Comanche Station (1960)

A man (Randolph Scott) with a history of freeing white prisoners captured by Indians trades with the Comanches for a white woman (Nancy Gates). But before they can safely arrive at their destination, they must survive the trek through hostile Indian country as well as the three outlaws (Claude Akins, Skip Homeier, Richard Rust) who join them. Directed by Budd Boetticher, this was the last of the six westerns he made in collaboration with actor Randolph Scott and it's one of his best. The screenplay by Burt Kennedy contains some fine writing. There's really only five characters in the whole movie (other roles are limited to single scenes and then only briefly) and Kennedy's script etches their characters quickly and with enough detail so that we really get to know them. These aren't simplistic characterizations either. Even the "bad guy" played by Akins has shadings rather than the black and white characters that too many westerns indulge in. The film also gives the undervalued Nancy Gates the best movie role she ever had. The ending remains as affecting as ever. Kudos to Charles Lawton Jr.'s CinemaScope cinematography which handsomely captures the Lone Pine locations.