The Ranown Westerns: Five Films Directed by Budd Boetticher (Criterion Collection)

The Tall T (1957)

Magnificent psychological western starring Randolph Scott as Pat Brennan, a rancher who’s been taken captive with a newlywed couple by a gang of despicable outlaws. While the husband tries to save himself by offering his bride as bait, Brennan devises a plan for freedom. Richard Boone, Maureen O’Sullivan, John Hubbard co-star; Budd Boetticher directs Elmore Leonard’s story. 78 min. C/Rtg: NR

Decision At Sundown (1957)

Top-notch psychological sagebrusher stars Randolph Scott as Bart Allison, a mysterious gunman who takes over a small town and quickly goes to work trying to kill one of its residents. It’s discovered that Allison’s target was responsible for stealing his wife years before, and it’s revenge time. Budd Boetticher directs; with John Carroll, Karen Steele. 77 min. C/Rtg: NR

Buchanan Rides Alone (1958)

Texas drifter Tom Buchanan (Randolph Scott) made a poor choice to lay over in a corrupt little town, as he gets caught between two warring factions of the family that runs the place. Buchanan gets even as he leverages their greed into all-out combat. The lightest in tone of the sagebrushers Scott made for director Budd Boetticher co-stars Craig Stevens, Barry Kelley, Tol Avery. 78 min. C/Rtg: NR

Ride Lonesome (1959)

Bounty hunter Ben Brigade (Randolph Scott) sets out with a young widow and two reformed outlaws to capture a wanted killer, but none of them know Brigade’s real motive: to bring the killer’s brother, who murdered his wife, out of hiding. Fine frontier drama also stars James Best, Lee Van Cleef, Pernell Roberts, Karen Steele, James Coburn; Budd Boetticher directs. 73 min. C/Rtg: NR

Comanche Station (1960)

After spending 10 years searching for his wife, who was kidnapped by Indians, cowboy Jefferson Cody (Randolph Scott) rescues a settler’s wife who has been captured by the Comanche. On the way home, the pair encounters a trio of outlaws planning to kill Cody and return the woman to her husband for the reward money. With Claude Akins, Nancy Gates; Budd Boetticher ("The Tall T") directs. 73 min. C/Rtg: NR

Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: English Uncompressed PCM mono; Subtitles: English (SDH); audio commentary; interviews; theatrical trailers; essay; super 8 version of "Comanche Station."