Sadly Over-hyped

Absolutely Fantastic

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

After playing with our expectations, this turns out to be a very different sort of film.

Associate producer: Randolph Scott. Producer: Harry Joe Brown. A Scott-Brown Production. Copyright 1955 by Producers-Actors Corporation. Released through Columbia Pictures Corp. No New York opening. U.S. release: 15 December 1955. U.K. release: 13 February 1956. Australian release: 27 July 1956. Sydney opening at the Victory. 78 minutes.COMMENT: After a slow start, the plot settles down okay, working in sufficient action for the fans. The dialogue on the other hand remains stubbornly clichéd and pretentious, as well as more than a little verbose. Director Joseph H. Lewis does what he can with it, filming in long takes to get it over with as fast as possible, and even having the actors often turn their backs on it literally to the camera. Typically, Lewis stages the action spots most vigorously, though a stand-in is obviously doing duty for Randy in his big saloon brawl with Megowan (who slugs it out most effectively without benefit of any cover). Scott is believable, as usual, and receives pleasant to middling support. Pate makes a charmingly chilling villain, whilst Miss Lansbury, who is inclined to ham it up a trifle (well, she is playing an actress after all), at least has a song, which turns out to be one of the film's highlights. Superbly staged, choreographed and directed with the camera starting in on the tacky orchestra and then tracking back slowly through the whole auditorium, this visual delight is an excellent recreation in music and sound.

not a very bad western......predictable.....but fun to see Randolph Scott practically always in a good humour and looking good for his advancing age. the action is alright and the actors do their jobs....but i don't get Angela lansbury. in all her roles she ruins the movie for me I'm sorry but she doesn't pull my heart strings at all. yes luckily randy was in this film because i don't think i would have reached the end. i have 4 more Scott westerns to watch i hope they fare better than this one and Angela is not co starring or even a character actress. oh i forgot the atmosphere of the movie really passes well and the town is well depicted. maybe a few known character actors....gabby Hayes...Andy devine...Walter Brennan would have helped it get better

You might notice that Randolph Scott is trying very hard in this film and is committed to a good performance, and this is one of his best. He tried noticeably harder in movies that he produced (understandably) like this one versus the studio-contract films he endlessly tromped through for many years.Scott, like many leading men, also noticeably worked well with respected superior actresses like Angela Lansbury here, as opposed to just random movie actresses and bimbos. Scott ups his game here and their scenes together are good. Excellent supporting players are on hand including the avuncular Wallace Ford, perennially versatile and noted actor Michael Pate, and others. John Emery, almost unknown today but part of the Hollywood fabric for a long time, makes a too-rare Western villain appearance as a rotten saloon owner. Middle age and many years of sins are etched in Emery's face. He is perfect for this role. Some fans will undoubtedly remember Emery from the sci-fi classic "Kronos".Angela Lansbury- what can I say but just note how she distinguishes and elevates this movie. You know what I mean- she's Angela Lansbury.So the formula routine plotting and the clichés are uplifted in the end result of "A Lawless Street". I can recommend it for Western fans and for fans of the individual actors involved.

Marshal Randolph Scott is the only thing standing between the town of Medicine Bend and lawlessness. Corrupt businessmen in town hire gunmen to get Scott out of the way. Meanwhile, Scott's estranged wife Angela Lansbury shows up, having left him years before due to his violent lifestyle.Scott and Lansbury are fine. Solid support from Wallace Ford, Jeanette Nolan, and Michael Pate. One of Jean Parker's last movies. She's reduced to a minor part as a married woman having an affair with one of the villains. Predictable western. A couple of nice action scenes. Nothing special but a decent time-passer. Ending is pretty flat.