Seven Men From Now (1956)
A terrific Western from director Budd Boetticher and writer Burt Kennedy starring Randolph Scott in a role originally intended for uncredited producer John Wayne. Scott plays former sheriff Ben Stride, who wasn't 'touchy feely' enough to get reelected and happens upon a couple of greenhorns from the East, 'wimpy' John and his 'fetching' wife Annie Greer (Walter Reed and Gail Russell), heading West to California by covered wagon. He takes pity on them and, since he happens to be going the same way because he's tracking those who killed his wife (the titled 7 men) in the Silver Springs Wells Fargo holdup, he helps them through the rough territory. Stride had already found and killed two of the culprits; he feels responsible for his wife's death since she started working only after he'd lost his job. A Cavalry lieutenant (Stuart Whitman) warns them of hungry Indians in the area, but they press on to Flora Vista. Bill Masters (Lee Marvin), who'd been jailed twice by Stride in the past, and his sidekick Clete (Don Barry), catch up with Stride and the Greers and join the caravan; Masters figures Stride will be killed while trying to avenge his wife's death, leaving the $20,000 in stolen gold up for grabs. Masters and Stride are both attracted to Annie, and both wonder how a woman like her ended up with (less than) a man like John. For telling a related (and prophetic) story in front of the lady, Stride punches Masters who, along with Clete, moves on without further conflict. The eventual showdown between Stride and the others does occur, with predictable results, but not before the outlaws, led by Payte Bodeen (John Larch), had met with Masters, who'd learned a couple of things he didn't know about Greer.
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