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Out of Warner Brothers and filmed in Warnercolor, Westbound is directed by Budd Boetticher & written by Berne Giler & Albert Shelby LeVino. It stars Randolph Scott, Virginia Mayo, Karen Steele, Michael Dante, Andrew Duggan & Michael Pate. The story is set in 1864 during the American Civil War where Scott plays John Hayes, the man charged with the task of running the Overland Stage Line between California and Julesburg, Colorado. The function of which is to transport gold and the mail to aid the Union war effort. In Julesburg, Hayes finds a host of problems with Confederate sympathisers led by Clay Putnam (Duggan), who also happens to be married to Norma (Mayo), an old flame of Hayes.

Of the seven Western film's that Boetticher and Scott made, Westbound is widely regarded as the weakest. Not part of the Ranown cycle they did that featured Harry Joe Brown on production and Burt Kennedy screen writing, it is a decent, if disposable, Western movie. The story is actually rather enticing, but with such a small running time and a condensed location shoot, the movie is never quite able to lay down some solid footings for the characters to flourish from. This leaves the supporting actors either exposed to their failings as thesps (Duggan is particularly bad), or playing underdeveloped participants (sadly the case with Mayo).

However, this being Boetticher & Scott it does have some nice passages to take in, unsurprisingly the best of which is when Scott is on screen. Be it cocking a rifle with one hand, throwing one of his best ever punches, squaring off against Pate's effective turn as henchman Mace; or laying on some reflective emotion around the two ladies of the piece, Scott is always captivating. What action there is is attention grabbing for the budget and David Buttolph provides a perky score that's at its best during the stagecoach sequences. With the exteriors primarily filmed at the Warner Ranch, J. Peverell Marley is able to photograph enough of the grassy hilled scenery to make an easy on the eye impact.

Enjoyable and safe fare for Western fans, but very much a low key affair from the normally dynamite partnership of director & star. 6/10

Greeting.

I cannot recall exactly how many times I have watched the film, "Westbound." I saw it in the theaters with my dad in 1959, and on TV many, many times since then. I have always enjoyed Randolph Scott, and Virginia Mayo (from St. Louis)! I liked the story of gold shipments from Julesburg, Colorado to the Federal Treasury. Confederates are waylaying the gold, and Randolph Scott returns to Julesburg to fix the problem.

Great story. Great story within a story of the one armed Federal veteran running a relay station. The color was good too. HOWEVER, what grabbed my attention, and still does, is the musical score! The music, especially the theme for traveling stagecoaches, is perfect, and very melodic!

Music is for me one of the major elements in a film. It must all be taken in together. I want desperately to purchase a VHS or DVD of Westbound so I can view it sans commercials, with great enjoyability!!! One of my very favorite Westerns!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Terry Klasek

Westbound does not form part of the "Ranown "cycle of Westerns on which star Scott and director Boetticher collaborated in the 1950's and which included such stone classics as Comanche Station,The Tall T and Ride Lonesome .These were the work of the excellent screenwriter ,later director, Budd Kennedy while this has a workmanlike script from a pair of studio hacks The storyline is a little thin and this is the only major weak spot in a tense and crisp Western which takes the Civil War as its backdrop .Scott plays a Union cavalry officer assigned to re-establish a stage line that he once managed before the war ,the purpose being to ship gold from California to the Federal banks .He must overcome a Confederate agent ,in the form of Andrew Duggan and still he finds time to romance the feisty and gallant heroine played by Karen Steele Boetticher directs with style and aplomb ;there is a lively musical score and some limpid colour cinematography by J Peverell Mackay that adds real lustre to the look of the picture . Add some strong performances and you get an above average minor Western with a crisp running time and lots of lively action by way of diversion .It is a very neat little movie indeed and recommended to Western fans in particular

Westbound finds Captain Randolph Scott of the Union Army headed in that direction to return to his civilian occupation, that of manager for the Overland Stage Company. As the main transporter of gold for the Union Treasury, Overland has had its share of holdups and other problems caused by Confederate raiders and the army puts Scott on detached duty to return to run Overland.

Scott's told to make his headquarters in Julesburg which is a hotbed of Confederate sympathy. The man Scott is replacing has absconded with all the horses and records of the company. While Scott's in the army, that man Andrew Duggan also absconded with the woman that Scott intended to marry. Virginia Mayo is now Mrs. Duggan.

Randy does what he can to cobble together Stagecoaches, horses, and people to drive them. But Duggan who is a Southern sympathizer has at his disposal a nasty pack of gunslingers headed by Michael Pate.

Westbound is an unusually short film, more in the tradition of those Roy Rogers, Gene Autry and other B cowboys from Republic. But the film does cram quite a lot into its 68 minute running time. This is one of the better Randolph Scott/Budd Boetticher collaborations. It also has a nice bouncy theme for when the stagecoach is running.

Definitely a film that will make one a Randolph Scott fan if you haven't been before.

