Tribute to a Bad Man

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TOMATOMETER

Total Count: N/A

40%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 233

Super Reviewer

Tribute to a Bad Man Photos

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Movie Info

A hard-bitten rancher fights to keep his enormous Colorado spread intact. In order to keep his ranch hands in line and to deter cattle rustles and horse thieves, he frequently devises cruel torments or resorts to hanging. One day he hires a newly arrived Pennsylvania grocery clerk as his newest hand. The greenhorn is appalled by his new employer's brutal methods. Trouble brews when the rookie cowpoke falls in love with his boss's love. This was the last western in which actor James Cagney appeared.

Rating:

NR
Genre:

Classics, Western
Directed By:

Robert Wise
Written By:

Michael Blankfort
In Theaters:

Apr 1, 1956 wide
On Disc/Streaming:

May 18, 1994
Runtime:

99 minutes
Studio:

MGM

Cast

James Cagney
as Jeremy Rodock

Don Dubbins
as Steve Miller

Stephen McNally
as McNulty

Irene Papas
as Jocasta Constantine

Vic Morrow
as Lars Peterson

James Griffith
as Barjack

Onslow Stevens
as Hearn

James Bell
as L.A. Peterson

Jeanette Nolan
as Mrs. L.A. Peterson

Chubby Johnson
as Baldy

Royal Dano
as Abe

Lee Van Cleef
as Fat Jones

Peter Chong
as Cooky

James McCallion
as Shorty

Clint Sharp
as Red

Carl Pitti
as Tom

Charles Anthony Hughes
as First Buyer

J. Anthony Hughes
as First buyer

Roy Engel
as Second buyer

Bud Osborne
as Cowboy

John Halloran
as Cowboy

Tom London
as Cowboy

Dennis Moore
as Cowboy

Buddy Roosevelt
as Cowboy

Billy Dix
as Cowboy

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Critic Reviews for Tribute to a Bad Man

All Critics (1)

Earns its kudos by showing the rough-and-tumble everyday working life of the cowboy.

Jan 24, 2008 | Rating: B+ | Full Review…

Dennis Schwartz
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

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Audience Reviews for Tribute to a Bad Man

May 16, 2018

Cagney makes it totally believable that he's a ranch owner in the middle of nowhere, Colorado, dealing with horse thieves the old fashioned way. His big problem though is that the only woman in over 200 miles is undecided as to her affections. Loads of typical Western shots, horseflesh, and cowpokes spitting gives the work authenticity, and Irene Papas makes her indecision gambit viable. The story is told through the eyes of one Don Dubbins as The Kid, and he unfortunately lacks the charisma to hold interest.

Kevin M. W Super Reviewer
Oct 20, 2009

Cagney elevates this western as a hard driving ranch master who metes out prarie justice. Papas is strong as the love interest of two men but Dubbins is a non-entity as the second lead and hurts the film.

jay n Super Reviewer