Tall Man Riding (1955)

Randolph Scott is Larry Madden, and he’s returned to Little River to settle an old score with cattle baron Tuck Ordway (Robert Barrat), owner of the War Bonnet spread.

Seems five years earlier, Ordway heard rumors about Madden and his daughter, Corrina (Dorothy Malone), who were indeed in love.

Ordway jumped to the conclusion that Madden meant no good and had him whipped and dragged from the back of a wagon.

Now back and ready to even the score for the whip marks on his back, Madden discovers he’s not the only one out for Ordway’s hide.

He’s also made an enemy of Cibo Pearlo (John Baragrey), who runs the local saloon with the help of a killer-for-hire Peso Kid (Paul Richards), and assists homesteaders in finding land they can farm on, for a price.

As he rides into town, Madden comes to the rescue of a man who rides into an ambush, only to discover the man is Corinna’s husband, Rex Williard.

One of the ambushers is killed; Williard is later arrested and charged with murder, though it was Madden who killed the man, in self-defense, of course.

That’s just one of the complications Madden will face in his quest for vengeance against a cattle baron who has become something of a recluse.

Randolph Scott as Larry Madden, returning after five years to avenge a wrong by Tuck Ordway in Tall Man Riding (1955)

Robert Barrat as Tuck Ordway, the aging rancher Larry Madden wants vengeance against in Tall Man RIding (1955)

Review:

Hey, here’s proof that churn-‘em-out director Lesley Selander could make an entertaining and taunt little film, given a decent cast and a script with a few twists and turns.

This one has more twists than most, and the villain of the piece doesn’t wind up being who you expect it to be when the film opens.

Just to keep things interesting, in addition to the normal quota of gunfights, we’re served up a brutal fistfight between Madden and a deputy sheriff, plus a land rush for the film’s climax.

As for the cast, John Dehner helps make things interesting as lawyer Ames Luddington, who investigates at Madden’s bidding and discovers an interesting secret about Ordway’s property.

Then there’s Peggie Castle as saloon singer named Reva, a woman Pearlo disrespects. As a result, she quickly feels more of an allegiance to Corinna and Madden than she does to her own lover.

Dorothy Malone as Corinna Ordway, the girl Larry Madden left behind five years earlier in Tall Man Riding (1955)

Peggie Castle as Reva, the saloon girl on Cibo Pearlo’s arm and payroll in Tall Man Riding (1955)

Directed by:
Lesley Selander

Cast:
Randolph Scott … Larry Madden
Dorothy Malone … Corinna Williard
William Ching … Rex Williard
Robert Barrat … Tuck Ordway
John Baragrey … Cibo Pearlo
Paul Richards … Peso Kid
Peggie Castle … Reva
John Dehner … Ames Luddington
Lane Chandler … Hap Sutton
Mickey Simpson … Deputy Jeff Barclay
Joe Bassett … Will
Charles Watts … Al (bartender)
Russ Conway … Marshal Jim Feathergill
Mike Ragan … Tom

Runtime: 83 min.

John Baragrey as Cibo Pearlo, about to confront his gal with an incriminating letter in Tall Man Riding (1955)

Paul Richards as Peso Kid, saloon owner Cibo Pearlo’s hired gun in Tall Man Riding (1955)

Memorable lines:

Larry Madden to Rex Williard, whose life he just saved: “Just get this straight, mister. I hate your guts or anyone else connected with War Bonnet. I bought in before I knew who you were, but I’m glad I did so you can tell Tuck Ordway I’m back. You can tell her that, too.”

Madden: “I see you did alright for yourself, Jeff.”
Deputy Jeff Barclay: “What do you mean?”
Madden, indicating Jeff’s badge: “Wearing that deputy do-dad. You must have been a big help to Cibo to earn that.”
Deputy: “You looking for trouble, Larry?”
Madden: “You’ll know when I am.”

Larry Madden, after sniffing Sebo Perlo: “Nothing’s changed much. You even use the same cheap-smelling toilet water.”
Cibo: “You never did like that, did you?”
Madden: “It’ll never take the place of a bath.”

Cibo: “I can use a rider who can be frisky with a gun. When he needs to be. I’ll give you fighting pay and found. How ’bout it?”
Madden: “I’d rather herd sheep.”

John Dehner as Ames Luddington, the attorney Larry Madden hires to dig up dirt on Tuck Ordway in Tall Man Riding (1955)

Lane Chandler as Hap Sutton, revealing Tuck Ordway’s secret to Larry Madden in Tall Man Riding (1955)

Madden: “The man who pulls Tuck Ordway down off his rawhide throne is going to be me.”

Cibo: “Tell the Peso Kid I want to see him.”
Reva: “You play with a loaded gun and you’re going to get into trouble. The Peso Kid is a loaded gun.”
Cibo: “I think you should remember, Reva, that the one thing I don’t want from you is advice.”

Madden: “What’s a girl like you doing tied in with a dog like Pearlo?”
Reva: “Sometimes you can get sort of attached to a dog.”

Corinna Williard: “I hope you’re proud of yourself, shooting a half blind old man.” She slaps him across the face with a whip.

Peggie Castle as Reva, recoiling from one of Cibo Pearlo’s temper tantrums in Tall Man Riding (1955)

Mickey Simpson as Deputy Jeff Barclay, the lawman who does the bidding of Cibo Pearlo in Tall Man Riding (1955)

William Ching as Rex Willard, the man Corrina Ordway married after being left behind by Larry Madden in Tall Man Riding (1955)

Dorothy Malone as Corinna Ordway with her father Tuck (Robert Barrat), chased from their home based on information uncovered by Madden’s attorney in Tall Man Riding (1955)

Peggie Castle as Reva and Mickey Simpson as Deputy Jeff Barclay, with a warning for Cibo Pearlo in Tall Man Riding (1955)

Randolph Scott as Larry Madden, returning after five years to avenge a wrong by Tuck Ordway in Tall Man Riding (1955)