The Desperadoes (1943)

Set in 1863 Utah, a hunted gunman (Glenn Ford) tries to go straight even though there's a price on his head. But that proves difficult when the town's corrupt banker (Porter Hall) tries to make him the fall guy for a faux bank robbery that the banker concocted so that he could keep all the bank's money. Based on a story by Max Brand and directed by Charles Vidor (GILDA). This is a routine western enhanced by its location shooting (Utah) and three strip Technicolor (Columbia's first film shot in color). For western fans, it's eminently watchable but so predictable you can call out the cliches before they happen. The film is notable because the film was produced by Harry Joe Brown, its leading man was Randolph Scott and the movie's assistant director was Budd Boetticher. Some thirteen years later, the three gentlemen would form Ranown productions which would create some of the best western movies from 1956-1960 so one should be grateful this movie was made so the men could meet. With Claire Trevor, Evelyn Keyes, Edgar Buchanan, Guinn Williams and Joan Woodbury.