Charles Bronson is Luke Welch, a bounty hunter who rides into Mound City in search of Con Maynor, a man with a $200 bounty on his head. He kills Con, but quickly discovers he’s going to have trouble getting anyone to confirm the man’s identity.
Seems Con was pretty well liked in town. And the good townsfolk wouldn’t mind if Con’s brother — or someone else — settled the score with the bounty man.
Luke does find one kindred spirit — waitress Sally Crane (Fintan Meyler) — who’s been living a lonely life to make sure she doesn’t follow in the footsteps of her mother, Jill, a tramp at the local saloon. Put bluntly, she’s afraid of men.
As for Luke, he became a bounty man because everyone’s always teased him about being so short. Using a gun is a way to prove he’s a big man.
Charles Bronson as Luke Welch, determined to collect the $200 bounty he’s owed in Showdown at Boot Hill (1958)
Fintan Meyler as Sally Crane, trying to reason with Luke Welch in Showdown at Boot Hill (1958)
Review:
Effective little film because it focuses on two misfits. Bronson’s character doubts his worth because of his size (he was 5-9 in real life), and that’s quite different than the macho roles he would play over the next two decades.
This marked his first starring role. It was one of only three films for Fintan Meyler, a pretty brunette who found most of her work on TV shows.
John Carradine has an interesting role as a doctor crippled years earlier by a ricochet bullet; he’s the town philosopher, sharing his views as he plies his other trades as barber and undertaker.
Michael Mason plays Les Patton, saloon girl Jill Crane’s pretty but slightly dim-witted protector.
Carole Mathews as Jill Crane, talking about the daughter who has disowned her in Showdown at Boot Hill (1958)
Robert Hutton as Sloane, an old friend of Con Maynor’s, watching the hearing on his death in Showdown at Boot Hill (1958)
Directed by:
Gene Fowler Jr.
Cast:
Charles Bronson … Luke Welch
Robert Hutton … Sloane
Fintan Meyler … Sally Crane
John Carradine … Doc Weber
Carole Mathews … Jill Crane
Paul Maxey … Judge Wallen
Michael Mason … Les Patton
Thomas Henry … Con Maynor
George Pembroke … Sheriff Hinkle
William Stevens … Corky
Argentina Brunetti … Mrs. Bonaventura
George Douglas … Charles Maynard
Runtime: 71 min.
Michael Mason as Les Patton, Jill Crane’s young lover and protector in Showdown at Boot HIll (1958)
John Carradine as Doc Weber, who also serves at the town barber and undertaker in Showdown at Boot Hill (1958)
Memorable lines:
Jill Crane, after lover Les Patton has been insulted: “Let him be. He’s stupid, but he’s awful pretty.”
Luke: “You can’t dry girls tears with a gun.”
Sally: “You can always kiss her.”
Jill Crane: “You’re a smart man, marshal. I’ve always been afraid of smart men.”
Les Patton: “She can always put posies on his grave.”
Luke: “Now I ain’t dead yet.”
Les: “That’s what’s making me sick.”
Sloane: “Man don’t know how many friends he’s got til he dies.”
Doc Weber: “Sometimes, he makes more friends by dying than anything else he ever done.”
Sloane: “Beautiful day for Con’s funeral. Too bad he ain’t alive to appreciate it.”
Luke, to girlfriend, Sally: “You should see the other guy. Not a mark on him.”
Luke Welch (Charles Bronson) confronting Con Maynor (Thomas Henry) about being wanted in Showdown at Boot Hill (1958)
George Douglas as Charles Maynard, urged to avenge his brother’s death in Showdown at Boot Hill (1958)
George Pembroke as Sheriff Hinkle, unwilling to help Welch collect his bounty in Showdown at Boot Hill (1958)
Argentina Brunetti as Mrs. Bonaventura, a shop keeper with a romantic streak in Showdown at Boot Hill (1958)
Paul Maxey as Judge Wallen, presiding of the inquest into Con Maynor’s death in Showdown at Boot Hill (1958)
Fintan Meyler as Sally Crane and Charles Bronson as Luke Welch, realizing they aren’t welcome at the town dance in Showdown at Boot Hill (1958)
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