Product Details

• Actors: Tyrone Power, Susan Hayward, Hugh Marlowe, Dean Jagger, Edgar Buchanan
• Directors: Henry Hathaway
• Writers: Dudley Nichols
• Producers: Samuel G. Engel
• Format: Black & White, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Rated: Unrated
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: 20th Century Fox
• VHS Release Date: January 1, 1998
• Run Time: 89 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6301801946
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #245,472 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Rawhide (no relation to the TV series) is a trim, satisfying Henry Hathaway picture that blends the leathery trappings of the Western with the claustrophobic atmosphere and intensity of a suspense film. Everything unfolds at a remote swing station for the transcontinental stagecoach. Routine life and work is disrupted by the arrival of several no-goods who aim to help themselves to a gold shipment. But the gold shipment isn't on the next coach, so the stationmasters and some stranded passengers are obliged to try to act normal under the guns of the intruders. Tyrone Power and Susan Hayward handle the heroics without larger-than-life posturing; Dean Jagger and Hugh Marlowe relish the rare opportunity to play villainous or ambiguous types; and Jack Elam is, well, Jack Elam, reliably vicious in every pore. The script is by Dudley Nichols--who should know the territory, having scripted John Ford's Stagecoach 13 years earlier. --Richard T. Jameson

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Locked up with Susan Hayward...that's an ordeal???, March 17, 2004

By 

Bruce Hutton (Spokane, Washington) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rawhide [VHS] (VHS Tape)

A little-known western, and even under-rated by those who DO know it, "Rawhide" is a nail-biter from start to finish, an ultra-taut suspense film that really only happens to take place in the wild west but could take place anywhere, anytime. Literally in the middle of nowhere, an outpost for east- or westbound stagecoaches to stop and let passengers stretch and have a bite to eat becomes the scene of a life-or-death struggle between four desperate prison escapees and two strangers, one of them with a baby to look after.
Tyrone Power is an employee of the outpost, learning the ropes from old-timer Edgar Buchanan. A stagecoach comes through and two of the passengers, a young woman (Susan Hayward) and a toddler, are forced to stay because four men have escaped from a nearby prison and the stagecoach line isn't allowed to risk the lives of females or children on the road. Unfortunately their lives are at much greater risk here, as the convicts promptly ride up and seize the outpost, intending to hijack a shipment of gold coming through the next day. Buchanan is murdered outright by the gang's resident psychotic (played with fantastic gusto by perennial bad guy Jack Elam), leaving Power and Hayward to try and figure out a way to escape before the hammer falls on them, too. Hugh Marlowe, fresh from his brilliant turn as a playwright in "All About Eve", plays the leader of the outlaws with an intelligent menace, trying to hold his gang together while plotting the next move. During all this, the hostages naturally find time to fall in love. Susan Hayward has never been more beautiful than she is here, so it's not hard to see why.
A great little western, hard to find but well worth the search, with excellent performances all around, from one of the masters of trim-the-fat suspense yarns, Henry Hathaway.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Absolute Classic Western, April 5, 2006

By 

Terence Allen (Atlanta, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Rawhide [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Rawhide deserves not only a DVD release, but recognition as one of the greatest Westerns ever. Taut, masterful direction by the great Henry Hathaway, and excellent perfomances by everyone makes this a must have film for anyone who loves the Western genre.

Tyrone Power and Susan Hayward are trapped at a stage way station by a gang of desperate criminals. Surprises and tragedy unfold as Power, Hayward, and Hayward's baby try to survive and outwit the criminals.

There are scenes in this film that are so tense that even today's hardened, jaded moviegoers will appreciate. This was not a film with larger than life heroes or cardboard cutout villains, but real people well portrayed with great lines from a magnificent script.

This movie should be released on DVD immediately.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Shortest,Fastest,Back Breakinest Ride You Can Buy For 200 Gold...Meals Included - And A Beautiful Restoration T' Boot, February 12, 2010

By 

L. Shirley "Laurie's Boomer Views" (Huntington Beach,CA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Rawhide [DVD] (DVD)

This review refers to "Rawhide" 1951 - DVD

They laughed and said it couldn't be done. A stagecoach that ran from St. Louis to San Francisco; 2700 miles in 25 days over some of the ruggedest country and through all kinds of weather imaginable. But when the Overland Trail stage coach delivered the goods - gold, mail, and passengers - it became the most reliable known transport. It made stops at relay stations, and signaled the operators of the station they were a coming. The operators gave the all clear signal back, and they stage came in. One such stop was at Rawhide Pass.

Rawhide Pass, where feisty Vinnie Holt(Susan Hayward) and toddler Callie stop for refreshment. Already there is trouble amiss as reports come in that one really bad guy, Zimmerman(Hugh Marlowe),is on the loose, holding up stages for the gold, and stop at nothing including murder. The stage will press on under protection but without Vinnie and baby. No children allowed - the ride has now become too dangerous. Vinnie will have none of this and what a marvelous scene it is as Owens and Todd (Tyrone Power and Edgar Buchanan) station worker and stationmaster must subdue one angry gal.(I'm thinking Sally Field must have gotten her inspiration for the scene in Norma Rae where she won't get in the car).

Things are not bad enough for Vinnie, but the next thing she knows Zimmerman and his gang have invaded the station and are holding the three(and the baby) until the next stage comes in that is carrying gold. And what's more for poor Vinny - she must keep up the pretense for that bad guys that she is the wife of Owen(Power)- who she detests- and gets locked in a room with him - some gals have all the luck.

The story becomes a very tense one, with Zimmerman calling all the shots, one of the gang is a lech, the others seem like they are not playing with a full deck(all are some pretty sick and scary hombres). Power and Hayward thrown together and knowing they will be killed as soon as the thieves have their gold, try desperately to form an escape plan and save the stage and it's cargo.

This is a chilling western with a splendid cast and is magnificently filmed in black and white. Directed by Henry Hathaway who manages to find the most wonderful angles, close-ups and shots that add to the tense story and builds to a heart-pounding climax. The cast as mentioned are superb. Susan Hayward, the only woman of the main cast shines as bright as ever. She is not a women to be messed with! Tyrone Power plays a man of power but also of great restraint.His character will show a fierceness for life.Their stormy relationship builds through the film. The rest of the cast is a role call of greatness - Edgar Buchanan and Hugh Marlowe as mentioned, with Jack Elam at his baddest, Dean Jagger, George Tobias,and Jeff Corey are some of the other great faces to watch for.

I purchased this as part of a set:Fox Western Classics (Rawhide / The Gunfighter / Garden of Evil)The DVD is a fabulous restoration. The black and white cinematography is outstanding - crisp and clear.The sound choices are mono or stereo and has subtitles in English,Spanish and French. There are several special features including a featurette about Susan Hayward and a restoration comparison, as well as other extras.


Saddle Up for a truly great western and a chilling ride....Laurie