Kit Caswell (James Best) is a young man coming of age during the reconstruction period.
He and best friend Frank Wittrock (Jan Merlin) tire of being hounded by the “blue bellies,” pushed around and beaten at every turn.
So they lash out and wind up on the run. That’s when they encounter Cole Younger (Frank Lovejoy).
It marks the end of their friendship.
Frank wants to turn Younger in for the reward on his head and pulls a gun on him while he’s sleeping. Kit saves Younger and winds up befriending the gunmen.
Later in the film, Kit tracks down two “blue bellies” responsible for his father’s death, but can’t pull the trigger. Frank can, then tries to pin the killings on Kit, in part to win over Kit’s lady love (Abby Dalton as Lucy).
Frank nearly succeeds in his treachery. But as Kit is on trial for murder, guess who shows up as a surprise witness? But will a jury listen to a wanted man?
James Best as Kit Caswell, on trial for a pair of murders in Cole Younger, Gunfighter (1958)
Frank Lovejoy as Cole Younger, the outlaw who befriends Kit Caswell in Cole Younger, Gunfighter (1958)
Review:
In spite of the film’s title, this is more about James Best’s character, Kit Caswell, than it is the story of Cole Younger. Not that there’s much about the film that’s historically accurate anyway.
In fact, it’s mostly silly, contrived fluff, with a head-scratching ending. But not the worst of Springsteen’s efforts.
Abby Dalton, the lady lead, did most of her acting on TV but would show up on the big screen in one other Western. She played the role of Calamity Jane in “The Plainsman,” a 1966 remake of the classic that starred Gary Cooper and Jean Arthur.
Jan Merlin as Frank Wittrock, testifying against his friend in hopes of winning over his girl in Cole Younger, Gunfighter (1958)
Abby Dalton as Lucy Antrium, upset as Kit Caswell (James Best) prepares to dodge the law in Cole Younger, Gunfighter (1958)
Directed by:
R.G. Springsteen
Cast:
Frank Lovejoy … Cole Younger
James Best … Kit Caswell
Abby Dalton … Lucy Antrium
Jan Merlin … Frank Wittrock
Ainslie Pryor … Capt. Follyard
Myron Healey … Phil & Charlie Bennett
Douglas Spencer … Marshal Fred Woodruff
Frank Ferguson … Sheriff Ralph Wittrock
George Keymas … Sgt. Price
Dan Sheridan … Phelps
John Mitchum … Randy City bartender
Runtime: 78 min.
George Keymas as Sgt. Price and Ainslie Pryor as Capt. Follyard, reconstructionists mistreating Texans until they’re on the verge of revolt in Cole Younger, Gunfighter (1958)
Frank Ferguson as Sheriff Ralph Wittrock, presiding over Kit Caswell’s trial in Cole Younger, Gunfighter (1958)
Memorable lines:
Cole to Kit, giving him a gift of a six-shooter: “Bad pistols are like bad friends. They let you down when you need them most.”
Cole to Kit, on the possibility that a rancher who hired them could instead turn them in for a reward: “He’s short-handed, so if he starts thinking about rewards, it won’t be until we get to Abilene. There, he’ll find himself out of luck. The marshal and I know the same dead people.”
Cole when Kit celebrates an election defeat for the reconstruction politicians by announcing plans to marry Lucy: “”One thing I can’t understand. You get yourself free. Now you wanna get roped and branded.”
Douglas Spencer as Marshal Fred Woodruff, taking Kit Caswell (James Best) to stand trial in Cole Younger, Gunfighter (1958)
Myron Healey as Charlie Bennett, looking for the man who killed his twin brother Phil in Cole Younger, Gunfighter (1958)
Abby Dalton as Lucy Antrium, trying to steer Kit Caswell (James Best) away from trouble in Cole Younger, Gunfighter (1958)
Frank Ferguson as Sheriff Whittrock, Jan Merlin as his son Frank and Abby Dalton as Lucy Antrium in Cole Younger, Gunfighter (1958)
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