Starts with a subplot of stolen cattle that is mainly used to bring Steve Reeves and his younger brother near the place of a train robbery, and Wayne Preston, an old friend of Reeves who's about to betray their friendship, appears. Reeves and his brother are framed for the robbery and sent to the hell of Yuma State Penitentiary. Reeves first refuses to take part in an escape plan, but changes his mind after his brother is killed by a sadistic warden. When the warden starts provoking him with his brother's death, he attacks the man, and subsequently uses the turmoil to escape and go after the men who have ruined his life.
Striking scenery and the horse raid got me interested, and it gets better with the appearance of Wayne Preston, and the train raid - the interest remain during Yuma prison camp scene, which thankfully is not drawn out too long. Nello Pazzafini as the warden from hell is a guy you would love to get his just desserts and Steve Reeves, in his only western role unfortunately, does just that in a well-staged and tough fight in a house. The camerawork quite inventive, artistic at times with loads of scenes shot into the sun. There's plenty of edgy action, chases and a shootout set in a mine-shaft. It's well-paced, lean, mean and entertaining, though a little violent and grim. It's adapted from a western novel by Gordon Shirreffs, called The Judas Gun. No wonder it's a good story as Shirreffs has written many good books. It's a pity that Steve Reeves didn't do more westerns as he is fits the genre like a glove.
Striking scenery and the horse raid got me interested, and it gets better with the appearance of Wayne Preston, and the train raid - the interest remain during Yuma prison camp scene, which thankfully is not drawn out too long. Nello Pazzafini as the warden from hell is a guy you would love to get his just desserts and Steve Reeves, in his only western role unfortunately, does just that in a well-staged and tough fight in a house. The camerawork quite inventive, artistic at times with loads of scenes shot into the sun. There's plenty of edgy action, chases and a shootout set in a mine-shaft. It's well-paced, lean, mean and entertaining, though a little violent and grim. It's adapted from a western novel by Gordon Shirreffs, called The Judas Gun. No wonder it's a good story as Shirreffs has written many good books. It's a pity that Steve Reeves didn't do more westerns as he is fits the genre like a glove.