Agree with other viewers that "Westbound" is the least of the seven Budd Boettcher/Randolph Scott westerns. But the assured work of both Director Boettcher and Star Scott take this up a notch or two from the run-of-the-mill fifties oater. Nice work too from Michael Pate as the arch villain (watch the way he moves). And it's good to see Virginia Mayo, even in a throwaway role. In most other respects, though, this just isn't up to Boettcher's other work with Scott, and the fact Boettcher dismissed and virtually disowned it is no surprise. The movie lacks the tough, lean feel that makes the others real classics that can be seen over and over. One viewing is enough for "Westbound."

Thought it was a weak effort - the next 3 following films of Randolph Scott ( his last 3 before he retired ) , were all very good and he was so much better- much better scripts to work with perhaps, I guess - he seems kind of dry here more like acting/feeling his age in this movie - he was 60 years old - and thought it was all pretty average fare - a lot of talk , not a lot of dramatic tension - and he goes from being a father figure to Karen Steele and her husband , to a romantic interest at the end - he's 60 and she's 27 and newly widowed in the film - that made him seem even older - Not a lot of tension with main bad guy here as in other better Scott /Budd Boetticher (and those written by Burt Kennedy ) efforts like where had Richard Boone , Claude Akins , Lee Marvin or Lee Van Cleef being the menacingly 'smiling villains facing him .

This is a decent western—how could it not be since it stars Randolph Scott, always a cowboy who could make you believe it. Here he's a cavalry officer charged with getting gold shipments back east for the Union war effort. Trouble is there are Southern sympathizers in town, including his romantic rival (Duggan) and the hired gunsel (Pate); on the other hand, Scott's only help is a one-armed ex-Union soldier and his eye-catching wife (Dante & Steele).

Most of the action occurs in town or at the stagecoach way station, but we do get some well-chosen scenic shots in Warner Color. Also, Dante makes a likable ally for Scott, as he shows us how to fire a rifle with only one hand; at the same time, he and Scott play off one another really well. However, Mayo's role looks like an inessential add-on, maybe for marquee value.

Unfortunately, that final shootout is not up to Boetticher's usual standards— for example, Mace (Pate) looks like he wants to get shot, standing in the middle of the street as bullets fly. Speaking of the versatile Michael Pate, he seems to have been in about every sage opera of the period. But then he's got such a different look, so well suited to playing baddies.

Anyway, the overall result is not on par with Boetticher's classic Ranown series of westerns, made at about the same time, (The Tall T {1957}, et al.). It's a comparison that may indicate the importance of producer Harry Joe Brown to that exceptional series. Nonetheless, Westbound is still worth a look-see as Scott turns in another fine performance.

During the American Civl War, an Army captain is tasked with ensuring the safe transport of government gold in the Old West. This is perhaps the weakest of the seven Boetticher-Scott Westerns, thanks to a so-so script that fails to evolve into a compelling narrative. The best of the series featured the writing of Burt Kennedy, and he's absent here. Scott plays a character similar to the others in the series, an easy-going fellow pushed to fight by the bad guys. Mayo plays the love interest, although she has a small role. Featured in a more prominent female role is Steele, who also appeared in two other Boetticher-Scott Westerns.

I've been considered Budd Boetticher one of great western director on cinema industry, but Westbound is a point outside the curve, quite sure, an ordinary plot, predicable and senseless, having in the beauty Virginia Mayo as the first waste, she was flouted, just few laconic scenes, Randolph plays Captain Hayes who was a former manager of Overland stage line in the pastime, his main assignment enforced by the Union Army is restore the safety of stage line steadily undermined by southern on Colorado territory, he arrives in town accompanied by a cripple soldier Rod Miller (Michael Dante) who had cut your lefty arm infected by gangrene and waived of the war, often blaming himself as a half man, supported by his young wife Jeannie Miller (Barbara Steele), on the Julesburgh's town the rich man Clay Puttman (Andrew Duggan) no longer wants make part of the Overland line, he resigned due has strong southern roots, although has in mind finds an easy way to stopping the shipment gold thru the stagecoach line from California, nonetheless he has a dangerous gang behind leading by an unsavory assassin Mace (Michael Paté) who have his own rules, uncumbering his blind boss, a minor movie from Boetticher, for your notable relevance 7 out 10!!

Resume:

First watch: 2020 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 7

The not so good first. The use of weaponry by all of the characters years before it was available. Much of the clothing appears more appropriate for a modern day dude ranch rather than the 1860's west (although I always love Randy's dark blue shirt, dark blue pants and yellow bandanna). The writing and characterizations just were not on a par with the other Scott/Boetticher efforts.

The good news. This is a Randolph Scott western. None of the above matters. Enjoy!

Westbound may be a weaker Budd Boetticher-Randolph Scott collaboration but way above average for the movies in this period. Although the talented lead actress Virginia Mayo had limited scenes, she still made a strong presence in the scenes she was in. Boetticher most likely gave preference to another talented beauty and girlfriend Karen Steele. Michael Dante gave his usual strong performance of a soldier who had his arm cut off during the Civil War blaming himself as "half a man." Andrew Duggan is strong as the lead villain of the Confederate raiders and Michael Pate (well known for saving John Wayne in Hondo) lives up to his name as one of the best villains in the business. Good to see comedy man Wally Brown as stagecoach driver Stubby. Romantic subplots , two stunning actresses and a great musical score make Westbound a must see.

