Taggart and then, after Taggart rebuffs her advances, to Jason, in the hopes that one of them will help her leave the mission with a cache of hidden wealth. An attack by rampaging Apaches complicates things. They all flee, but not all together, headed to a nearby fort for an action-packed finale.
The editors use lots of footage from other Universal color westerns, including one with a cattle drive and one with Indian attacks on a wagon train and a cavalry fort. Even the long shots, with the main characters riding against panoramic backdrops, seem to be taken from other movies, requiring the costumes in the new footage to match the previous footage. I wish I knew which westerns the footage came from. I've probably seen them, but I'd love to see them again. Also, the Spanish mission in which the Starks reside looks more like a hacienda to me. It's a bit of a stretch for the characters to call it a mission. Still, it's an enjoyable western which moves well and is enacted by a cast of players who know how to make this kind of thing work, all supervised by a director who's an old hand at this.
Dan Duryea plays his character as quite talkative and gregarious, rather unusual for such a greedy and cold-blooded character. He doesn't display much charm, so he never exactly fools anyone. It's a rather odd performance by the veteran heavy, but it keeps the confrontations between him and the more stoic Taggart quite lively. Both Duryea and Dick Foran had been under contract to Universal Pictures back in the 1940s. They'd previously co-starred in AL JENNINGS OF OKLAHOMA (1951), where they played brothers. David Carradine makes his debut here in a silent role as an ill-fated gunslinger. Elsa Cardenas is sexy and attractive in the femme fatale role. She only did a handful of films and TV episodes in Hollywood in the 1950s and '60s, but instead spent most of her long career in her native Mexico, starring in movies and TV novelas (soap operas) and evidently attaining a level of stardom she couldn't have gotten in Hollywood. (She's apparently still active in Mexican television.) Even so, I wish she'd spent more time in Hollywood. I would love to have seen her in more westerns.
Tony Young never managed to achieve much in the way of stardom and spent most of his career in TV guest spots and supporting roles in occasional feature films. He's quite good here, boasting a deep, soothing voice which could easily charm the ladies, a tall frame that suited him well for westerns, and a straightforward, confident manner. With his dark good looks and heavy-lidded eyes, he could have made a splash in Italian westerns like so many of his peers were doing in the 1960s and probably could have had a much bigger career as a result.
The editors use lots of footage from other Universal color westerns, including one with a cattle drive and one with Indian attacks on a wagon train and a cavalry fort. Even the long shots, with the main characters riding against panoramic backdrops, seem to be taken from other movies, requiring the costumes in the new footage to match the previous footage. I wish I knew which westerns the footage came from. I've probably seen them, but I'd love to see them again. Also, the Spanish mission in which the Starks reside looks more like a hacienda to me. It's a bit of a stretch for the characters to call it a mission. Still, it's an enjoyable western which moves well and is enacted by a cast of players who know how to make this kind of thing work, all supervised by a director who's an old hand at this.
Dan Duryea plays his character as quite talkative and gregarious, rather unusual for such a greedy and cold-blooded character. He doesn't display much charm, so he never exactly fools anyone. It's a rather odd performance by the veteran heavy, but it keeps the confrontations between him and the more stoic Taggart quite lively. Both Duryea and Dick Foran had been under contract to Universal Pictures back in the 1940s. They'd previously co-starred in AL JENNINGS OF OKLAHOMA (1951), where they played brothers. David Carradine makes his debut here in a silent role as an ill-fated gunslinger. Elsa Cardenas is sexy and attractive in the femme fatale role. She only did a handful of films and TV episodes in Hollywood in the 1950s and '60s, but instead spent most of her long career in her native Mexico, starring in movies and TV novelas (soap operas) and evidently attaining a level of stardom she couldn't have gotten in Hollywood. (She's apparently still active in Mexican television.) Even so, I wish she'd spent more time in Hollywood. I would love to have seen her in more westerns.
Tony Young never managed to achieve much in the way of stardom and spent most of his career in TV guest spots and supporting roles in occasional feature films. He's quite good here, boasting a deep, soothing voice which could easily charm the ladies, a tall frame that suited him well for westerns, and a straightforward, confident manner. With his dark good looks and heavy-lidded eyes, he could have made a splash in Italian westerns like so many of his peers were doing in the 1960s and probably could have had a much bigger career as a result.
Duryea Dominates
boblipton8 October 2021
Tony Young's family is killed and his cattle stampeded by Emile Meyer, Young gets him in a fair fight, but since he's the villain, he doesn't care about the niceties. He offers gabby gunslinger Dan Duryea a lot of money to kill Young, driving him into the desert and Apache attack.
Although Young is top-billed, it's Duryea who commands the audience's excellent attention. This late Shaky A western is well directed by R. G. Springsteen, with some great Technicolor camerawork by Wiliam Margulies. It's the penultimate film for former B heart throb Dick Foran, and the first for David Carradine.
