Sorry I can't share the same enthusiasm for this film that prior reviewers have, but it seems to muddle from scene to scene in search of the righteous revenge angle that never quite materializes. The protagonist, Jet Cosgrave (John Derek),never evokes the kind of sympathy one would expect for his cause, because even though he was swindled out of ownership of his father's ranch, he only seems one track minded on doing away with his uncle The Major (Jim Davis). Along the way, he can't seem to keep his hands off the ladies, and I get the impression that if Mrs. Banner was a little younger, he might have tried to kiss her too.

I guess where I lost empathy for Jet was when he failed to deal with his hired gun Dude Rankin (Bob Steele) for the shooting of the camp cook at the line ranch. It was almost like, 'well that wasn't a cool thing to do, but a purpose was served so we'll let it slide'. Check the scene right after Jet admonishes Rankin, saying he's to do what he's paid for and not more; as Jet turns his horse to ride away, the horse hits Rankin in the head! I was surprised that wasn't a do over.

You know what perplexed me - the showdown that I expected to occur between Jet and the Major the first time was interrupted by the love triangle, and the Major didn't do anything but hang out waiting for something to happen. Not very believable when he was already worked up enough to face off against his nephew. Then when it was set up again, attorney Devlin interfered to prevent a more satisfying resolution. In their own way, the only characters that seemed to maintain their integrity as bad boys were the gun for hire ranch bosses, Cal Prince (James Millican) and Dude Rankin. Oh yeah, and kudos to Curly too for remaining true to his principles and not selling out his boss; what else would you expect from an actor named Nacho Galindo?

At least there was that cool fist fight on horseback between Jet and The Dude, I've never seen that before. Just about everything else though was pretty much by the book for a 'B' oater. For a better John Derek effort in a Western, I would recommend checking out the 1957 picture, "Fury at Showdown". It's got better atmosphere as a black and white film, a great bar room brawl, and an effective early appearance by Nick Adams.

Spectacular western with emotion, gunfire, go riding, twists, shoot'em up and, of course, loads of action. It stars John Derek as a young avenger who figths against his uncle, nasty rancher Jim Davis, to win his rightful inheritance of his deceased father. As he attempts to take the family ranch wrongfully held by a conniving uncle and even hiring ominous gunfighters . Along the way he finds love : Joan Taylor opposite his father Frank Ferguson, as well Derek enjoys fistfights , crossfire and ordinary final duel.

Exciting and thrilling western with thrills, brawls, stampedes and lots of gunfire. John Derek is acceptable as a tough young who takes justice on his own hands. Derek is mainly known for his marriages to gorgeous actresses as Ursula Andress, Linda Evans and Bo Derek. In The Outcast John Derek provides a nice role as a violent revenger who struggles to win his rights, though he is hardly ever macho man fo his character, usually battering his knuckles and fingering his pistol. Support cast is pretty good, such as : Ben Cooper, Frank Ferguson, the always sympathetic Slim Pickens and Jim Davis later famous for his roleas patriarch Ewing in Dallas series.

Produced by Herbert j. Yates from Republic Pictures in medium budget, it was efficiently directed by William Witney, in one of the last films for Republic. This director Witney was a prolific craftsman who worked a lot for Republic, the studio where he laboured for many years churching out a series of low budget westerns, many of them starred by singing cowboys as Roy Rogers and Gene Autry. Witney was a fine professional who made 140 titles from the 30s .By 1936, he was script supervisor on serials and his own directorial career began the following year. The favorite shooting was the 1936 serial Zorro's fighting legion. After WWII service with US Marines, he moved to Roy Rogers films and Western genre such as : Shadows of Tombstone, Heart of Rockies, Border saddlemate, Bells of Coronado, The painted stallion, The lone ranger, Home in Oklahoma, On the Old Spanish trail, Hig time in Nevada, Gay ranchero, Helldorado, Rex Ryder, Eyes of Texas , among others. Furthermore, his television work wich included some quite trilling episodes of succesful series such as : High Chaparral, Bonanza, Laramie, Zorro, The Virginian, Wagon train and he followed to work for cinema and was capable of making acceptable movies in budget enough, such as Santa Fe passage, The Bonnie Parker story and Escaped from Devil Island. Rating : 6/10. Decent and passable western.

In this tight little western which has a complex part John Derek is out to get his rightful inheritance of the ranch he feels should have been his. Instead the will lawyer Taylor Holmes drew up left the property to Derek's uncle Jim Davis. Davis is expecting Catherine McLeod a new bride and the stagecoach that brings her also brings Derek.

Derek unfortunately hired a bunch of gunmen led by Bob Steele. His hands aren't clean because of that.

Republic Pictures assembled a real good cast of familiar players to support Derek and Davis. Derek wages war on all fronts making a play for McLeod at the same time he's courting Joan Evans who is a neighboring rancher's daughter. Not exactly a move for a cowboy hero.

In its last years Republic was going in for western stories with an adult theme. The Outcast is not a film you would see Gene or Roy in. But it's a good one.