Bullet for a Badman (1964)

Audie Murphy plays a retired ranger named Logan Keliher, who has settled down on a farm with his wife, Susan (Beverly Owen).

Then old friend Sam Ward (Darren McGavin) and his gang show up and rob the local bank. Ward gets away with the money.

Thanks to Keliher’s intervention, the rest of the gang isn’t so lucky.

But the old friends are sure to get reacquainted. Ward was once married to Susan himself before landing in prison. He wants her back.

He also wants the son that Susan and Keliher have been raising together; a son named Sammy who’s never been told about his real father.

Meanwhile, Audie winds up with the task of tracking down his former friend and the stolen money.

And that also means dealing with a posse that would like to split the loot among themselves if they can only remove a few obstacles.

Audie Murphy as Logan Keliher, finding himself on the trail of a former friend turned killer and outlaw in Bullet for a Badman (1964)

Darren McGavin as Sam Ward, an outlaw planning a visit to a former friend in Bullet for a Badman (1964)

Review:

R.G. Springsteen directed his share of low-budget Western affairs, but this comes off better than most, partly because of a deep cast that includes Alan Hale Jr. and Skip Homier as members of the posse.

Murphy is stoic as ever in the lead role, a man determined to do his duty and who won’t be tempted by the bank money, even though his farm isn’t doing well financially.

The film’s biggest flaw is McGavin’s tepid, almost playful performance as the film’s scoundrel. The script calls for someone with a much nastier disposition.

Ruta Lee plays Lottie, a woman who is mixed up with Sam Ward’s gang and believes his promise to sweep her off to a big city and dress her in fancy clothes. Her fate provides one of the film’s most memorable scenes.

Beverly Owen as Susan, expressing her fear to Logan Keliher when she realizes Sam Ward knows where they live in Bullet for a Badman (1964)

Kevin Tate as Sammy, the young boy Logan Keliher has raised as his own in Bullet for a Badman (1964)

Directed by:
R.G. Springsteen

Cast:
Audie Murphy … Logan Keliher
Darren McGavin … Sam Ward
Ruta Lee … Lottie
Beverly Owen … Susan
Skip Homeier … Pink
George Tobles … Diggs
Alan Hale Jr. … Leach
Berkeley Harris … Jeff
Edward Platt … Tucker
Kevin Tate … Sammy
Cece Whitney … Goldie
Mort Mills … Ira Snow
Ray Teal … Sweeper
Bob Steele … Sheriff
Charles Horvath … Apache

Runtime: 80 min.

Skip Homeier as Pink, trying to figure out a way the posse can keep the stolen bank loot in Bullet for a Badman (1964)

Ruta Lee as Lottie, fearful for her future now that her bank robbing man has been killed in Bullet for a Badman (1964)

Memorable lines:

Goldie, saloon owner, of Pink: “He’s the best gun hand in Griffin, so I hire him. It doesn’t mean I like him.”
Logan Keliher: “How about the kinda pushy kid with him?”
Goldie: “Jeff? When Pink’s cold, Jeff sneezes. He’ll learn better if he lives long enough.”

Sam Ward: “I feel naked without my gun.”
Logan Keliher: “It won’t take long to dress you once those Apaches hit.”

Sam Ward, after kissing Lottie, the girlfriend of a just-killed member of the gang: “You didn’t grieve very long, did you?”
Lottie: “About as long as he would have grieved for me.”

Alan Hale Jr. as Leach, trying to beat information out of Lottie over the objections of Tucker (Edward Platt) in Bullet for a Badman (1964)

George Tobles as Diggs, guide for the posse on Sam Ward’s trail in Bullet for a Badman (1964)

Sam Ward to Logan: “I’ve got one big advantage. You won’t kill me unless you have to. I won’t hesitate one second to kill you.”

Logan Keliher: “It’s not enough just to plant the seed, Sam. A real father is a man who gives his whole life to a child.”
Sam Ward: “I’m the father. Sammy’s my flesh and my blood. And I’m going to kill you for taking him away from me.”

Sam Ward, as Logan Keliher pulls a rope from his saddle: “What are you going to do? Lynch me?”
Logan, as he loops the rope around Sam’s neck: “No, I’m going to let you lynch yourself if you try to get away.”

Darren McGavin as Sam Ward, trying to reclaim Susan (Beverly Owen), the woman he lost because of his lawless ways in Bullet for a Badman (1964)

Berkeley Harris as Jeff, a young gun offering to trade his share of the bank loot for Lottie (Ruta Lee) in Bullet for a Badman (1964)

Cece Whitney as Goldie, the saloon owner and old friend Logan Keliher turns to when he needs cash in Bullet for a Badman (1964)

Audie Murphy as Logan Keliher, springing into action when the local bank is being robbed in Bullet for a Badman (1964)