George Montgomery is Billy Ringo, a bad man gone good on behalf of his lady love (Helen Westcott).
He has settled down on a ranch with his nephew (Tab Hunter), son of Matt Ringo, who’s serving a term in state prison.
Then Matt Ringo (John Dehner) breaks out of prison and wants Billy’s help on a $500,000 job being planned by supposedly respectable businessman Douglas Frazer.
When Billy declines, Matt follows him into a bank, holds it up and makes it look like Billy is part of the plan.
They struggle during the getaway. Billy kills Matt by accident. That prompts a falling out with young Chip, who rides off to join the outlaw gang.
Now Billy’s in real trouble. He’s wanted back home for planning a bank job in which someone was killed. The boy he loves like a son is on the verge of turning outlaw.
So he hatches a plan. He’ll join the outlaw gang, kick Chip out for being too young and strong-headed, then lead the gang into a trap for Marshal Wyatt Earp.
Then comes the next surprise. The $500,000 job involves double-crossing another gang in cahoots with Frazer, this one led by Ike Clinton (William Bishop).
George Montgomery as Billy Ringo, determined to clear his name in Gun Belt (1953)
Tab Hunter as Chip Ringo, the youngster who rebels against his uncle in Gun Belt (1953)
Review:
Lively little B Western that puts George Montgomery’s character in the worst possible situation, then focuses on his fight to clear his name and save his nephew at the same time.
This marked the first Western and one of the first major roles for Tab Hunter, just 21 when the film was released. The film also benefits from a deeper cast than most, with Douglas Kennedy, Jack Elam and William Bishop among the outlaw guns Billy Ringo is forced to deal with.
Helen Wescott plays the woman whose faith in Billy never wavers. She’s even willing to sell her dress shop so their wedding can proceed as planned.
Helen Wescott as Arlene Reach, the woman who wants to marry Billy Ringo in Gun Belt (1953)
James Mullican as Wyatt Earp and Bruce Cowling as brother Virgil, lawman who believe in Billy Ringo in Gun Belt (1953)
Directed by:
Ray Nazarro
Cast:
George Montgomery … Billy Ringo
Tab Hunter … Chip Ringo
Helen Westcott … Arlene Reach
John Dehner … Matt Ringo
Douglas Kennedy … Mel Dixon
Jack Elam … Rusty Kolloway
Joe Haworth … Hoke
Hugh Sanders … Douglas Frazer
Willis Douchey … Endicott
James Mullican … Wyatt Earp
Bruce Cowling … Virgil Earp
William Bishop … Ike Clinton
William Phillips … Curley
Willis Bouchey … Endicott
Boyd “Red” Morgan … Texas Jack
Boyd Stockman … Turkey Creek
Chuck Roberson … Oliver
Jack Carry … Mort
Runtime: 78 min.
John Dehner as Matt Ringo, fresh out of prison and reunited with son Chip (Tab Hunter) in Gun Belt (1953)
Douglas Kennedy as Mel Dixon, a member of the Ringo gang in Gun Belt (1953)
Memorable lines:
Man who wants Matt Ringo to convince brother Billy to turn outlaw again: “Blood should be thicker than good resolutions when there’s half a million (dollars) in the pot.”
Matt Ringo: “I’ll see what Billy has to say. But a reformed gun is worse than a reformed drunk.”
Billy Ringo, as he springs his trap: “When I turn rat catcher, I don’t fool with mice.”
A member of the posse, on stumbling upon the scene of the final showdown: “It looks like Custer’s Last Stand.”
George Montgomery as Billy Ringo and Tab Hunter as Chip, at odds again in Gun Belt (1953)
William Bishop as Ike Clinton, planning a big heist with Douglas Frazer (Hugh Sanders) in Gun Belt (1953)
Jack Elam as Rusty Kolloway, a member of the Ringo gang in Gun Belt (1953)
Joe Haworth as Hoke, a member of the Ringo gang in Gun Belt (1953)
Hugh Sanders as Douglas Frazer, planning a major robbery in Gun Belt (1953)
Tab Hunter as Chip Ringo with his uncle Billy (George Montgomery) in Gun Belt (1953)
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