The Younger Brothers

Moviecut—The Younger Brothers

Although unusually in colour for a second string oater, the vivid clothes of the lead females fails to bring any life to the flatly directed screenplay. The "plot" revolves around the Youngers newly released on parole attempting to go straight but being pursued by a vengeful ex-Pinkerton man (a scenery chewing Fred Clark) and a femme fatale determined to involve them in her bank robbery schemes whether they want to or not. As Cole Younger, Wayne Morris is big and hunky enough but his " cool" demeanour and wooden acting skills undermine things. The standard of action is frankly, no better than a Gene Autry or Roy Rogers TV episode with Colt .45's that never need reloading and uncanny shooting skills that allow a horse rider to shoot from the hip and wound a man from at least 50 feet...oh dear...

Interesting story idea... the brothers who had ridden with the james gang want to go straight. They have been paroled, and want to keep clean until the hearing. But things don't always go as planned. The townies interfere, and make sure that things get more complicated for them. Including kate (janis paige). She still wants revenge for things that happened in the past. Fun co-stars... alan hale was in every black and white film ever made. Monte blue, fred clark. Gun fights. Romance, bank robberies, waiting around. All leading up to the hearing. Directed by edwin marin. Died young at 52. Hale died young at 57. Both passed away just a couple years after making this film. The lead, wayne morris died young at 45, ten years later. Geraldine brooks died at 51. Fred clark died at 54. Tom tyler died at 50. Cursed cast.

The Younger brothers were overshadowed in life by the James brothers and this has continued to be reflected in movies.Pictures where they have taken centre screen have been of a lesser quality than movies where they have played second fiddle to the James boys. This is a pretty dire Western ,one which depicts the notorious outlaws as saintly ,put -upon figures striving to remain within the law but hounded by a former Pinkerton agent who blames them for his lost job and for his crippled leg.Also striving to ensnare them is a woman outlaw who wants them as part of her bank robbery gang Stolidly acted by a second string cast and directed with little or no passion this is at least brief and can boast a lively musical score. Otherwise it is so routine as to be forgettable almost as soon as it ends.