Showdown

• Originally known as The Iron Collar
• Directed by R. G. Springsteen
• May 3, 1963

Two cowboys that go into a small town to cash their checks find themselves in trouble with the law and afoul of a killer when he learns that in their escape one of the men stole bonds worth a fortune.

As with many Westerns, Showdown starts with possible cheating in a card game where Bert Pickett (Charles Drake) is trying to win a respectable amount to send to a girl. His pal Chris Foster (Audie Murphy) defends him during a disagreement where both end up chained to a post in the town square along with dangerous outlaw LaValle (Harold J. Stone).

Why are they chained to a post like in some medieval village and not in a building? Because this dusty town is too small for a jail despite the post being equipped for multiple outlaws at a time. Seems they might need a jail after all. I believe this is the second movie where I’ve seen such a punishment done though I can’t recall the first but something tells me it was in another Audie Murphy film. Anywho…

Audie Murphy plays the upstanding friend Chris. Charles Drake as Bert is the good friend that makes some stupid decisions such as stealing bonds while they were caught up in the escape. The mononymous LaValle learns about them from the cowardly Bert who when sent to another town to cash them promptly messes things up because he wants to make up for some scummy stuff he did years earlier.

There was a time it wasn’t uncommon for movies to rehab even the worst of characters. Here Bert is trying to get money back to saloon singer Estelle (Kathleen Crowley). Years prior he had sold her ranch out from under her, sending her into the life of a performer and her little sister into an orphanage.

It is one thing for Bert to try and correct a wrong but it is a whole other for Estelle to eventually mourn for a man that ruined her life. Have Chris take on all the mourning with her being somber but no speaking even a touch fondly of Bert the Turd. Estelle’s rehab from saloon skank to wounded soul is much better and more deserved considering the personal damage done that can never be recovered from.

Murphy is a little generic in his. Not bad generic but comfort food generic. He is like a chain restaurant meal. You go in and know that your order will be like so many other times. It is a solid performance of a man with a code that expects better things of those around. He is a tough individual but not reflexively violent.

Harold J. Stone was a prolific character actor of the period. You knew his face and distinctive voice even though he was not a household name. He comes off as angry and a man you do not want to cross. LaValle is just a straight thug. He is a good reader of people and sees right through Bert and even gets a good feel on Chris. There are hints that Chris believes LaValle’s analysis just enough to be worried.

With that it approaches a level of complexity and depth that might seem foreign for a B-movie though it skips such possibly because of length. At a little better than an hour things move quickly here but you’re not going to get whiplash. All the major characters are distinct enough with even the supporting characters not blurring together necessarily. This is more of an actioner with some moments of drama. There is just enough characterization to make the characters individual but not so much so to make the same kind of commentary on the human condition.

Showdown is not one of Audie Murphy’s best movies, but it’s a good one. For the Western audience it should be satisfying.