Westbound
A duty-bound cavalry captain fights to keep a Union-bound stage line moving through a sabotage-ridden Colorado town during the Civil War.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- tense
- stoic
- dramatic
- classic western night
- retro movie afternoon
What critics said
Critics generally regard Westbound as a subdued and largely forgettable contractual western, though its cast and Boetticher's craftsmanship offer isolated strengths.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Hayes must operate the Overland Stage Line to move gold supporting the Union war effort.
Hayes faces sabotage from Southern sympathizers in the Colorado headquarters town.
Clay Putnam, once Hayes's friend and colleague, leads resistance after marrying Hayes's former sweetheart.
The short production concentrates its action around the stage line, town headquarters, and surrounding Colorado terrain.
Films like Westbound, and why
Seven Men from Now
shared classical western form, frontier conflict, and morally divided community
Ride Lonesome
shared Randolph Scott-led western, lean running time, and tense personal rivalry
The Tall T
shared Budd Boetticher direction, psychological frontier drama, and compressed western storytelling
Movie Details
- Director
- Budd Boetticher
- Release Date
- 1959-04-25
- Runtime
- 69 min
- Rating
- 6.4 / 10 (30)
Cast
- Randolph Scott
- Virginia Mayo
- Karen Steele
- Michael Dante
- Andrew Duggan
- Michael Pate
- Wally Brown
- John Daheim
- Walter Barnes
- Walter Bacon
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 Westbound about?
- A duty-bound cavalry captain fights to keep a Union-bound stage line moving through a sabotage-ridden Colorado town during the Civil War.
- What is Westbound like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Westbound as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Westbound violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Westbound as moderate.
- What did critics think of Westbound?
- Critics generally regard Westbound as a subdued and largely forgettable contractual western, though its cast and Boetticher's craftsmanship offer isolated strengths.
- Which films are like Westbound?
- Films with a similar feel include Seven Men from Now, Ride Lonesome, and The Tall T.
- How long is Westbound?
- Westbound runs 69 minutes.
- Where can I watch Westbound?
- In United States, Westbound is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
