Ride Lonesome
A stoic bounty hunter escorts a captured killer through hostile California wilderness while outlaws, attackers, and hidden motives close in.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- stoic
- foreboding
- sardonic
- classic western night
- cinephile deep dive
What critics said
Critics broadly regard it as a taut, honest, above-average western distinguished by Budd Boetticher's tension, Burt Kennedy's screenplay, and strong performances.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Ben Brigade and his uneasy companions are repeatedly dwarfed by the arid Alabama Hills and surrounding wilderness.
Brigade claims to be transporting Billy John for justice, while the plot signals that he has private plans of his own.
Brigade must rely on Sam Boone and Whitt despite their outlaw status, competing interests, and temptation to betray him.
The film reunites Budd Boetticher, Randolph Scott, Burt Kennedy, and producer Harry Joe Brown in the Ranown production tradition.
Films like Ride Lonesome, and why
Seven Men from Now
shared ranown western cycle, terse moral conflict, and stoic bounty-hunter drama
The Tall T
shared budd boetticher direction, randolph scott stoicism, and psychologically spare western storytelling
The Searchers
shared existential western atmosphere, isolated landscapes, and uneasy alliances among outlaws
Movie Details
- Director
- Budd Boetticher
- Release Date
- 1959-02-01
- Runtime
- 73 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (170)
Cast
- Randolph Scott
- Karen Steele
- Pernell Roberts
- James Best
- Lee Van Cleef
- James Coburn
- Bennie E. Dobbins
- Roy Jenson
- Dyke Johnson
- Boyd 'Red' Morgan
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- FlixFling, Sony Pictures Core Amazon Channel, Howdy Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Ride Lonesome about?
- A stoic bounty hunter escorts a captured killer through hostile California wilderness while outlaws, attackers, and hidden motives close in.
- What is Ride Lonesome like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Ride Lonesome as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Ride Lonesome violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Ride Lonesome as moderate.
- What did critics think of Ride Lonesome?
- Critics broadly regard it as a taut, honest, above-average western distinguished by Budd Boetticher's tension, Burt Kennedy's screenplay, and strong performances.
- Which films are like Ride Lonesome?
- Films with a similar feel include Seven Men from Now, The Tall T, and The Searchers.
- How long is Ride Lonesome?
- Ride Lonesome runs 73 minutes.
- Where can I watch Ride Lonesome?
- In United States, Ride Lonesome streams on FlixFling, Sony Pictures Core Amazon Channel, Howdy Amazon Channel.
