Don't mistake this for a great or even good movie for a second. It's full of clichés, unrealistic situations, fudged history, characters whose motives and emotions seem to change at the drop of a hat and the ability to travel great distances at light-speed. In short there's absolutely nothing to cement it to anything resembling the real West. What saves it is the fact that it doesn't aspire or even pretend to be a great or good movie. The actors appear to have a good time delivering their silly dialog and hamming it up for the camera. And there's lots of action. People running around, either on foot or on horseback, lots of fistfights, gunfights, chases, robberies, standoffs, etc. etc. etc. And let's not forget the glorious Technicolor. This is one of my favorite parts of the early Technicolor movies. The color wasn't really true to life but boy was it ever brilliant. Claire Trevor never looked better in her red dress, cut low with plenty of cleavage and shoulders exposed. Every one of her outfits was so brilliant it literary jumped off the screen. How such a gorgeous woman ever survived intact in the midst of a bunch of ruffians is a mystery to me but like I said this movie doesn't try to be realistic. So put aside logic and have fun when you watch this. Bear in mind that my low score reflects its artistic merits not its fun factor. Highly recommended.
Review of Best of the Badmen
