The Day of the Outlaw |  | Director: Andre De Toth
Actors: Robert Ryan, Burl Ives, Tina Louise, Alan Marshal, Venetia Stevenson
Studio: MGM
Category: DVD
List Price: $14.98
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Rating:  12 reviews
Format: Black & White, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 92 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.6
MPN: M110644
UPC: 883904106449
EAN: 0883904106449
Theatrical Release Date: 1959
Release Date: May 13, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | Two rival cattlemen forget their differences to fight six outlaws who take over an isolated Western town. Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY Rating: NR Age: 883904106449 UPC: 883904106449 Manufacturer No: M110644 |
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Product Description
Two rival cattlemen forget their differences to fight six outlaws who take over an isolated Western town.System Requirements:Running Time: 92 minutes Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY/CLASSICS UPC: 883904106449 Manufacturer No: M110644
Amazon.com
Little regarded in its day (1959) and released on DVD utterly without fanfare, The Day of the Outlaw is a knockout, an unusual western with a compelling story, a host of fine actors, and a sinister vibe that just won't quit. The setting is a tiny, snowbound Wyoming outpost called Bitters--a most appropriate name, at least when it comes to Blaise Starrett (Robert Ryan), a hard-edged rancher who bitterly resents the farmers whose barbed wire fences hamper his cattle drives. The fact that one of the farmers is married to the love of Blaise's life, Helen (Tina Louise--yep, that's Ginger from Gilligan's Island; also in the cast are David Nelson, Ozzie's son and Ricky's older brother, and model Venetia Stevenson, who would later marry Don Everly), doesn't help his disposition any. In fact, Blaise is getting ready to kill his rival when big trouble comes to Bitters in the form of a gang of bank robbers on the run from the law. Led by a former Cavalry officer named Bruhn (a commanding performance by Burl Ives), these are some nasty, repellent dudes; only Bruhn's iron hand keeps them from laying waste to the town, especially its women, of whom there are just four. But he's been mortally wounded, which means it's only a matter of time before the inmates take over the asylum; indeed, watching these brutes as the lure of whiskey and womenfolk threatens to turn them into gun-toting Beavises and Butt-heads creates an almost tangible tension that makes the film hard to watch but impossible to turn away from. The black & white cinematography only adds to the bleakness, and Hungarian director Andre De Toth's sure hand results in several terrific scenes, especially the Saturday night "dance" (where the women desperately try to fight off the outlaws' loutish advances) and the extended final sequence, which finds Blaise helping the bad guys escape--or so they think--across the snow-covered mountains. Riveting stuff. --Sam Graham
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 12
UNIQUE, COMPELLING WESTERN SLEEPER IS WORTH A GOOD LOOK November 15, 2009
FRED C. DOBBS (USA)
Surprisingly well-crafted, brooding and atmospheric Western. And different, too, with talk instead of gunfights, a middle-of-nowhere outpost with a population of 20 instead of a big cattletown, running instead of chasing, snow-ridden wilderness instead of resplendent prairies, and no drinking! Veteran actor Robert Ryan, perpetually beleaguered face and all, stars as a rancher [Blaise Starret] having a tiff with locals over land. Their confrontation is interrupted by the arrival of a gang of thieving and truculent renegades who are being chased by the US calvary. They carry stolen cash that they plan to divvy up once they are clear. They are tired, thirsty and bored. They are led by Burl Ives [Oscar winner the year before for a GREAT performance in THE BIG COUNTRY, 1958] as Jack Bruhn, a corpulent geezer carrying a bullet that, unbeknownst to him, is slowly killing him. Bruhn's introduction of each member of his gang to the hostages conveys a cautious respect and an awareness of the potential for dissolution should things get out of hand. The imperious and teak-tough Bruhn, realizing there are 4 women and a boy there and knowing his boys more than anybody, allows his clan food and rest but no dames or drink. Wants his chances of staying ahead of the calvary