Westbound is a 1959 American Western film directed by Budd Boetticher
and starring Randolph Scott, Virginia Mayo, and Karen Steele.
This is the sixth of seven films directed by Boetticher and starring Scott.
The movie was shot in September 1957 in Warnercolor. at cost of more than a half-million dollars.
The Laramie Street set at Warner’s Burbank was used for the setting of Julesburg, Colorado.
The Warner Ranch was used for other settings.
David Buttolph composed the score.
Westbound was released on April 25, 1959.
The movie was not a part of the Ranown cycle of Westerns for which Boetticher,
Scott and Harry Joe Brown partnered; Scott owed Warners one picture from an old contract,
so Boetticher volunteered to direct it himself so as to protect their brand.
Although Boetticher never went so far as to disown the film,
he felt it was not part of the series and would only discuss it outside of that
User Review
Better than average minor Western
18 October 2007 | by lorenellroy (United Kingdom)
Display MoreWestbound does not form part of the "Ranown "cycle of Westerns
on which star Scott and director Boetticher collaborated in the 1950's
and which included such stone classics as Comanche Station,The Tall T and Ride Lonesome .
These were the work of the excellent screenwriter ,later director, Budd Kennedy
while this has a workmanlike script from a pair of studio hacks
The storyline is a little thin and this is the only major weak spot
in a tense and crisp Western which takes the Civil War as its backdrop .
Scott plays a Union cavalry officer assigned to re-establish a stage line
that he once managed before the war ,the purpose being to ship gold
from California to the Federal banks .
He must overcome a Confederate agent ,in the form of Andrew Duggan
and still he finds time to romance the feisty and gallant heroine played by Karen Steele.
Boetticher directs with style and aplomb ;there is a lively musical score
and some limpid colour cinematography by J Peverell Mackay that adds real lustre
to the look of the picture .
Add some strong performances and you get an above average minor Western
with a crisp running time and lots of lively action by way of diversion .
It is a very neat little movie indeed and recommended to Western fans in particular