Although Young is top-billed, it's Duryea who commands the audience's excellent attention. This late Shaky A western is well directed by R. G. Springsteen, with some great Technicolor camerawork by Wiliam Margulies. It's the penultimate film for former B heart throb Dick Foran, and the first for David Carradine.
Hero gets to meet four attractive women
Marlburian2 August 2022
This film started well and then got silly, as hero Taggart gets to meet four attractive well-coiffured women in a very short space of time, managing to keep clean-shaven when being pursued. Lifted from mediocrity by Dan Duryea (at his nastiest), several familiar support actors, and some good cinematography.
The abandoned mission looked in very good shape.
The abandoned mission looked in very good shape.
Lacks conviction!
JohnHowardReid16 April 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Copyright 13 March 1964 by Universal Pictures Company, Inc. New York opening on a double bill at the Palace and other theatres: 24 December 1964. U.S. release: 1 February 1965. U.K. release: 28 March 1965. 7,650 feet. 85 minutes.
SYNOPSIS: Lone survivor of a family massacre is pursued by three hired gunmen into Apache territory.
COMMENT: Making extensive use of action footage from some 3-D feature (Fort Ti?) for its Indians-attack-the-fort climax, Taggart is a reasonably actionful "B" western, with a strong if over-talkative villain (Dan Duryea), a commanding if too briefly observed heroine's dad (Dick Foran), and a quite pretty if late-entering female lead (Jean Hale). There are other interesting players as well, though I would exclude the somewhat surly Tony Young, who seems to have only the one expression and to deliver his lines in a similar monotone.
Springsteen's direction and other credits are competent enough. The editor has done a reasonable job splicing in the stock material of cattle rustling and fort storming which gives the movie the air of a fair-sized budget.
The story is developed somewhat along television lines with our hunted hero involved in three different encounters. The first is with a widow desperately trying to make a go at being a bar-girl -- an appealing portrait here by Claudia Barrett.
Fans will recognise Bob Steele in a fleeting part as the Taggart cook.
Aside from the stock footage, lots of dialogue, repetitious and/or fixed camera positions, Taggart has other "B"-picture stratagems including the novel idea of having the hero remonstrate (at length of course) with his dad for not hiring enough men! It's a pity that some of this ingenuity wasn't devoted to developing and motivating the character played by Elsa Cardenas. This lack of conviction undermines the impact of the climax considerably.
SYNOPSIS: Lone survivor of a family massacre is pursued by three hired gunmen into Apache territory.
COMMENT: Making extensive use of action footage from some 3-D feature (Fort Ti?) for its Indians-attack-the-fort climax, Taggart is a reasonably actionful "B" western, with a strong if over-talkative villain (Dan Duryea), a commanding if too briefly observed heroine's dad (Dick Foran), and a quite pretty if late-entering female lead (Jean Hale). There are other interesting players as well, though I would exclude the somewhat surly Tony Young, who seems to have only the one expression and to deliver his lines in a similar monotone.
Springsteen's direction and other credits are competent enough. The editor has done a reasonable job splicing in the stock material of cattle rustling and fort storming which gives the movie the air of a fair-sized budget.
The story is developed somewhat along television lines with our hunted hero involved in three different encounters. The first is with a widow desperately trying to make a go at being a bar-girl -- an appealing portrait here by Claudia Barrett.
Fans will recognise Bob Steele in a fleeting part as the Taggart cook.
Aside from the stock footage, lots of dialogue, repetitious and/or fixed camera positions, Taggart has other "B"-picture stratagems including the novel idea of having the hero remonstrate (at length of course) with his dad for not hiring enough men! It's a pity that some of this ingenuity wasn't devoted to developing and motivating the character played by Elsa Cardenas. This lack of conviction undermines the impact of the climax considerably.
Taggart
coltras351 May 2023
Kent Taggart's family, with their cattle stampeded, are killed by those who started it. In a fair gunfight, he kills the man's son responsible for it all and is on the run. Before the rancher dies he hires three bounty hunters headed by Dan Duryea to avenge him with the promise of $5000 as a reward. Taggart must flee into Apache territory to escape the wrath of the trio of hired killers.
Based on a Louis L'amour novel, this western moves at a steady clip, getting into one perilous situation to the next - it has the right modicum of action and drama. There's some decent performances from Dan Duryea as the hired gunslinger out to kill the hero Tony Young. Dan is at his usual manic self, oozing with reptilian glee and saying dry one liners. Dick Foran as a miner and Elsa Cardenas as his opportunistic wife also turn in decent performances. Yes there's some mismatched stock footage during the action sequences, but it isn't too bad. Overall a solid western with some fine twists.
Based on a Louis L'amour novel, this western moves at a steady clip, getting into one perilous situation to the next - it has the right modicum of action and drama. There's some decent performances from Dan Duryea as the hired gunslinger out to kill the hero Tony Young. Dan is at his usual manic self, oozing with reptilian glee and saying dry one liners. Dick Foran as a miner and Elsa Cardenas as his opportunistic wife also turn in decent performances. Yes there's some mismatched stock footage during the action sequences, but it isn't too bad. Overall a solid western with some fine twists.
