Budd Boetticher and Randolph Scott teamed up for quite a few westerns. While most of them have the simplest of plots, they managed to rise above the vast pool of mediocre films of the genre. Now this wasn't necessarily because the plots were that unusual. In fact, the plot for THE TALL T seems rather similar to quite a few westerns I've seen. The difference is the nice meandering style and Scott's simple and seemingly effortless delivery. Some of this was Scott--he was a much better actor than people thought at the time. Some of this was Boetticher's ability to bring out this from Scott and the other actors. So together they have produced with THE TALL T yet another classic film---one that is strikingly beautiful and once again has an object lesson about doing the right thing--a common theme in their films together.

In this film, genial and easy-going Scott wanders into a stage coach robbery and kidnapping along with the rest of the people on the stage. The bandits are tough and mean business--you can tell this because Henry DeSilva is among them--a perennial psycho bad boy of old Westerns. An unusual member of this ensemble cast, however, is a middle-aged Maureen O'Sullivan who is usually more at home in a Tarzan film, not a western--although she is just fine here as and aging spinster who finally marries--and marries a total lout! Later in the film, after being bullied and threatened, Scott realizes that they might not make it out alive so he decides to act. Behaving like the typical action-hero, he quickly switches from nice guy to killer--much like Bogey did in KEY LARGO--leading to a dandy showdown with all three of the killers.

The final showdown isn't particularly surprising nor are many of the plot elements. However, as I said above, it's all handled so well. Scott is great as a combination action-hero AND nice-guy cowboy and the film is among the better examples of the genre.

While the western genre is not my favourite one of all film genres (not sure which one is my favourite due to trying to appreciate them all the same),there is a lot of appreciation for it by me. There are a lot of very good to great films, with the best work of John Ford being notable examples.

In the late 50s, starting in 1956 with 'Seven Men from Now' and right up to 1960 with 'Comanche Station', lead actor Randolph Scott collaborated with director Budd Boetticher in seven films. For me, along with 'Seven Men from Now', 'The Tall T' is one of their best and more than lives up to its appetising alliterative tagline. It stands tall and is a very great example of how to do a western, comparing favourably with other films in the genre. On its own merits too, as a film overall, 'The Tall T' is a wonderful film.

Complaints are next to none, though for my liking the ending was a little on the abrupt side.

However, 'The Tall T' is superbly filmed and makes the most of, to full advantage in fact, the vividly desolate scenery/landscapes. The music is another example of being rousing but never intrusive. Boetticher's direction is throughout efficient, great sense of style, vivid atmosphere, fine direction of the action and very successful in keeping everything going.

The meaty, snappy and fat-free script helps hugely as does the continually lively pace that makes the storytelling continually compelling and taut, with lots of fun and suspense. 'The Tall T' is one of the best Scott/Boetticher outings in terms of characterisation, in particular having villains that are fun, ruthless and oddly human rather than resorting to stereotypes.

Scott's charismatic, easy-going yet tense performance was one of his best in an interesting flawed hero role and the supporting cast are more than up to his level. Particularly formidable Richard Boone and slimy yet entertaining Henry Silva. Maureen O'Sullivan is a fetching female lead with chemistry that is sensual and touching, while Skip Homeier and John Hubbard are suitably nasty.

All in all, excellent film and one of Scott/Boetticher's best. 9/10 Bethany Cox

Borrowing elements from Stagecoach and Rawhide, The Tall T is one lean and mean collaboration from director Budd Boetticher and star Randolph Scott. It's one of the best of the seven films the two men did together in the Fifties.

Scott's lost a horse on a bet with his old boss Robert Burton and is walking back to his place, a good 15 miles carrying saddle and other western gear. A stagecoach stops and driver Arthur Hunnicutt offers him a lift. It's not the regular stagecoach run, it's been hired by John Hubbard for him and his wife Maureen O'Sullivan. She's the only child of a millionaire mine owner and Hubbard was the bookkeeper for her father. It's made quite obvious from the beginning this is not a love match.

When the stagecoach gets to a way station, it's been taken over by outlaws Richard Boone, Skip Homeier, and Henry Silva. They think it's the regular coach run, but when they hear how O'Sullivan's father is worth millions, they decide on a kidnap.

The T in The Tall T might just stand for tension because that's what the film bristles with. Once Scott, O'Sullivan, and Hubbard are taken prisoner, the film's suspense doesn't let up for a minute. Scott is at his most forthright as a western hero in The Tall T.

Homeier and Silva play their usual punk roles to perfection. Boone is lean and mean as their leader, a worthy adversary for Scott. Of course it's the other two with their more than human weaknesses that leads to their downfall.

The Tall T is one of the best of Randolph Scott's westerns required viewing if one calls thyself a Randolph Scott fan.