Buchanan Rides Alone (1958)

Randolph Scott is Tom Buchanan. He’s on his way to west Texas with a $2,000 grubstake to start a ranch.

Unfortunately, his trip leads through Agry Town — named after brothers Simon Agry, a judge; Amos Agry, the local hotel and barkeep; and Lou Agry, the town sheriff.

Upon arriving, Buchanan witnesses the killing of another Agry (the judge’s son) and intervenes on behalf of young Mexican named Juan (Manuel Rojas) because the killing was obviously deserved.

Juan and Buchanan are promptly tossed in jail and a double hanging planned.

But Simon Agry has political ambitions — he’s already running for the Senate — and his hired gun (Craig Stevens) as Abe Carbo — convinces him a lynching in the town named after him might stain his reputation.

So Simon stops the hanging and orders the two men be tried.

The jury clears Buchanan. Juan admits to his guilt, but the judge is willing to set him free if his father pays a $50,000 ransom.

Problem is, Buchanan wants his $2,000 back and isn’t about to ride off and let an innocent man be killed.

Meanwhile, the Agrys find themselves fighting over the ransom, even before it’s been delivered.

Randolph Scott as Tom Buchanan, witnessing the lover’s spat that starts the trouble in Buchanan Rides Alone (1958)

Tol Avery as Judge Simon, getting the news of his only son’s death in Buchanan Rides Alone (1958)

Review:

Entertaining little romp, with Randolph Scott far less dour than usual. In fact, he’s downright jovial when he rides into Agry town. Of course, that mood is about to change thanks to the Agry brothers.

They’re a greedy, quarreling sort, with the sheriff and judge vying for the upper hand and the less intelligent Amos stuck in the middle. Craig Stevens plays Abe Carbo, a gunman who does the judge’s bidding, but he’s also helpful as a loyal adviser, too.

There’s also a unique and perfectly fitting ending in a town where everyone seems a bit too greedy.

Craig Stevens as Abe Carbo, Judge Simon’s hired protector in Buchanan Rides Alone (1958)

Barry Kelley as Lew Agry, the sheriff who likes to throw his weight around in Buchanan Rides Alone (1958)

Directed by:
Budd Boetticher

Cast:
Randolph Scott … Tom Buchanan
Craig Stevens … Abe Carbo
Maunel Rojas … Juan de la Vega
Barry Kelley … Lew Agry
Tol Avery … Judge Simon Agry
Peter Whitney … Amos Agry
L.Q. Jones … Pecos Hill
Robert Anderson … Waldo Peck
Joe de Santis … Esteban Gomez
William Leslie … Roy Agry
Jennifer Holden … K.T.
Nacho Galindo … Nacho

Runtime: 77 min.

Peter Whitney as Amos Agry, one of the trio of brothers who rule Agry Town in Buchanan Rides Alone (1958)

Manuel Rojas as Juan de la Vega, admitting to killing Roy Agry in Buchanan Rides Alone (1958)

Memorable lines:

Buchanan, after paying $10 for a room, $10 for a bottle and $10 for a steak: “Good thing I’m only staying over the night. This sure is a $10 town.”

Sheriff Lew Agry, after knocking out Buchanan: “Take them over to the jailhouse and wait for them to come to. When I hang a man, I like them to know what’s going on.”

Buchanan, as he and Juan are tossed in jail together for a second time: “Now this is progress.”

Buchanan to Pecos: “I man oughtn’t do a job he don’t cotton to.”

L.Q. Jones as Pecos Hill, the man loyal to fellow west Texan Tom Buchanan (Randolph Scott) in Buchanan Rides Alone (1958)

Joe de Santis as Esteban Gomez, trying to negotiate for Juan de la Vega’s freedom in Buchanan Rides Alone (1958)

Randolph Scott as Tom Buchanan, opening his eyes to a surprise in Buchanan Rides Alone (1958)

William Leslie as Roy Agry, the misbehaving son of Simon Agry and the man who starts all the trouble in Buchanan Rides Alone (1958)

Tol Avery as Judge Simon Agry and Craig Stevens as Abe Carbo, deciding how to capitalize on Roy Agry’s death in Buchanan Rides Alone (1958)

Randolph Scott as Tom Buchanan and Manuel Rojas as Juan de la Vega, ready for a showdown in Buchanan Rides Alone (1958)