Albuquerque (1948)

Can Your Get past the Absurdities?

Can you get past a badly misplaced formula plot to enjoy a generic Randolph Scott western with good acting?

I couldn't but maybe that's because Albuquerque is my home. Nearby silver mines? An ANGLO running the city? A rough frontier town in the late 1800's? Monumnet Valley scenery?

Where were the genteel Hispano elite who ran an old and charming city on the Rio Grande? Where were the transportation hub of yore, the Sandia Mtns., the bosque, Old Town? Hollywood just wrote a script and chose an 'exotic' western name to plug in. I never did get past that.
Too bad, as the subbort cast (hayden, Gabby Hays, Lon Chaney, Jr.) do a good job backing up Scott and the technicolor is nice.

Editing and directing are passable, although the plotline is eminently predictable.

Maybe Scott or western completists need this film. October 19, 2008

another good western

a good story with 2 actors seldom seen in colour viz russel hayden and gabby hayes.randolph scott always turns in a 100% effort and this movie is no exception.i think western movie lovers and rs fans will enjoy this easy paced fare, regards ken
April 27, 2008

enjoyable well balanced western

This probably has the best balance of any of Scott's westerns of a complicated plot, pleny of action and the humor of Gabby Hayes and that little girl who keeps popping up. A very enjoyable story. Gabby was in the driver's seat in the opening scene and in the spotlight in the closing scene. Too bad he wasn't in more of Scott's best films to lighten up Scott's stoicism. It's interesting that the woman Scott ends up with isn't even listed among the major characters, even though she is a major presence throughout the film. In contrast, the lovely but sneaky Barbara Britton is given second billing, despite her belated appearance. Those of you who used to watch the TV series "Lassie" will be surprised to find "Gramps" in the chief villain role. Enough said. Find a copy and enjoy. August 7, 2007

Excellent well-paced Randolph Scott western with a good supporting cast

ALBUQUERQUE aka SILVER CITY a big-budget full 90-minute western from 1948. Based on a Luke Short novel and starring the ever dependable Randolph Scott and most peoples favourite western sidekick George "Gabby" Hayes. Although Hayes always played the old timer he was in fact less than 13 years older than the unusually (at times) cheerful Randolph Scott as seen here! Also starring Russell Hayden a real westerner he was probably best known as Hopalong Cassidy's (William Boyd) sidekick `Lucky' Jenkins.

Juke (George `Gabby' Hayes) is the stagecoach driver bound for Albuquerque, New Mexico from El Paso, Texas. On board is Celia Wallace (Catherine Craig) co-owner (with her brother) of the Wallace Freight Company she is delivering a $10,000 business bankroll. Also on board is former Texas Ranger Cole Armin who is taking a job for his uncle John, en-route the stage is held up a man is killed and Miss Wallace is relieved of her bankroll. On arriving in Albuquerque, Cole soon realises that Armin is a dirty word around town, suspecting his uncle knows something about the bankroll heist Cole sets about retrieving the bankroll then switches allegiance to Ted Wallace (Russell Hayden) and his sister. Meanwhile wheelchair-bound John Armin (George Cleveland) who runs the rival Monarch Freighting Company, hires a pretty female spy Letty Tyler (Barbara Britton) to infiltrate and set a trap for the newly formed Wallace (Cole) Armin Freight Company who have just won a contract with the Angel Roost Silver Mine to haul ore down a perilous shale-filled one-way mountain track into town using a ten wagon mule train. Despite a runaway sabotaged wagon with faulty brakes, they still managed somehow to safely negotiate the hill. Celia Wallace met them at the bottom of the hill having come warn them of an ambush by a bunch of hired guns led by John Armin's henchman Steve Murkill (Lon Chaney Jr.) As they set out for town Cole plans a counterattack as they head for the final showdown.

Ray Enfield was the director here; he also directed several more Randolph Scott westerns including the third version of the oft-filmed western THE SPOILERS (1942) in which Scott co-starred with John Wayne and Marlene Dietrich.

This original Cinecolor Paramount film maybe nearly sixty years old (2007) but the transfer to DVD with scene select option is first class. Released under the Universal Western Collection label this is good all round western fare, well worth the money!
January 13, 2007

Albuquerque

Another wholesome western starring Randolf Scott. Gabby Hayes is also good in a supporting role. There are many good scenic views throughout the movie and the story keeps your interest. It's just another example of movies that can be entertaining without bad language. Enjoy with the family. July 4, 2006

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