ChikPapa Very disappointed :(

Matialth Good concept, poorly executed.

Lidia Draper Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

Stephanie There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

alexandre michel liberman (tmwest) I have been twice to the Carlsbad Caverns, in the fifties and early sixties. It is something magnificent and I was afraid this film would not do justice to it. But that's not the case because the beauty of "Cave of Outlaws" is how it combines the impressive scenery with a well written plot of mystery, love, and even an unusual (in westerns) duel. The story starts when young Pete Carver (Russ Tamblyn) is found inside the cavern after a train robbery. They can't find the money, he stays fifteen years in jail, and comes out played by Macdonald Carey. By now he is famous, the whole town (near the cavern) offers him credit, and he decides to help Elizabeth Trent (Alexis Smith) build a newspaper. Alexis Smith is beautiful and classy, she enhances every film she is in. This film deserves a high definition version to fully appreciate the cavern. When they say at a certain moment, after many people get killed at the cavern, that they want to get out of the place, they remember they must come back to contemplate the incredible beauty. And every one that will visit the Carlsbad Caverns will never forget it!

Tweekums This film opens with an ambush on a train in Arizona in 1880; the bandits force the train to stop, blow open the mail car and make off with bags containing gold that belongs to Wells Fargo. They are chased by the sheriff and his posse and attempt to hide in a huge cave. The sheriff's men enter the cave and, after a brief shootout, only one of the gang is left alive; a teenaged boy, Pete Carver, who claims to have no idea where the stolen gold is. Fifteen years later the Carver is released from prison and heads straight back to the area of the crime. There is now a town nearby and all the locals seem happy to let him buy what he wants on credit as they believe he knows exactly where the gold is... and he is happy for them to believe that he does. Among the locals who come to him with business propositions is Elizabeth Trent, whose husband disappeared while looking for the gold. He agrees to help her restart the town newspaper using his credit. It isn't long before troubles start; a couple of thugs attempt to rob him more than once, the wealthy owner of the local copper mine sees him as a rival for Elizabeth's attentions and a man from Wells Fargo is intent on recovering the gold. Before the film is out there will be a duel, accusations of murder and finally a confrontation in the caves.I hadn't heard of this western when I saw it advertised in the TV guide but thought I'd give it a go; it opened well with an explosive train robbery and a brief shootout in the cave before slowing down as we are introduced to the older Carver. This was a good move as his introduction kept the character ambiguous; he was clearly taking advantage of the people's willingness to offer him credit but it was some time before we discovered whether or not he knew exactly where the gold was. It wasn't a total surprise when we learn the truth as it is rare for the protagonist of such films to be the villain! Macdonald Carey might not have the screen presence of many western heroes but he did a decent job as Carver; his understated performance giving greater tension to the action scenes as Carver didn't look like a man who could beat any opponent. Likewise Victor Jory made a good villain; he isn't a crazed psychopath desperate to get his hands on the gold but he is believable dangerous... he even challenges Carver to a duel; not the usual shootout but a traditional pistols at twenty paces duel overseen by a 'referee'! All B westerns need some love interest and here it is provided by Alexis Smith, her character is fairly standard for such films but she does a good enough job.The locations are used well; many viewers will recognise Vasquez Rocks, famously used many times in 'Star Trek' as well as in many other films and television shows. The cave scenes, filmed in Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico, looked great even though there was no explanation as to why it was beautifully lit rather than pitch black inside! Overall this isn't a must see western but it has a decent enough story and an interesting setting that makes it worth watching if it is on television.

Marlburian I wasn't going to bother with this minor western but for the fact that it was being shown on a wet afternoon. In the event I'm glad that I did watch it as it was quite good. The caves provided a realistic and novel setting for many scenes, and the colour generally throughout the film was good. And when people got wounded they bled, unlike in many westerns of this period when a man is shot in the chest but continues to wear a spotless shirt! The spanking scene that has been mentioned in the trivia section was omitted from the version I saw, perhaps because what audiences in the 1950s thought was harmless fun has more in the way of sexual implications sixty years later.Macdonald Carey (a cut-price Gregory Peck, with a slight facial resemblance to the more famous star) was just about adequate, and Edgar Buchanan wasn't as gruff as usual.

dougdoepke Universal had the good sense to boost this otherwise routine oater with Technicolor filming at Carlsbad Caverns. This results in some impressively eerie shots unusual for a Western. The screenplay has some promising ideas, but these tend to get muddled amid an overly complex narrative. Pete (Carey) returns to town after serving a jail term for robbing Wells Fargo and hiding the loot in a cave. Now townspeople cater to him, including owner of newspaper (Smith) and local kingpin (Jory), even as Wells Fargo agent (Buchanan) trails him. So when will Pete go for the loot.It's hard to get at people's true motives because of the hidden gold. Then too where is Smith's missing husband—was he in on the robbery and now hovering out of sight. It seems no one can be trusted, including Buchanan. With better story development, a more interesting leading man, along with the spooky caverns, this could have been several cuts above the usual Western. I guess my biggest disappointment, however, is with the movie covering up the statuesque and shapely Alexis Smith in yards and yards of period clothing. Too bad since she was reputed to have the best legs in Hollywood. Hormones aside, those soaring rock columns and hanging stone icicles still remain the main reason to tune in.