A-maz-ing

A Masterpiece!

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

It’s an especially fun movie from a director and cast who are clearly having a good time allowing themselves to let loose.

Though the story here is rather formulaic, there's some interesting stuff going on that managed to keep me involved with the picture. First off was that salted pie scenario in which the Southern sympathizing station master had to eat crow AND the pie once Captain John Hayes (Randolph Scott) got involved. That took some intestinal fortitude but I'm sure it was a lot better than getting roughed up by the hero. Chalk one up for the Captain.And say, I haven't seen this before - how good a shot would you have to be to shoot the holster off of somebody? Henchman Mace (Michael Pate) did it much to Hayes' surprise, so it at least tipped off the newly designated line boss of the Overland Stage Lines that he'd have some formidable opposition once things heated up. Running the show from his Palace Hotel, town boss Clay Putnam (Andrew Duggan) was somewhat different from your usual villain. He wanted to stop Union gold shipments from making it cross country to help fund the war effort, but he didn't want any bloodshed. Seems like a contradiction in terms, but it set up that unusual finale when he went after Mace.Ordinarily I wouldn't have picked up on this observation, but recently I've caught a fair share of horror flicks, and it seemed to me that the interior of the Putnam home could have come straight off the set of a Hammer Film production. There was all that furnished elegance and the bright red upholstery of the couch and chairs looked like they might have come off one of the Frankenstein or Dracula sets. I know, it sounds a little goofy, but that's the first thing that crossed my mind when Norma (Virginia Mayo) invited Hayes inside.Here's another thought, and I've seen this countless times in Westerns. I'm sure it's done for dramatic effect, but what would explain a horse drawn stagecoach from unhitching just as it's about to go over the side? Apart from saving wear and tear on your horses, it doesn't make sense that they wouldn't be pulled along in a stage wreck. I'm sure it has to do with the reason I mentioned, but it must have been some mess back in the day whenever it happened.Well going in the story line sounded awful familiar to me so I had to check if I'd seen it before. Turns out there's a 1940 film called "Virginia City" with the same basic idea, but in that one it's the Union Cavalry attempting to stop the Rebs from shipping gold from Virginia City, Nevada east to Richmond. The Union captain is played by Errol Flynn, and it turns out he's matching wits with a resourceful Confederate officer portrayed by... Randolph Scott. In a head to head contest, the earlier picture is the better of the two.One final thought. I never really noticed it before, but in this picture, depending on the scene, Andrew Duggan carries more than a passing resemblance to Kelsey Grammar.

There is a lot of experience in this 1959 Randolph Scott film. Scott is about 62 when this one was shot and it shows. He is still a good actor but the script makes him a romantic lead and that is a bit of a stretch here. Both the ladies are less than 40.Virginia Mayo at 39 is still quite fetching though she really has a small role. The younger Karen Steele, oh mama, looks like she has a body that will not quit. There are scenes with both women together and it is kind of like dueling blonde's on the screen in this Technicolor B feature. The plot is really far fetched. The Union needs gold shipped from the West Coast in order to continue financing weapons to fight the Confederates? The Union had all the factories so this makes little sense. It does give the actors something to fight about - Confederates stealing gold shipments, but I doubt in 1864 it could have been a factor to change the war.The color and the cast and the best looking women in many a Western gives this one some eye candy in case you have trouble with the rather predictable plot.

Westbound does not form part of the "Ranown "cycle of Westerns on which star Scott and director Boetticher collaborated in the 1950's and which included such stone classics as Comanche Station,The Tall T and Ride Lonesome .These were the work of the excellent screenwriter ,later director, Budd Kennedy while this has a workmanlike script from a pair of studio hacks The storyline is a little thin and this is the only major weak spot in a tense and crisp Western which takes the Civil War as its backdrop .Scott plays a Union cavalry officer assigned to re-establish a stage line that he once managed before the war ,the purpose being to ship gold from California to the Federal banks .He must overcome a Confederate agent ,in the form of Andrew Duggan and still he finds time to romance the feisty and gallant heroine played by Karen Steele Boetticher directs with style and aplomb ;there is a lively musical score and some limpid colour cinematography by J Peverell Mackay that adds real lustre to the look of the picture . Add some strong performances and you get an above average minor Western with a crisp running time and lots of lively action by way of diversion .It is a very neat little movie indeed and recommended to Western fans in particular

Greeting.I cannot recall exactly how many times I have watched the film, "Westbound." I saw it in the theaters with my dad in 1959, and on TV many, many times since then. I have always enjoyed Randolph Scott, and Virginia Mayo (from St. Louis)! I liked the story of gold shipments from Julesburg, Colorado to the Federal Treasury. Confederates are waylaying the gold, and Randolph Scott returns to Julesburg to fix the problem.Great story. Great story within a story of the one armed Federal veteran running a relay station. The color was good too. HOWEVER, what grabbed my attention, and still does, is the musical score! The music, especially the theme for traveling stagecoaches, is perfect, and very melodic!Music is for me one of the major elements in a film. It must all be taken in together. I want desperately to purchase a VHS or DVD of Westbound so I can view it sans commercials, with great enjoyability!!! One of my very favorite Westerns!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Terry Klasek