Six Black Horses

A sometimes astonishingly grim western, Six Black Horses ostensibly stars Audie Murphy, but is effortlessly stolen by Frank Jesse (Dan Duryea). Wrongly accused of horse theft, Ben Lane (Murphy) is rescued by ruthless but sentimental gunslinger Jesse. The two men are hired as trail guides by Kelly (Joan O'Brien), who wants to traverse hostile Indian territory so that she can be reunited with her husband. What she knows -- but the audience doesn't -- is that her husband is dead, murdered by Jesse. Kelly had hired him to exact vengeance, but it is she who is nearly killed. Lane is left stranded when Jesse rides off to claim the money promised him by Kelly. This he does so as to finance his "dream funeral," wherein his casket will be borne to Boot Hill by six black horses. When Lane catches up with Jesse, he sees to it that the outlaw gets his wish -- after first taking the precaution of filling Jesse full of lead. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi