From Hell to Texas (1958)

Did you people see the same film I saw?

This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

Blistering performances.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

It was a memorable film that i first saw on 'Saturday Night At the Movies" when I was 12 years old, (six years after it was released in 1958). Being raised on a diet of TV and movie westerns, 'From Hell to Texas' stood out from all of them; I identified with the lead and had a crush on Diane Varsi that lasted for years.I saw this feature only one more time when I was 21, just before shipping out to Nam. This time I identified with the scope of the film and the depth of the characters. Chill Will gave a memorable performance definitely a cut above his typical side-kick comic relief roll, and I thought it interesting for a father to actually help his daughter's suitor in such a unstinting fashion. Opposite Wills was R.G. Armstrong and his son Dennis Hopper, though the heavies one could not really hate them. It was through these characters that it was easy to understand that it is not the person who is evil it is the deed. This film has always been in the back of my head and deep in my heart, for it stood out as having both action and a message. I hope it will be transferred to DVD soon. On memory alone I give it an '8'out of 10.

The stars, Murray & Varsi, are good if a little bland. The old-timers, Wills & Armstrong, steal the show & give the movie some extra flavor. Hopper plays the role of "the youngest son" with the usual angst we have come to expect from him. Nice scenery, simple plot, well-directed. Overall, an enjoyable adult western with lots of shooting. I rate it 8/10.

Despite the directorial reins of Hathaway, there is nothing on show here to lift 'From Hell to Texas' above the multitude of Western fodder released in the 1950's. Murray plays a young man who is on the run from the Boyd family who think that he murdered one of their brothers. On the way he runs into the kindly father-figure of Amos Bradley and his fiery daughter, Juanita, who take him under their wing.The main character of Tod Lohman isn't particularly interesting - he has a bible in his backpack so we know he's really a good kid - and he is developed along the lines of a Billy the Kid-type misunderstood youth who only needs a bit of parental care to become a model citizen. By midway the film has played all of its cards and can only manage a low pair, as the story wanders towards a conclusion which offers no surprises. A stagecoach chase (complete with jumping from horse to horse in true Yakima Canutt style) and an Indian attack are added in an attempt to add some spice to what the producers must have realised was a pretty dull affair. When even Dennis Hopper comes across as square you know you're not in for an edge of your seat ride. A film of interest to anyone studying Western themes and trends, but for the mainstream fan this is inoffensive but very forgettable.

The story deals with the pursuit of a young man by a family of Cattlemen in the Southwest. There's plenty of action and the story moves along at a quick pace, however it cannot compare to the novel(The Hell Bent Kid)by Charles O. Locke. For some reason Hollywood always seems to shoot for the happy ending, whereas the conclusion in the book was gut-wrenching. Not shown on TV very often anymore, but is available on VHS if you look hard enough, and it is worth the effort.