Fury at Showdown (1957)

Most undeservingly overhyped movie of all time??

Good concept, poorly executed.

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

Well, I appear to be out of the mainstream of the limited number of reviewers for this movie, but it was a bit tedious (even though less than 90 minutes) and the story was not compelling. The standard western movie town was in full effect, convincingly dusty, and with the right buildings in the right places. But it was also from scene to scene randomly full of people hanging around in the middle of the day, and then completely deserted other than the main actors. John Derek was his usual hammy self, wide-eyed glowering substituting for any sense of genuine internal emotion. The actors who played Derek's brother and the sheriff were decent, but the lawyer was badly played as a simpering whiner who simply would not have come out west to practice. The love interest was dull and kind of homely.As for the story--the consequence of a negative outcome for the hero was basically that his life would go on as before, and he was such a martyr that I didn't really care one way or the other.Scenery was a solid B, although the cinematographer could have done more with the raw materials. Acting a C-, some better than others. Story, also a C-. Hence the four star review for this somewhat below average movie.

Looks like I stand alone in my review of this western. Whatever great cinematography or acting the movie might have was --for me-- not noticed or drowned out by the boring, trite story. I can't believe this movie got a 6.8 user rating. One of the most boring, talkative (and repetitive) westerns I have ever seen. Little action, and the most ridiculous, abrupt, meaningless fade-out to a movie I have ever seen. I had to strain myself to see it to the end. Even the title is trite. The only thing going for it was John Derek's handsome countenance.To make ten lines for an acceptable review here, let me add this silly scene which typifies the movie for me. Derek rides out of town to talk to his estranged girlfriend, who he hasn't seen while in prison for a year, and immediately encounters her taking a nude swim. So they talk -- he on his horse and she completely covered by the dark water (save her head and shoulder tops). That's it; no comment by the characters on this awkward scene. ... ... ... Another situation that irked me is that time is running out, and three partners expect a businessman to arrive by stage to complete their crucial deal, but he doesn't show, and two of the partners won't let the third one ride to the town where the businessman is to learn the reason for the delay. It was so important that you'd think they would have thought of the obvious: send a neutral trusted person to make the trip to find out.

An excellent director (Gerd Oswald, who also directed A Kiss Before Dying), excellent cinematographer Joseph LaShelle (River of No Return and Marty among many others) and great performances by John Derek and Nick Adams make this an outstanding western. Derek is Brock Mitchell a rancher who was just released from jail, where he was because he killed a man in self defense. Nick Adams is Tracy, his brother. The fact is that the man Brock killed is the brother of an important man in town who will do everything he can against him. One way out would be for Brock to go away to a distant place, but there are certain reasons for him to stay, like paying the loan Tracy took to develop the ranch, which will not be difficult considering the railroad is going to pass there. It will be just a question of getting a letter from the railroad confirming the deal, but time is running against them. Another reason is that Brock loves Ginny, whose father is against him because he thinks he killed because of jealousy. One more reason is that Brock needs the sense of belonging, that he feels in his home town. There is a heavy ambiance, increased by the black and white cinematography.

This western has a very small budget.But the story and the actors are as powerful and motivated as it were a blockbuster.John Derek delivers a convincing portrait of a young man full of goodwill and also full of wrath. He is perfect for the leading part. His supporting cast - although not so well known - is a good one. Especially Nick Adams and the actor who plays the sheriff.Gerd Oswald directed a couple of movies with stories of high morality. This one is his best.The story is about a man who was in prison for manslaughter. He tries to come back to society and to his profession as a farmer but there is a man who wants revenge for the death of his brother...Village people are not very happy too...