The three outlaws that make up the Younger Brothers arrive in Cedar Creek to meet younger brother, Bob. They’ve sworn to forsake their outlaw ways. After all, there’s a pardon at stake; they just can’t handle guns for a couple of more weeks.
But an old enemy, former Pinkerton deputy Daniel Ryckman, is intent to arrest them for some crime, even if they have to be prodded into breaking the law. And Kate Shepherd, widow of a former gang member, has organized an outlaw band of her own. She figures they can pull a job, and everyone will blame the Youngers.
Better yet, since she’s a bit sweet on Cole, she might be able to entice the Younger brothers to join her gang if she can somehow ensnarl Bob. Ryckman helps set that up; Bob kills a man in self-defense but he being sought on a murder charge.
And if the Younger brothers won’t help rob a bank in River Rock willingly, Kate will force them to take part, even if they have to carry empty guns.
Review:
This was made at a time when “outlaw” flicks were big box office draws, though the outlaws were seldom portrayed as such. And that’s certainly the case here. They’re the film’s misunderstood good guys.
Bottom line: Don’t look to these 78 minutes for a history lesson on the real-life Youngers. And don’t look toward two of the leads — Wayne Morris or Bruce Bennett — for stellar performances. It’s a little baffling why anyone would ever cast Morris as an outlaw; he just doesn’t seem to have a bad bone in his acting body.
The best roles go to bad girl Janis Paige as Kate Shepherd and Ryckman, the man who’s been humiliated in the past by the Youngers and will now do anything to see them back behind bars.
Directed by:
Edwin Marin
Cast:
Wayne Morris … Cole Younger
Janis Paige … Kate Shepherd
Bruce Bennett … Jim Younger
Geraldine Brooks … Mary Hathaway
Robert Hutton … Johnny Younger
James Brown … Bob Younger
Alan Hale … Sheriff Knudson
Fred Clark … Daniel Ryckman
Monte Blue … Deputy Joe
Tom Tyler … Hatch
William Forrest … Mr. Hendricks
Ian Wolfe … Parole board chairman
Runtime: 78 min.
Memorable lines:
Ryckman: “If you had any gumption, you would have arrested him (Jim Younger) when he took that gun.”
Sheriff Knudson: “Well, I certainly don’t relish eating no rifle bullets.”
Bob Younger: “Cole, do we have to run from women yet?”
Cole Younger: “Smart men usually do.”
Johnny Younger: “Don’t tell me they hold it against you if you stop a bank robbery.”
Cole Younger: “They do if your name is Younger.”
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