KENT TAYLOR & GENE NELSON IN MAURY DEXTER'S 'THE PURPLE HILLS'

The Purple Hills Year: 1961 Rating: ***1/2

Another Maury Dexter Western following WALK TALL that Kent Taylor played a character that tries conniving and convincing a beautiful woman to go against the good guy, who doesn't seem all that good: in this case bounty hunter Gene Nelson, collecting on a bounty he has to fight for...

The twist is that classy lowlife Taylor also wants credit for the hefty sum but without being blamed by the bounty's younger, vengeful brother played by stuntman Jerry Summers, supposedly raised by beautiful Joanna Barnes, much too young as he's far too old for the role...

But Russ Bender as the aged sheriff is perfectly cast by Dexter, per usual, as most of the picture has four people after a dead body whilst fearing the inevitable collision of angry Apaches...

Winding up the finale on a dilapidated bridge where the "good guys" hole up against approaching Indians (fighting each other as well), and it's as good a shoot-em-up as anything John Ford could do. Plus these b-Western programmers (especially Maury Dexter's) get right to the point, yet there's still tons of pulpy dialogue, especially by Taylor, a genuine scoundrel while Gene Nelson stands around looking strong, blond, determined and, as they say... The Devil gets all the great lines. 

Joanna Barnes in THE PURPLE HILLS

Kent Taylor and Jerry Summers in THE PURPLE HILLS

Jerry Summers in THE PURPLE HILLS

Jerry Summers in THE PURPLE HILLS with Russ Bender, Joanna Barnes

Kent Taylor and Gene Nelson in THE PURPLE HILLS

Jerry Summers in THE PURPLE HILLS with Joanna Barnes

Gene Nelson in THE PURPLE HILLS

Gene Nelson and Kent Taylor in THE PURPLE HILLS

Gene Nelson and Kent Taylor in THE PURPLE HILLS

Jerry Summers and Joanna Barnes in THE PURPLE HILLS

Maury Dexter directs THE PURPLE HILLS