A Lawless Street (1955)

Randolph Scott is Marshal Calem Ware, a man set on taming the beast in the town of Medicine Bend and living for the day when that task is complete.

But two of the town’s wealthiest citizens — Hamer Thorne (Warner Anderson) and Cody Clark (John Emery) — would prefer to see a wide open town for the money they stand to make running saloons and gambling houses.

So they hire a gunman (Michael Pate as Harley Baskam) to kill Ware. Only the price they offer is so high, Baskam becomes suspicious and learns their motive. Then he insists on becoming a full partner.

In between worrying about the gunmen who show up looking for revenge, Ware has to deal with the sudden appearance of his estranged wife (Angela Lansbury as Tally Dickson).

She couldn’t stand being married to a marshal who put his life on the line every night, so she’s built a career as a singer.

In fact, Thorne wants to make her his wife, not realizing she’s already married. That’s how she winds up in Medicine Bend.

But after a brief reunion with Caleb, she realizes only the town is different: He still lives a life of constant danger.

Randolph Scott as Marshal Calem Ware, welcoming a new guest to Medicine Bend in A Lawless Street (1955)

Angela Lansbury as Tally Dickenson, spotting a familar face when she arrives in Medicine Bend in A Lawless Street (1955)

Review:

Neatly done, with lots of subplots packed into a tight, tidy package.

There’s Cora Dean, a bored rancher’s wife who has an affair with Thorne. He’s only interested in her as a way to lash out at town founder Asaph Dean, who’s staunchly on the side of law and order.

And there’s the neat role of Molly Higgins, an older woman who treats Ware with a motherly affection.

There are some unique touches, too. When Ware wants to relax, he locks himself in one of his jail cells. When Molly wants to summon Calem, she pokes the ceiling beneath his room with a broom stick. He answers by stomping on the floor.

The only drawbacks: A wooden performance by Lansbury and the over-exaggerated scenes of a town going wild once the lawless element thinks Calem Ware is dead.

Warner Anderson as Hamer Thorne, the man intent of ridding Medicine Bend of its marshal in A Lawless Street (1955)

John Emery as Cody Clark, proclaiming himself a hero for gunning down a man who came at Calem Ware with a knife in A Lawless Street (1955)

Directed by:
Joseph Lewis

Cast:
Randolph Scott … Calem Ware
Angela Lansbury … Tally Dickenson
Warner Anderson … Hamer Thorne
Jean Parker … Cora Dean
James Bell … Asaph Dean
Ruth Donnelly … Molly Higgins
John Emery … Cody Clark
Michael Pate … Harley Baskam
Wallace Ford … Dr. Amos Wynn
Don Megowan … Dooley Brion
Jeanette Nolan … Mrs. Dingo Brion

Runtime: 78 min.

Saloon song: “Mother Says I Mustn’t” by Angela Lansbury and her chorus

Wallace Ford as Dr. Amos Wynn, issuing an unwelcome warning to Calem Ware (Randolph Scott) in A Lawless Street (1955)

Ruth Donnelly as Molly Higgins, Calem Ware’s landlady, sharing what she knows with Tally in A Lawless Street (1955)

Memorable lines:

Ware to saloon keeper Cody Clark: “A tongue works like a shovel. It can bury a man.”

A barber to a gun-weary Ware: “Fine morning, marshal?”
Ware: “They always start out fine. Until you wake up and get out of bed.”

Ware: “You know what happens when you put a lid on a boiling pot. It either boils over or explodes.”
Dean: “Unless you put the fire out under it.”
Ware: “Guess we should pray for rain, huh?”
Dean: “You’re storm enough, Calem.”

Cody Clark: “One of these days, your high conceit is going to trip you up for good.”
Hamer Thorne: “You let me worry about that.”
Clark: “We’re partners. What trips you, trips me.”

Angela Lansbury as Tally Dickenson, recalling the good times she enjoyed with Calem Ware (Randolph Scott) in A Lawless Street (1955)

Michael Pate as Harley Baskam, a hired gun harassing Dr. Amos Wynn (Wallace Ford) in A Lawless Street (1955)

Frank Hagney as Dingo Brion, a man hired to kill Marshal Caleb Ware in A Lawless Street (1955)

Jeanette Nolan as Mrs. Dingo Brion, confronting he man who just killed her no-good husband in A Lawless Street (1955)

James Bell as cattle king Asaph Dean, congratulating Calem Ware on a job well done in A Lawless Street (1955)

Jean Parker as Cora Dean, the rancher’s wife who hasn’t exactly been faithful to the rancher in A Lawless Street (1955)

Warner Anderson as Hamer Thorne and John Emery as Cody Clark, fearing their devious plans are falling apart in A Lawless Street (1955)

Randolph Scott as Marshal Calem Ware, determined to quiet Medicine Bend for a second time in A Lawless Street (1955)