Brightlyme
i know i wasted 90 mins of my life.
Luecarou
What begins as a feel-good-human-interest story turns into a mystery, then a tragedy, and ultimately an outrage.
Myron Clemons
A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.
Tobias Burrows
It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.
JohnHowardReid
Recognized in its day as two or three cuts above your standard western entertainment, Riding Shotgun has lost little of its original appeal. True, the characters are one-dimensional – and Randolph Scott is no longer the hero he once seemed to be – but the story – obviously influenced by High Noon – gains tautness by its likewise insistence in observing the Greek unities of time, place and plot. It's also very capably acted by some familiar figures like Joe Sawyer and Fritz Feld and some not so familiar at the time like Charles Bronson (in a small role as the memorable Pinto). Both director Andre de Toth and photographer Bert Glennon make good use of tracking shots, overhead angles and tight compositions which reinforce the nervy small-town atmosphere. Music (David Buttolph) and art direction (Edward Carrere) also well serve the director's ends in creating a mood of high tension, power and suspense.
chipe
"Riding Shotgun" is a very entertaining western, were only they all so good. It boasts an unusual story and pacing: 80 percent of the movie takes place between a bloody stagecoach robbery in the beginning of the movie and a violent casino robbery at the conclusion of the movie. During this 80 percent middle period, Scott is alone in town trying to convince the elders to recall the sheriff and posse which have gone after the stage robbers, who Scott knows robbed the stage to draw the sheriff-posse out of town so they could more easily rob the casino. And the townsfolk think Scott is part of the gang of stage robbers and wants the sheriff-posse recalled to protect the gang. So what we have is this intriguing story, rugged handsome Scott, good color photography, some humor supplied mainly by deputy sheriff Wayne Morris and cantina-owner Fritz Feld, an interesting/wacky group of townsfolk (in varied dress,looks and demeanor ), beautiful Joan Weldon, and Scott's narration. Unfortunately the ending doesn't live up to the delicious intro, but the ride was most enjoyable. And nice fade-out.
Art La Cues
This well acted movie is better than many of the so-called "A" westerns of the period. It has humor, drama, good dialogue, and a good story. Unlike, "High Noon" to which it has been compared in a previous review, it is more believable and less melodramatic. Randolph Scott, as usual, is in peak form and Wayne Morris is very effective as the easy going deputy. He has always been a favorite of mine because of his pleasant personality and natural acting style.The action is fast paced even though most of it take place within the town. Joe Sawyer and the other veteran stars are convincing and the story line is original. This a film that I can watch repeatedly because it really entertaining. I only wish that today's writers, and directors could or would turn out movies of this caliber with actors who act and look like real frontiersmen.
Karl Ericsson
For no logic reason whatsoever, our hero Randolph is left alive and sloppily tied up, so that freeing himself is like a walk in the park. After this idiotic beginning the film shifts into "stupidity high-gear" as Scott tries to convince a whole town filled with idiots that their town is going to get robbed. John Baer from "We're no Angels", who looks like William Katt's father (maybe he was for all I know), somehow got a role in this mess and makes a mess of that role - a mess in the mess, so to speak. Why am I writing this review? I only have a messy answer on that question. Soon, very soon, this review will contain enough lines for being permitted...just about...now!