Bullet for a Badman

This universal western holds a special place in my heart as it was the first Audie Murphy film I saw. That was back in 1985 on LWT ( London channel) and boy was I hooked.

Audie plays an ex-Texas ranger, now a farmer, who ends up joining a posse to catch his former friend, who was once was married to Audie's character's wife and is the father of Audie's stepson. The friend played by McGavin wants Audie dead but he hasn't got a chance, not with greedy posse - who have an eye on the stolen money - and the mauraudin' Apaches in the way.

Bullet for a Badman is a well-paced western, full of action, but it's countered with good characterisation. It's very much traditional, which by then was becoming anachronism, but it's a great example of the genre. The dialogue was really engaging and humorous. McGavin had good lines and Audie acted really well, underplaying with that smooth tight-lipped style.