and escape maximized and the possibility of hazardous delays and inefficiency not an issue. Knows his boys are ravenous---and not just for food. Nice tension development as we repeatedly see them contest their injured boss' restrictions and we sense that Bruhn's hold on his boys is becoming more tenuous with time. After the town Doc tells Starrett that Bruhn is slowly dying he realizes that once Bruhn is dead his degenerates will have their way with their women and pillage then destroy the 'town'. Thus, Starrett offers to escort Bruhn and his gang to safe environs through a hidden snow-covered trail that even the calvary doesn't know about. The savvy Bruhn feels this is a ruse and confronts Starrett who admits this and elucidates his concern: should Bruhn die there his crew will surely kill everyone and destroy everything. Bruhn, always seeming to have a veiled sympathy for the women and boy, goes along with the subterfuge. Starrett leads them on their endless trek through the austere, snow-racked wilderness---I have never seen horses struggle in the snow as in this film. When Bruhn's closest aide, a young man who is not all bad, loses his horse the boss orders him to walk knowing this may be his only chance of survival once he expires. Bruhn eventually sucuumbs to his wound. Two members of the gang are subsequently murdered by their comrades so that there would be a greater share of the cash to be divided. They trudge on and on, horses having to be put to sleep, until eventually they get to the end of nowhere and the last two scoundrels freeze to death, Starrett the only survivor. Kudos to director Andre De Toth for such a singular film done with noteworthy skill. His use of long-distance filming with concomitant hard-to-hear conversations allowing the stark, bleak black & white environs do the talking was marvelous. And how about the masterful and mesmerizing so-called 'Saturday night dance' scene. Here Bruhn relents and allows his animals one night with the women for dancing---still no drink or hanky panky. The dance is harsh, disturbing and sexually frenetic with Tina Louise' [Ginger from Gilligan's Island] hair unfolding and splaying while being circled---her stilted, stiffened posture symbolic of both the women's repulsion and their partner's repressed carnal state---a vicarious rape of the women. Hurried conclusion minor beef.
 Bleak, Startling Exploration of the Human Condition October 28, 2009
Todd and In Charge (Miami, FL)
Although this is a Western, filmed in B&W and set in a wintry ramshackle "town" in uncharted Wyoming, it could be anywhere.
In fact at times I thought I was watching a particularly brilliant Star Trek or Twilight Zone episode.
It's clear that the people behind the recent Vampire flick "30 Days of Night" were inspired by Day of the Outlaw too, as there are recurrent images and themes regarding the vampire siege of the town that are lifted from this stark, unflinching drama.
Burl Ives proves once again how great a character actor he was, mixing mano a mano not just with Robert Ryan as the flawed hero but also his men - a gangly group of unbridled id every bit as scary as the bloodthirsty vampires in 30 Days of Night.
Unjustly overlooked and very satisfying.
Western Noir worthy of rediscovery July 19, 2009
James Simpson (USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Andre De Toth's "Day of the Outlaw(1959)" is one of the grimmest and most tense Westerns of the 1950s. The genre had really come of age that decade with a much stronger emphasis on adult themes and the lines between hero and villain starting to become blurred for all time. This film may include a B-movie title but does not properly convey what is a suspense classic with a high level of intelligence.
The film tells the story of a rancher(Robert Ryan) who is one conflicted dude. He is being forced out of town by the very people he had protected, getting his land stomped upon and is bitter that one of the town's lead ranchers has married the love of his life(Tina Louise). He is about to duel the husband and two other men when a gang of outlaws arrive in town led by Burl Ives. He is a former cavalery Captain who now leads a group of bank robbers who are making off with a load of stolen gold with Cavalery on there trail. Ive's men are homicidal maniacs and lay siege to the small town. They listen to Ives but he is dying from a gunshot wound and it's only a matter of time before the outlaws tear the town apart.
