Bullwhip (1958)

Guy Madison is Steve Daley, a cowboy framed for murder and sentenced to hang. His one way out: Agree to marry a young lady he doesn’t know, then disappear.

The young lady is Cheyenne O’Mally (Rhonda Fleming), a tomboyish young woman who wields a bullwhip and runs the O’Mally freight business. Her father has died; his will requires that she marry to inherit the company.

She’s used to being in charge, not following orders from a man, which proves a problem when Daley fails to disappear. An O’Mally rival, John Parnell, has clued Daley in on the reason for the arranged marriage — and on how much he stands to gain if he assumes his role as Cheyenne’s husband.

It’s all part of his plan to force a merger between his business and hers. But Cheyenne isn’t going to let a man take her place in charge without pulling a couple tricks of her own.

Guy Madison as Steve Daly, about to marry a woman he doesn’t know in exchange for a pardon in Bullwhip (1958)

Rhonda Fleming as Cheyenne O’Mally, yanked from her horse by her own bullwhip in Bullwhip (1958)

Review:

One of the most male chauvinistic Westerns you’re about to find, with a plot line that screams: Even the strongest and most stubborn woman can be tamed by the right man.

But the film’s still fun in spots, and Madison and Fleming make for a great-looking team. Fleming never looked lovelier.

Madison was wrapping up a run as the lead in the TV show “Wild Bill Hickok” the same year this film was released. It would mark his last U.S. Western before he headed to Europe, where he starred in several Spaghetti Westerns.

James Griffith plays Slope Karp, the man hired to foul up things for Daley; Burt Nelson is Pine Hawk, Cheyenne’s personal Indian body guard.

James Griffith as Slope Karp, the hired gun on Steve Daly’s trail for competing interests in Bullwhip (1958)

Peter Adams as John Parnell, the man who wants to force a partnership on Cheyenne O’Mally in Bullwhip (1958)

Directed by:
Harmon Jones

Cast:
Rhonda Fleming … Cheyenne O’Mally
Guy Madison … Steve Daley
James Griffith … Slope Karp
Peter Adams … John Parnell
Don Beddoe … Judge Carr
Dan Sheridan …. Podo
Burt Nelson … Pine Hawk
Al Terr … Lem Pierce
Tim Graham … Pete
Hank Worden … Tex
Wayne Mallory … Larry

Title tune:
“Bullwhip,.” sung by Frankie Laine

Runtime: 80 min.

Burt Nelson as Pine Hawk, Cheyenne’s faithful Indian sidekick in Bullwhip (1958)

Dan Sheridan as Podo with his good friend Steve Daly in Bullwhip (1958)

Memorable lines:

Steve Daley, upon hearing the marriage proposal: “You know, judge, I got it figured that if say no, you’re gonna be out an awful lot of money.”
Judge Carr: “No, no. I’ll just get her another single man, and you’ll hang, per schedule.”
Daley: “Well, I guess a wedding ring is better than a noose.”
Judge: “Especially since you can forget the ring, too.”

Tex, one of Cheyenne’s trail hands: “That injun blood always has given her more confounded meanness than anything in pants that ever lived. She ain’t a woman. She’s something made out of fire and brimstone.”
Second trailhand: “Ah, you’re wrong, Tex. You take another look. She’s a woman alright.”

Cheyenne to Steve: “Don’t worry sweetheart, I won’t let them hang you. If you promise to be a good boy and not try to run everything so we can live happily ever after.”

Podo: “Imagine me. I thought you said you got married.”
Steve Daley: “I did.”
Podo: “Married? Steve, you feelin’ alright?”
Daley: “I never felt better in my life.”
Podo: “But look, fella, you were in jail, not in a church. You’re Steve Daly, always running away from hot little mavericks with wedding rings in their eyes. That’s crazy. Nobody gets married in jail.”
Daley: “Well, I did.”

Steve Daley to John Parnell: “I’ve had one bushwackin’ today. I don’t think I’ll risk another.”

Peter Adams as John Parnell, trying to charm Cheyenne (Rhonda Fleming) in Bullwhip (1958)

Don Beddoe (right) as Judge Carr with Slope Karp (James Griffith), the killer he hired in Bullwhip (1958)

Rhonda Fleming as Cheyenne O’Mally, trying to figure out how to deal with a husband who didn’t disappear as promised in Bullwhip (1958)

Guy Madison as Steve Daley, trying to reason with new wife Cheyenne (Rhonda Fleming) in Bullwhip (1958)