Raw Edge (1956)

There is something really quite apt about the title of this film, as it shows that even in the the mid 1800s attitudes to women in Oregon were more akin to those of property than they were to humanity. Local kingpin "Montgomery" (Herbert Rudley) somewhat arbitrarily declares that any unmarried women in his territory could belong to the first man who found her! Now some of the men concluded that, by extension, they could remove any unwanted husband who got in the way so they lynch "Dan" so they can make a claim on his widow "Paca" (Mara Corday). Her options are looking plenty limited when into towns rides "Tex" (Rory Calhoun) who just happens to be her now ex-brother-in-law. Just to add a little more gunpowder to the fire, the henchmen themselves are also more than a little bit keen on their boss's wife "Hannah" (Yvonne De Carlo) and so led by the incorrigible "Tarp" - the scene stealing Neville Brand, it isn't too clear whether or not they will stand in the way of "Tex" as he seeks justice for his brother. Calhoun isn't really good enough to hold a film en seul, but there is a solid supporting cast to help him out here and a very much darker story underpinning the almost feral elements of the plot. Brand epitomises that with a sort of sleaziness that you don't often see in daytime western movies and the thrust of the adventure as it progresses doesn't exactly show any of the men here in a very good light. I could have done with a little more meat on the bones for De Carlo, but Corday presents a suitably spirited characterisation in this dog eat dog feature that's actually quite provocative. It's not what you might expect, and is worth a look.