"Gun Glory" director Roy Rowland's "The Outriders" is an American Civil War western set during the twilight days of the conflict with actors Joel McCrea, James Whitmore, and Barry Sullivan cast as three Confederates who escape from a Union prison camp and make their way west. Interestingly, Barry Sullivan is the weak link in this threesome because he is the villain. This represented the first time that I had several the typically heroic Sullivan as a heavy. Anyway, the three escape after Sullivan kills a Union guard and they find themselves eventually to the camp of Confederate renegade terrorist Keeley (Jeff Corey of "True Grit") and his minion Bye (Ted de Corsia of "Gunfight at the O.K. Corral"). Keeley wants our three protagonists to rob a wagon trail heading from Santa Fe to St. Louis. Everything appears to be going according to plan, except that Will Owen (Joel McCrea) is losing his allegiance to the cause. He meets and falls in love with Jen Gort (Arlene Dahl of "Land Raiders") and he changes his mind. Meantime, Jesse Wallace (Barry Sullivan) turns more treacherous than ever. Rowland stages several good genre scenes, but the one that stands out prominently is the scene when our heroes must cut wood to get the wagon trail across a rapidly flowing river that has risen far above its normal level. Although not as good as "South of St. Louis," "The Outsiders" is nevertheless a solid western well worth watching.

During the last year of the US Civil War, confederate prisoners Joel McCrea (as Will Owen), Barry Sullivan (as Jesse Wallace), and James Whitmore (as Clint Priest) escape from a Union prison camp. They hook up with a band of cutthroats led by Jeff Corey (as Keeley) and join a plot to steal gold from wagon master Ramon Novarro (as Antonio Chaves), which would help the Confederacy. Among those on Mr. Novarro's wagon train are an arousing blonde widow Arlene Dahl (as Jen Gort) and her young brother-in-law Claude Jarman Jr. (as Roy Gort)...Written by Irving Ravetch, there are some unusual touches here, beginning the opening "overkill" of the young Union officer. The tension between characters promises more conflict than actually occurs, and an undeveloped character's fate is a wash-out. Still slumbering along without ever catching fire, "The Outriders" is a colorful, well-cast but routine western. Perhaps, fewer characters would have been preferable, beginning with the escape of two instead of three prisoners. Former "silent" star Novarro gives an note-worthy supporting performance.****** The Outriders (3/1/50) Roy Rowland ~ Joel McCrea, Arlene Dahl, Ramon Novarro, Barry Sullivan

Joel McCrea did another western with a similar premise to The Outriders for Warner Brothers in South of St. Louis. That was three partners in a cattle ranch who all went their separate ways as a result of the Civil War. Here to the premise is three men who also go their separate ways as a result of the Civil War. Here the shared experience is prison camp. Joel McCrea, Barry Sullivan, and James Whitmore are Confederate prisoners who escape in early 1865. In effecting their escape they fall into the hands of a rebel guerrilla leader played by Jeff Corey.Being guerrillas these guys don't play by the rules. The trio either goes west to Santa Fe to act as Judas goats and lead a gold train into ambush or die right there. Even the always honorable Joel McCrea sees he has no options here.The rest of the story is how the conflicts internal and external are resolved and how the three escaped prisoners decide what course they have to take. Oh, and Joel McCrea meets up with Arlene Dahl and she kind of helps him along in the decision process.The movies never had a more honorable or stalwart hero than Joel McCrea. And if you've seen any of his films, fans will know that whatever he does it will be the honorable thing. It's a tribute to McCrea that if he insisted on always being the stalwart hero, he had the talent and personality to carry it off.It's familiar ground for Joel McCrea, but western fans will like the story and the gorgeous technicolor photography that captures it.

We all project ourselves into the books we read and films we see, so the more closer to our lives the entertainment vehicle is, the greater the experience and enjoyment. So I suppose this film would have just been another oater for me but for that one small detail.The Outriders was a typical late '40s western movie, so the only reason I decided to watch it was that I like Joel McRea. Otherwise I might have passed on this 55 year old sage brush saga. But once it started, the female lead, Arlene Dahl, caught my eye.Ms. Dahl could have been just another late 1940s blonde, blue eyed movie star in another late 1940s oater except for two things. first, she looked uncannily like my high school sweetheart (I know, everyone has an old high school sweetheart-go watch American Graffiti) but she really did look like her. And secondly, she spoke softly and moved, glided across the stage, just like *** did.Then the story line somewhat mirrored the relationship we had. A tough and dangerous outlaw meets a sweet, honest and stunning beauty. I let myself slip into the fantasy of this movie figuring it would be a nice bit of nostalgic escapism. but then came the dance scene during the wagon train's stop on its overland journey. Head honcho Will Owens (McRea) tells Jen Gort (Ms. Dahl) to stay in the wagon to avoid getting the trail hands stirred up, but when the men break out fiddles and guitars and start singing around the camp fire, she comes out, dressed to the nines with her dancing shoes. Jen glides effortlessly across the camera's view and dances with all the men, politely and dignified, yet strikingly alluring and all woman. But what touched me was when she told Will Owens "you wanted me the most". No modern day tawdriness; nor erotic film scene with naked, sweating bodies could convey the message any clearer than her voice, her eyes and those words. It took me back.This film may just be another fast paced western to most, but to me it is **** and me. I miss her.