The Tall T
A stranded ranch hand must outwit ruthless outlaws holding a wealthy bride for ransom while danger draws him closer to her.
Overview
A man caught in a deadly game of ransom and romance on the frontier.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- taut
- suspenseful
- brooding
- classic western night
- rainy day viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as a taut, economical, expertly acted classic western with especially strong performances from Randolph Scott and Richard Boone.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The ransom crisis unfolds over roughly 24 hours around the stagecoach station, with little narrative excess.
Pat Brennan must outmaneuver Usher and the other outlaws after losing his horse and becoming trapped with the captives.
Usher changes his plan after learning that Doretta is the daughter of a wealthy copper-mine owner.
The stagecoach route and remote station leave Brennan, Doretta, and the other passengers exposed to the outlaw trio.
Films like The Tall T, and why
Ride Lonesome
lean western storytelling, ransom-driven suspense, and a morally dangerous outlaw antagonist
Buchanan Rides Alone
Budd Boetticher and Randolph Scott's taut western collaboration centered on stoic heroism and compressed tension
The Man from Laramie
stagecoach peril, psychologically sharp outlaws, and stripped-down frontier suspense
3:10 to Yuma
classic western suspense built around captivity, ransom, and escalating interpersonal danger
Movie Details
- Director
- Budd Boetticher
- Release Date
- 1957-04-02
- Runtime
- 78 min
- Rating
- 7.0 / 10 (155)
Cast
- Randolph Scott
- Richard Boone
- Maureen O'Sullivan
- Arthur Hunnicutt
- Skip Homeier
- Henry Silva
- John Hubbard
- Robert Burton
- Robert Anderson
- Dick Johnstone
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Tall T about?
- A stranded ranch hand must outwit ruthless outlaws holding a wealthy bride for ransom while danger draws him closer to her.
- What is The Tall T like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Tall T as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Tall T violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in The Tall T as moderate.
- What did critics think of The Tall T?
- Critics broadly regard the film as a taut, economical, expertly acted classic western with especially strong performances from Randolph Scott and Richard Boone.
- Which films are like The Tall T?
- Films with a similar feel include Ride Lonesome, Buchanan Rides Alone, The Man from Laramie, and 3:10 to Yuma.
- How long is The Tall T?
- The Tall T runs 78 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Tall T?
- In United States, The Tall T is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
