The Last Wagon (1956)

After the Apaches wipe out a wagon train, a condemned prisoner (Richard Widmark) must lead the 6 survivors through Apache territory and hopefully make it to safety. Even if it means there's a noose waiting for him at the end of the journey. Delmer Daves is responsible for some of the best westerns of the 1950s decade. 3:10 TO YUMA and JUBAL are probably the most admired of these but THE LAST WAGON is an (way) above average western that can stand proudly among the best westerns of that decade. Beautifully shot in CinemaScope by Wilfrid M. Cline (1953's CALAMITY JANE) in Sedona, Arizona. The film is strong with limited sentimentality until the very end when it's acceptable. Racism is examined as well as the nature of taking the "law" into your own hands when there is no law but your own sense of justice. Widmark gives a marvelous performance and as the survivors: that underrated lovely Felicia Farr (3:10 TO YUMA), Susan Kohner, Nick Adams, Tommy Rettig, Ray Stricklyn and Stephanie Griffin are all first rate. Also with James Drury, Carl Benton Reid, Timothy Carey and Douglas Kennedy.