I like Budd Boetticher's work very much and, in particular his collaborations with Randolph Scott in Westerns like SEVEN MEN FROM NOW, RIDE LONESOME, COMANCHE STATION. Sadly, WESTBOUND pales by comparison with those, even though the female cast vastly outclasses any of the other Scott/Boetticher efforts in terms of beauty - and their acting is not so bad that I won't write home about it!

The script does not help - could it be because the original story was penned by one Albert Le Vino, who may well have imbibed a trifle more than recommended? After all, Boetticher also built up quite a reputation for downing pints of beer and other alcoholic beverages with alarming swiftness, often between takes.

Otherwise, not bad but hard to believe. 6/10.

It's pretty hard to believe, but in Westbound, the famous Southern actor Randolph Scott plays a Yankee! This story follows a group of Union soldiers traveling to California for more supplies, but when stopping in Colorado, Southern sympathizers try to sabotage them. Scottie's friend and veteran, Michael Dante, is returning to his new bride Karen Steele with the hope she won't mind he lost an arm in the war. She doesn't, but it's very funny to see her act with love and devotion to her husband while shooting Scottie McScottie Pants smoldering glances. I doubt it's in the script, but there's some pretty thick tension between them. Can you blame either one of them?

Scottie's love interest is Virginia Mayo, a former sweetheart who married the town villain. Thank goodness she has a small part, because her terrible acting makes it clear she didn't want to be in the movie and tried very hard to ruin any scene she was in. All in all, Scottie looks very handsome in this one, but it's not his best. Check out The Bounty Hunter or Riding Shotgun for more thrilling westerns.

I guess i've seen all of randolf scott's films at least a dozen times ... this one has plenty of action and the beautiful karen steele who has performed with scott in at least three westerns i'm aware ... she unfortunately didn't live to a ripe old age but died young at 56 from cancer

While the western genre is not my favourite one of all film genres (not sure which one is my favourite due to trying to appreciate them all the same), there is a lot of appreciation for it by me. There are a lot of very good to great films, with the best work of John Ford being notable examples.

In the late 50s, starting in 1956 with 'Seven Men from Now' and right up to 1960 with 'Comanche Station', lead actor Randolph Scott collaborated with director Budd Boetticher in seven films. For me, 1959's 'Westbound' is one of their weakest along with 'Decision at Sundown'. By all means it is a long way from terrible, it has a lot of great elements and is actually pretty decent. It just isn't in the same league as the wonderful 'Seven Men from Now', 'The Tall T' and 'Ride Lonesome' and doesn't have enough of what made those two so good, they had far better scripts and characterisation in particular as well as better supporting casts.

Starting with the strengths, while not the best-looking of their outings, being smaller in scale and slightly too compact in its setting, 'Westbound' still looks pleasing. It is very nicely filmed, with some nice colour and atmosphere, and handsomely designed, it just lacks the visual grandeur of their best collaborations. The music, wonderfully perky and one of the best scores of the Scott/Boetticher western films, has presence and fits perfectly, while not being intrusive.

Boetticher directs efficiently and mostly the film goes at a pace that isn't pedestrian. Numerous parts are suspenseful and fun, with some well choreographed action. The ending is effective. Scott brings likeability, charisma and intensity to his role and he is well supported by Karen Steele, oozing glamour, class and charm in the far better written of the female roles, and the wonderfully arch Michael Pate.

However, the rest of the supporting cast are pretty feeble, definitely the weakest supporting cast of the Scott/Boetticher westerns. Virginia Mayo is wasted with hardly anything to do in a nothing role. Andrew Duggan's charisma-free performance is just as weak, liked him in 'Decision at Sundown' so what happened.

The script, very like that for 'Decision at Sundown', is too wordy, lacking the meat and tautness of the scripts of the best Scott/Boetticher films, and can preach and be too basic. There is not enough depth to the characters, with only Scott's hero being developed enough and even then his motivation should have been explored more and more gripping. Mayo's role is especially sketchy and could have been written out. The story has a lot of great moments, but there is also some credibility straining, overload of simplicity and lack of tautness.

Altogether, decent but had the potential to be much better. 6/10 Bethany Cox

Sadly, this is an ordinary western so unlike the sterling SEVEN MEN FROM NOW. So many of the stories have a familiar classic ring to them so it really comes down to how well then are preformed. This entry in the Scott-Boetticher cycle is poorly performed by the supporting cast. Unlike "SEVEN MEN" with the brilliant Lee Marvin and also the wonderful Gail Russell, this oater lets us down by the stars. Also the script doesn't have the dynamic of their other films. The love feelings or sometime love affairs of Scott with his leading ladies in these films is a key to the total enjoyment. Unfortunately, this film has little of heartfelt emotion that Russell and Scott provided in "SEVEN MEN"