Copyright 1958 by Batjac-Romina. No New York opening. U.S. release: January 1959. U.K. release: 2 November 1958 (sic). Australian release: 23 April 1959. 6,856 feet. 76 minutes.SYNOPSIS: Soon after the end of the Civil War, an ex-Confederate captain and his young daughter make a perilous journey through Indian country as they seek a new future in the north-west. VIEWERS' GUIDE: Lots of action, but the British Board of Film Censors didn't cut so much as a foot and they awarded the film a Universal Exhibition certificate way back in 1958. So who are we to argue?COMMENT: A taut and exciting little western, with more than enough action to satisfy the most demanding fans. In fact there's enough plot twists to keep any audience involved. True, the characters are much the usual stereotypes, but the players put them all across with commendable force and vitality. Even Victor Mature paints a likable portrait. It must be admitted that neither Elaine Stewart nor Faith Domergue are overly well-groomed or super attractively made up. This lack of superficial beauty may disappoint some of their followers, though I thought it made their presence in the picture more realistic. CinemaScope is engagingly utilized in the capable hands of director Francis D. Lyon. Not only is the action presented with maximum impact, but the frame arrangements — especially during early dialogue scenes — often make strikingly effective use of the full width of the anamorphic screen. Speaking of dialogue, it's indisputable that many "B" westerns fall down badly in this respect. But not "Escort West". No doubt actor Leo Gordon who co-wrote the screenplay, saw to it that the talk was much more natural and far less clichéd than the norm. Production values are well above average. Executive producer John Wayne has not stinted on funds for location filming and has engaged a most competent team of technicians to support the first-rate cast. If you don't like "Escort West", better give all "B" westerns a miss. This is as good as they get.

Film was not much more than a watchable western, but see it for a look at Sly's real dad and mom.........Victor Mature and Faith Dommergue. Check closely the contributions each made to Sly's features, you will see what I mean. Oh, yeah, story was formula hero western and nothing special other than for the long list of western legends like Slim Pickens and Harry Carrey, Jr. and the drama queen antics of Ms. Dommergue. She was surely the film world's best pouter.Just kidding on the Sly thing, but they sure look like his parents. Maybe I'm wrong about the kidding.

"Gunsight Ridge" director Francis D. Lyon's "Escort West" ranks as an average, occasionally tense, but thoroughly predictable black & white, 76-minute, B-movie cavalry versus the redskins western with few surprises. Victor Mature of John Ford's classic "My Darling Clementine" and a number of other seasoned western stalwarts, among them Noah Beery, Jr., Slim Pickens, Harry Carey, Jr., Ken Curtis, and Leo Gordon, flesh out a solid cast that includes Elaine Stewart of "Night Passage" and Faith Domergue of "This Island Earth." The Indians on the rampage in this oater are renegade Modocs that have been outlawed by their own tribe. This United Artists release benefits from the widescreen cinematography of William Clothier who lensed many John Wayne horse operas, among them "Big Jake," "The Horse Soldiers," "The Train Robbers," "Chism," "Rio Lobo," "The Undefeated," "McClintock!," "The Comancheros," "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance," "Cheyenne Autumn," and "The Alamo." When Clothier wasn't photographing John Wayne in the saddle, he was shooting James Stewart in "Bandolero!," "Firecreek," "The Rare Breed," "The Cheyenne Social Club," and "Shenandoah." Why the "Escort West" producers—particularly an uncredited John Wayne--did not see fit to shoot this adventure yarn in color is a mystery because it would have enhanced the colorful scenery and made the gray uniform that Mature sports stand out against the blue uniforms that the cavalrymen wear.The action takes place in Nevada in 1865, not long after the American Civil War. A former Confederate officer, Captain Ben Lassiter (Victor Mature sans a southern accent), and his young daughter, Abbey (TV actress Reba Waters), are riding to Oregon to live with his late wife's sister when they encounter a U.S. Cavalry patrol at the way station. The cavalry are taking two sisters, Beth Drury (Elaine Stewart) and Martha Drury (Faith Domergue), to meet an army escort. Beth plans to marry U.S. Cavalry Captain Howard Poole (William Ching of "The Sea Hornet") while Martha plans to head to the more civilized environs of San Francisco. Martha is snobbish, selfish, and when he sees Lassiter's gray uniform, she drips with venom, because the man that she was supposed to wed died in the Civil War. One character expresses his amazement that Beth and Martha are sisters. The cavalry patrol pulls out while Ben and Abbey hang around to dine.Later, when Ben and Abbey catch up with the cavalry patrol at the next way station, they discover that the savage, bloodthirsty Modocs have massacred everybody. Two troopers, Vogel (Leo Gordon of "Tobruk") and Birch (Ken Curtis of "Gunsmoke"), were out scouting when the Indians struck the way station. Ben comes across a old African-American, Nelson (Rex Ingram of "Cabin in the Sky"), who has been shot in the lower leg and has been faking that he is dead. Nelson tells Ben about the two Drury sisters hidden in a cellar. The entire way station has been burnt to a crisp, but the Modocs haven't touched the Army Payroll. Ben fixes up a litter to carry Nelson on and they strike out. While all of this is happening, Captain Poole and his men are pinned down by several Modoc marksmen, led by Tago (X Brands of "Gunmen from Laredo"), and they are gradually whittling down the cavalrymen.Eventually, Ben and company come upon Vogel and Birch. Abbey lets slip that they saved the payroll and Vogel pulls a gun on an unsuspecting Ben, and then Birch and he seize the money. Vogel doesn't have a qualm about killing the two women, Abbey, and Ben, until Birch complains.Perennial villain Leo Gordon penned the screenplay with Fred Hartsook and Steve Hayes of "Time After Time," and most of the action is cat and mouse stuff with our white heroes trying to outwit the redskins. "Escort West" looks and sounds like your typical western. It isn't bad, but it isn't anything to remember beyond the presence of Mature who looks out of place as a southerner.

An ex-Confederate captain heads west with his young daughter and is caught up in the skirmishes between soldiers and Indians. Victor Mature is the hero of the proceedings as he rescues two women, fights off Indian attacks and saves an army payroll from the hands of renegade soldiers. The two sisters are at odds over the resolution of the Civil War and snipe at each other through the picture. The film has very little pace and spotty action and an awkward romantic plot is thrown in for good measure. Faith Domergue, a B actress who never quite made it to the first rank, is Mature's love interest. Leo Gordon appears as a bad soldier and contributes his talents as a screenwriter for this film.