Tension at Table Rock

1956

1h 33m

IMDb RATING

5.9/10

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Western

Drama

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

Directors

Charles Marquis Warren

Writers

Winston Miller(screenplay by)

Frank Gruber(novel by)

Stars

Richard Egan

Dorothy Malone

Cameron Mitchell

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Top cast

Wes Tancred

Lorna Miller

Sheriff Fred Miller

Jody Burrows

Harry Jameson

Kirk

Hampton

Jim Breck

Ed Burrows (as Joe DeSantis)

Cathy Murdock

Sam Murdock

Lerner (uncredited)

Doctor (uncredited)

Townsman (uncredited)

Directors

Charles Marquis Warren

Writers

Winston Miller(screenplay by)

Frank Gruber(novel by)

All cast & crew

Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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

John Chard11 Feb, 2016