Customer Reviews

Rawhide [VHS]

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4 star:		(1)
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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.

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.

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

Hello Amazon.com: 6 April 09 Monday; I want to thank you for the great DVD {Rawhide}. A great classic movie. I enjoyed this DVD & all of the old horse westerns. We were brought-up on the cowboys & Indians movies.. The director Henry Hathaway paid attention to details small & large to produce one of the best western classics. I feel this was one of the best films Tyrone Powers ever made. Amazon please keep your prices low for we old retired Veterans. Again thank you for exccellent customer service. I have shared this great movie with my family & they all stated how much they enjoyed it!!!!!!!!. Please keep expanding your excellent DVD selections. I am hoping Turner Classic Movies will release the great 1951 classic, {Kind Lady} with Ethel Barrymore. Please go to Turner Classic Movie web-site & vote on their survey to have Kind Lady put out on a DVD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. Best/Wishes Charles in So California...

Fine suspence western in B/W from the early 50's. Characters and script very credible and it keeps the grib on you all the way. Recommendable.

Rawhide, 1951 film

This story is set in the Southwest during the late 19th century when stagecoaches carried passengers and the mail across the desert. There is a station where each stagecoach gets fresh horses and the passengers get ten minutes to wolf down their food. But this stations was captured by four dangerous escaped prisoners. They will wait for the shipment of gold so they can rob it and escape across the state line. The characters of the people at that station, and the escaped prisoners, are shown by their conversation and actions. A stagecoach stops for food, their passengers suspect nothing. One man says the leader of the escaped prisoners looks familiar, but this is explained away. The gold shipment will pass through the next day.

Can the imprisoned couple dig their way to freedom? The woman's daughter is a complication. The drama builds tension from the time schedule. ["High Noon".] Zimmerman, the leader of the prisoners advises Tom Owens "never trust any man". What will happen if two-year old Kelly climbs out from that hole in the wall? Will it create a crisis? There is added drama from the conflicts among the villains. Does Zimmerman follow his own advice, or turn his back on an ornery critter? The shooting begins, and this warns the oncoming stagecoach. The woman knows how to use a rifle. [You won't see this in modern films.] In the end the good guys survive, the villains do not.

The plot of this movie reminded me of "The Petrified Forest", but its different. Would a remote stagecoach station really be built in such a substantial manner? The best and classic westerns were made in the 1930s and early 1940s. Later films were concerned with interpersonal relationships rather than the real concerns of the late 19th century. You'll notice a smaller cast of characters as well. Was this due to political changes, or a declining audience for the movie theaters? Once they figured out how to lay railroad tracks across shifting sands the horse-drawn stagecoaches were no longer functional.

Great cast, great story, great movie. 'Nuf said.

THE BABY IN THIS MOVIE, IS WORTH BUYING IT, A HUNDRED TIMES OVER. JUDY ANN DUNN PLAYING THE ROLE OF Callie Holt.. RULES
SHE SAVES THE WHOLE MOVIE, USING ONLY HER WITTS AND BRANDISHING A KNIFE. OUR WHOLE FAMILY LOVES THIS MOVIE. JUDY ANN DUNN,
IF YOUR STILL OUT THERE, WE LOVE YOU.