I love this movie so much

just watch it!

if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

Mostly, the movie is committed to the value of a good time.

In the late 1960s, I saw this on TV and have remembered it fondly all these years -- correctly, as it turns out."Wild Bill" Elliott has been one of my favorite cowboy movie performers since my childhood, and Marie Windsor became one of my favorite actresses for this very movie.Since seeing her in this, I have marveled at her in such other classic roles as the ex-wife in "Trouble Along the Way" and the gossip-target in "Paradise Alley."She doesn't do her own singing in "Hellfire" but she sure does her own wearing of the dance-hall costume and reminds us that she was a great beauty.As a gun-toting outlaw, she also made one superlative Westerner.She looked very at home on horseback, and was thoroughly believable in this different role, probably my favorite of all her performances.She and Elliott were very ably backed by Forrest Tucker, who, except for one scene, a type very few actors play well, probably wins the acting award in this movie. He was so cool, so at home, so confident, I was reminded that he was really a fine actor, not just a type, but a very capable actor (even when unfortunately cast in some terribly scripted movies or TV shows).As was often true, a fellow cast member was the great Jim Davis. For several reasons, Jim Davis has long been one of my favorites. He had a memorable voice and his presence always provided quality.Veteran Paul Fix has a small part, but he was another who always came across believably.Veterans Grant Withers and Emory Parnell are sheriffs, and likable characters, and the great Harry Woods appears briefly but memorably.Look for the great Trevor Bardette, Dewey Robinson, and Denver Pyle, with veteran Herman Hack going unbilled, as well as the iconic Olin Howland and Hank Worden.This is a script I love and have loved for nigh onto 50 years, written by brothers Dorrell and Stuart McGowan. It's not corny or sappy like so many religiously oriented movies have been, but pretty much follows logically and reasonably (with only a couple small holes we can ignore) to its conclusion.But even a bad script with this outstanding cast, and so superbly directed by a man I consider shockingly under-rated, R.G. Springsteen, would earn a high rating from me."Hellfire" I can give a 10, but only because that is the highest IMDb allows. It is one of the greatest minor-A Westerns I have ever seen and I highly recommend you go to YouTube and watch it.

The writers and producers of "Hellfire" seem to have wanted to throw away the formulas and cliché's usually found in Westerns. They put an emphasis on character development to bring us vivid characters, performed very well by superior b-movie actors.This movie marked the beginning of my long-time infatuation with Marie Windsor. View it and your own Marie love affair will begin. She brings us a rare combination of strength and beauty and her performance is to be admired by both men and women. About 15 years before Jane Fonda saddled up, Marie gives us a precursor to Fonda's "Cat Ballou" but in a more serious acting style with less emphasis on comedy.Bill Elliott underplays as usual but his role calls for it, and this is probably his best film performance. His performance beautifully compliments the dynamic Windsor. Elliott is known for underplaying, but underplaying is not always a bad thing. Elliott proves that here.Elliott, Windsor and a restrained Forrest Tucker form an effective 3-way acting ensemble that is fascinating to watch, as aided by some great screen writing.In the 1940's or today you don't always need big names or budget to make a successful film. Just watch "Hellfire" straight through and let the characters and unusual plot twists grab your attention. You will be entertained.The color filming is good and all the supporting actors are first-rate. Look for the great Harry Woods in a small part- I wish he could have had a bigger role because every performance by Woods is essentially a screen acting clinic.

Republic Pictures was known as the poverty row studio that made great westerns...both of the "A" and "B" variety. "Hellfire" was an ambitious effort to turn out an "adult western".The story has gambler Jeb Smith (William Elliot) trying to fulfill a promise to a dying derelict old preacher (H.B. Warner) to build his church as the result of the old man having taken a bullet meant for Zeb. Zeb takes the preacher's bible or "Rule Book" as he calls it, and sets out to raise the necessary funds. He happens upon a gunfight between the female gunfighter Doll Brown (Marie Windsor) and Lew Stoner (Harry Woods) and decides to pursue her with the intention of using the reward on her to build his church.Also in pursuit of Doll are the Stoner Brothers (Jim Davis, Paul Fix and Louis Faust) and Marshal Bucky McLean (Forrest Tucker) who has reasons of his own for chasing Doll. The various parties meet here and there and Windsor even gets to sing a couple of forgettable tunes in her guise as a saloon singer. Does Zeb make Doll see the light? Does good triumph over evil? "Hellfire" is short on action and long on preaching. Director R.G. Spingsteen drags out the unlikely story over a long 90 minutes. There are none of the traditional Republic fight scenes and gunplay is kept to a minimum. Elliott sleepwalks through his role but Windsor is charming as the "femme fatale" of the piece (she was after all the Queen of noir). Tucker adds what little color there is as the third member of the triangle. The rest of the cast do what they can in limiting roles.Elliott, formerly known as "Wild Bill" in his "B" picture days had begun appearing in the studio's "A" features in 1946. This one was near the end of his tenure with Republic. But Republic always populated their features with great supporting casts of recognizable faces.In addition to those already mentioned, roles of varying sizes went to Emory Parnell, Grant Withers, Denver Pyle, Trevor Bardette, Dewey Robinson (as a bartender, natch), Richard Alexander, Hank Worden, Stanley Price, Fred Kohler Jr. and Kenneth MacDonald. Devout western fans will recognize most if not all of these names.It's a shame the director Springsteen couldn't find more to do for veterans H.B. Warner, Harry Woods and Grant Withers who appear only briefly."Hellfire" has its moments but to me was an overall disappointment.

When it was made(1949)this was probably pretty rough stuff. Windsor is great as the "loose woman" on the dodge, and Elliott, once again is the anti-hero...crooked gambler turned preacher. The supporting cast is tops with Jim Davis, Paul Fix, and many other familiar faces. This is a morality tale, told in fine fashion. A great companion piece to Elliot's "Savage Horde" (1950).