Bottom Rung B movie
gtroup12 October 2020
This is a mediocre low budget movie. The acting is OK including Tony Young as the lead but personally I find Dan Duryea really annoying in this one. As mentioned in other reviews there are a few familiar actors from the era.
An abundance of stock footage takes away from the continuity and limits some of the action scenes. The plot starts out OK but then becomes somewhat weak and the ending rushed. It has a TV movie feel and definitely is a bottom rung B movie. OK to pass the time but that's all.
A Good and Bad Movie!
dlbweber@hotmail.com16 August 2022
Warning: Spoilers
The Taggarts' story about being new ranch owners "squatting" on Ben Blazer's land could have been better developed. Tony Young's handsome Taggart stumbles across the pretty Miriam, daughter of a gold miner at a nearby mission. Taggart & Miriam could have had more meaningful dialogue since the writer gave hints of love interests by each character. BOO! To movie's ending which leaves Taggart & Miriam staring at each other! 🤦
A TRUE 'B' Western
abroadwarrior5 June 2017
The original L'Amour novel -- good. (I've read it -- you should to.)
This screen play -- sketchy; the performance, story line not much better.
I'm amazed this saw the light of the projection booth -- even in the mid-60's.
Good character actors & D. Duryea turned in his patented wise-ass villain performance.
If you're storm-stayed somewhere, trapped in your iron lung or otherwise immobilized -- it's better than infomercials (just).
Otherwise, get a library card.
This screen play -- sketchy; the performance, story line not much better.
I'm amazed this saw the light of the projection booth -- even in the mid-60's.
Good character actors & D. Duryea turned in his patented wise-ass villain performance.
If you're storm-stayed somewhere, trapped in your iron lung or otherwise immobilized -- it's better than infomercials (just).
Otherwise, get a library card.
I've seen poverty row westerns better than this.
scocope-654-77116527 July 2021
Warning: Spoilers
If wooden acting deserved an award, Tony Young would likely win it with this "movie".
Duryea played his part well but he only shines when his part is not a one-dimensional killer like he had to portray here.
The sets were obviously from other productions and were not convincing with the half-hearted attempts to change them into what the script asked for. A "run-down" salon barely hanging on was sure in a nice clean shape as was a supposed "ruined" mission that looked like it was a really nice house with a few fake branches strewn about. The one in the pool (that had a blue painted bottom to look deeper when filled) did not hid an obviously modern looking fake pool. The stock footage barely matched the sets (occasionally) and the inserted cannon shot close-ups were horrendously fake as were the wigs on the Indians. I'm really happy the actors were able to keep their clothes clean and even looking pressed. Even the Indians looked as if the regularly laundered their clothes (which looked as if they bought then in the "fake Indian" section at the local department store).
Even the fight scenes seemed to have the actors sleepwalking and it seemed at points we saw the rehearsal because of the hesitancy as if the actors were waiting for direction or the other actor's move because they were still learning the choreographed moves of the scene The plaster fort was obviously fake because the plaster had seen better days in movies past and they did not bother to retouch the paint to cover up the white of the plaster that showed through everywhere.
I really believed Springsteen made better movies but this was terrible and disappointing.
Duryea played his part well but he only shines when his part is not a one-dimensional killer like he had to portray here.
The sets were obviously from other productions and were not convincing with the half-hearted attempts to change them into what the script asked for. A "run-down" salon barely hanging on was sure in a nice clean shape as was a supposed "ruined" mission that looked like it was a really nice house with a few fake branches strewn about. The one in the pool (that had a blue painted bottom to look deeper when filled) did not hid an obviously modern looking fake pool. The stock footage barely matched the sets (occasionally) and the inserted cannon shot close-ups were horrendously fake as were the wigs on the Indians. I'm really happy the actors were able to keep their clothes clean and even looking pressed. Even the Indians looked as if the regularly laundered their clothes (which looked as if they bought then in the "fake Indian" section at the local department store).
Even the fight scenes seemed to have the actors sleepwalking and it seemed at points we saw the rehearsal because of the hesitancy as if the actors were waiting for direction or the other actor's move because they were still learning the choreographed moves of the scene The plaster fort was obviously fake because the plaster had seen better days in movies past and they did not bother to retouch the paint to cover up the white of the plaster that showed through everywhere.
I really believed Springsteen made better movies but this was terrible and disappointing.
Ain't no dancing with wolves
koenvogel25 October 2021
One of those movies where you get the impression you would have been better off reading the (Louis L'Amour) book. Shoot a gun, the horse throws his rider. Crack shots from people firing a revolver. Often while riding a horse. I watched it because I was reading David Carradine's Endless Highway autobiography, and it's his first film. He looks sufficiently evil, so I did enjoy parts.
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