Wizard-8
Made during the height of the western film genre's popularity, "Escort West" overall isn't terribly exceptional, but it does provide an easygoing hour and a quarter of entertainment if you are not in a terribly fussy mood. Even under those circumstances, some minor flaws do arise. It was obviously shot quickly and fairly cheaply - there's nothing really in the way of eye candy on display here. The character of Victor Mature's daughter could easily have been edited out without having to rewrite the rest of the movie. And Victor Mature himself only gives an adequate performance. But the movie does move along fairly swiftly and does not overstay its welcome, and there are a few fairly tense moments here and there. This movie won't make western haters into converts, but if you are a fan of the genre it's an okay way to kill some time.
FightingWesterner
In the days following the Civil War, ex-Confederate Victor Mature (Italian accent intact!) and daughter travel west, where they're insulted by and then have to rescue two northeastern sisters from a group of marauding Indians, following a massacre of their military escort.This is an entertaining enough western, though fairly by-the-numbers and low-budget. However, a short running time, some good suspense, great location photography (in Cinemascope), some sharp gun-play and a neat, rocky climax all help keep things moving along nicely.Familiar western stars help out too, including Harry Carey, Noah Beery, and slim Pickens, as well as co-writer Leo Gordon and Gunsmoke's Ken Curtis, who play a couple of low-life Army deserters.
Spikeopath
Escort West is directed by Francis D. Lyon and adapted to screenplay by Leo Gordon and Fred Hartsook from a story by Steven Hayes. It stars Victor Mature, Elaine Stewart, Faith Domergue, Reba Waters, Noah Beery Jr., Leo Gordon, Rex Ingram, John Hubbard, Harry Carey Jr. and Slim Pickens. Music is by Henry Vars and CinemaScope cinematography by William H. Clothier. Set in Nevada 1865 at the end of The Civil War, Escort West follows ex- Confederate soldier Ben Lassiter (Mature) as he travels West with his young daughter Abbey (Waters). Still meeting hostile reactions from Union cavalry officers and supporters in the area, things take a dramatic turn when Ben and Abbey happen upon the aftermath of a Modoc Indian attack that has left a troop of Union cavalrymen dead. However, there are three survivors, sisters Beth (Stewart) and Martha (Domergue), and injured Nelson Walker (Ingram). The Lassiter's try to escort the survivors to safety, but with the Modocs and rouge Union cavalrymen interested in a payroll in Ben's possession a constant threat out in the terrain, it's going to be tough. It's pretty predictable in formula, complete with an uninteresting burgeoning romance, but it's a film that's never dull and it's always compelling as a character driven travelogue. The left over attitudes born out by the war add some spice into the narrative, with Domergue portraying a bile strewn bitch from hell and Mature a contemplative father of substance, and there are a good number of action sequences that are thrillingly executed. Cast performances are strong enough for the material, where it's nice to see Mature and Waters' father and daughter relationship play out as tender and believable, and ace cinematographer Clothier's Scope photography is beautiful and keeps the picture consistently airy. 6.5/10
doug-balch
This is a low budget Western that is a little corny, but highly watchable. Here are its good points:Excellent Civil War theme.Victor Mature is pretty good in the leadVery nice supporting cast with Slim Pickens, Harry Carey Jr., Leo Gordon and Ken Curtis.Story moves along nicely and holds interest. Only a couple of plot holes/inconsistenciesfilmed on location, although only in greater L.A. area, not "Nevada".Here's what dragged it downLittle girl is horribly corny and almost ruins movieFemale lead characters are weak and the actresses are lousy.Whole plot is on the thin side i.e. not that much really happens in this.Indians are not characterized.
AD
