Tension at Table Rock

Unrated

10/3/19561h 33m

Theatrical Release (US)

~ A man like Shane... the suspense of High Noon... ~

Overview:

When the owner of a stagecoach station is killed, a gunman takes his place.

Director:

Charles Marquis Warren

Status:

Released

Language:

English

Buget:

$0.00

Revenue:

$0.00

Key words:

gunslinger
self-defense
cattle drive
duel
stagecoach
intimidation
gunman
gunfighter
small town sheriff
saloon brawl
hired gun
gun fight
murder by gunshot
overcoming fears
fearful wife
traumatized man
cowboys

Cast

Richard Egan

~ as ~

Wes Tancred

Dorothy Malone

~ as ~

Lorna Miller

Cameron Mitchell

~ as ~

Sheriff Fred Miller

Billy Chapin

~ as ~

Jody Burrows

Royal Dano

~ as ~

Harry Jameson

Edward Andrews

~ as ~

Kirk

John Dehner

~ as ~

Hampton

DeForest Kelley

~ as ~

Jim Breck

Joe De Santis

~ as ~

Ed Burrows (as Joe DeSantis)

Angie Dickinson

~ as ~

Cathy Murdock

View full cast & crew

Reviews (1)

John Chard
Written 9 year(s) ago
7
The Ballad of Wes Tancred.

Tension at Table Rock is directed by Charles Marquis Warren and is adapted to screenplay by Winston Miller from the novel "Bitter Sage" written by Frank Gruber. It stars Richard Egan, Dorothy Malone, Cameron Mitchell, Billy Chapin, Royal Dano, Edward Andrews and John Dehner. Music is by Dimitri Tiomkin and Technicolor cinematography is by Joseph Biroc.

Wes Tancred (Egan) is a weary gunslinger who is wandering the plains after having been accused of a cowardly killing. Assuming the name of John Bailey, he happens upon the "Bitter Sage" ranch and events there will lead him into the town of Table Rock. Where his future, perhaps damned by his past, will be determined.

A good Oater full of the staples of 50s genre pieces, tension at Table Rock is nonetheless a worthy morsel for those keen of a Western diet. Pic picks up a number of thematic threads, such as the gunman trying to go straight, a lawman who has lost his bottle, and hero worship by way of surrogacy. Naturally there's a romantic angle, with Malone all bright eyed and perched in between Egan and Mitchell, but this is thankfully not over played.

Standard action scenes are handled well by Warren, a man who knew his way around dusters of TV and cinema. Costuming and scenic photography is pleasing, while Egan (tortured square jawed machismo), Mitchell (tortured and scarred and awaiting machismo rebirth) and Dano (eleagant wise man) are in good credit with performances. Best of the support is Dehner, no surprise there, and Angie Dickinson and DeForest Kelly have minor but key roles to play.

It's all tightly played out to the point that the derivative nature of the story is in no way a hindrance to the entertainment on offer. 7/10