The Marauders

"The Marauders" may not hit the mark overall, but Dan Duryea's adept portrayal of an unsavory character is the film's redeeming feature. Beyond that, it struggles to bring something new or engaging to fans of the Western genre.

The underused Dan Duryea plays Ahab in the old west. It's a quick, invigorating film about squatter's rights, but the force of the acting and really striking story structure (how many movies form the '50s opened with a huge action sequence?) are unique and wonderful. It's just what I love in old westerns: an emotional, oddball little film which gives you a few great actors in fun roles (Keenan Wynn has a hook for a hand!).