The film is highly tense with wonderful Black and White cinematography that combine a sense of naturalistic beauty with the snow and wilderness and a high sense of dread. The segment where all the girls in the town are forced to dance with the outlaws is one of the more tense and disturbing filmed in a Western.Beautiful Tina Louise particularly stands out as the camera stays on her being flung from man to man her tied up hair loosening with each swing until it hangs free and she becomes increasingly disheaveled and sexy as her classy refined demeanor is stripped away in real time as she dances about the room. It's incredibly well done.
The conclusion is a surprise and shocking, certainly one of the most unique ever seen in a Western and adding truth to an inevitable that Robert Ryan's character knows to be the entire time as the outlaws meet there fate in the snowy wilderness.
The performances are all sharp led by Robert Ryan, a great underused actor, who delivers a world weariness more effectively than about any other actor this side of Robert Mitchum. He isn't just mean and tough but human and flawed. His level of intelligence and strength and the demons that drive him make him a interesting and complex Western hero.
Burl Ives equals him as the outlaw's leader bringing a gruffness and toughness that fits well but also a sense of dignity and righteousness as a soldier who hides a bitter secret. Ives is able to evoke sympathy for his Captain turned bandit and it's probally the anchor to the picture.
Tina Louise is gorgeous in Black and White and it's difficult to remember that she'll be most famous on the silly sitcom, "Gilligan's Island" and proves that she was an adept Dramatic actress as well as being gorgeous. Her character offers alot of complexities as well even if her and Ryan's relationship is underutilized and not as explored as it should have been.
This DVD looks great with a stunning Widescreen transfer and a decent price. Western and Noir fans should check this out if they are interested in the dramatic aspects of Western filmmaking. This film deserves a wider audience.
Quality psychological western in unique setting October 27, 2008
T O'Brien (Chicago, Il United States)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
In the 1950s, westerns took a turn to the more intellectual with less reliance on mindless action, Day of the Outlaw is one of those psychological westerns. Rancher Blaise Starrett (what a cool western name) owns a spread in the mountains of Wyoming, but he's having trouble with the local farmers who want to fence off the area. But just when the confrontation is coming to a full boil, a gang of vicious renegades on the run ride into town to rest up after being chased by the cavalry for robbing an Army payroll. Now Blaise and the townfolk must band together if they hope to survive against these ruthless killers. Being a psychological western, there isn't a ton of action here, but when it comes it's surprising and meant to catch you off guard. Not many westerns filmed in winter settings, but the snowy locations add to the dark, cynical feel of the movie and the use of black and white really adds to the effect. Take advantage of this new DVD, the movie's well worth a watch.
The always reliable Robert Ryan leads a strong cast as Blaise Starrett, the Wyoming rancher who's always been interested in his own problems but now finds himself having to look out for the well-being of others. Starrett makes a noble transformation by the end of the movie, something you actually believe in because it's Robert Ryan. Singer Burl Ives gives a startling performance as Captain Jack Bruhn, a cavalry officer with a checkered past now leading a band of ruthless renegades. Bruhn is not like his men and single-handedly keeps them behaved. A pre-Gilligan's Island Tina Louise shows what a good actress she is as Helen Crane, a farmer's wife who has feelings for Starrett but neither of them know what to do if they want to be together. Jack Lambert and Lance Fuller are very good as Tex and Pace, two of Bruhn's gang and maybe the most dangerous of them all. Other recognizable western faces here include Nehemiah Persoff, Elisha Cook, Dabbs Greer, Alan Marshal, and David Nelson.
The DVD has a widescreen presentation of the movie in its original black and white format. The Andre De Toth directed movie looks great with all the snowy locations, but unfortunately there's no special features here. The movie's a good one though, especially Robert Ryan and Burl Ives, so give Day of the Outlaw a try!
Ryan Rules. July 24, 2008
Ronald Gearles (KY)
Superb western to just now be released on dvd. We need more of these classics for our movie libraries, but its just a shame we have to wait so long to get them.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 12
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