Iseerphia All that we are seeing on the screen is happening with real people, real action sequences in the background, forcing the eye to watch as if we were there.

Robert Joyner The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

Brendon Jones It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

Freeman This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

weezeralfalfa Don Ballard((John Payne) was an industrious and lucky man. He had built up a sizable cattle ranch, was considered a leading citizen of Silver Lode, and was about to marry the wealthy knockout blond Rose Evans(Lizabeth Scott). But just as they were about to finish their wedding vows, a sinister force arrived in the form of Fred McCarty(Dan Duryea), and 3 deputies: Johnson(Harry Carey, Jr.), Kirk(Alan Hale, Jr.), and Wicker (Stewart Whitman). Ballard knew McCarty previously as a cattle thief and murderer, although he denied being such. He wanted revenge against Ballard for killing his brother over a card game in which Ballard won $20,000.: enough to start his cattle spread. McCarty claims he stole that money. McCarty claims to be a US marshal now, and insists on apprehending him immediately, and taking him to another town for trial, if he doesn't meet upon an 'accident' on the way. Most of the townies can't believe that Ballard is guilty of these charges, thus do what they can to obstruct his leaving Silver Lode. Although Sheriff Wooley(Emile Meyer) says McCarty's credentials look genuine, Ballard wants this confirmed by officials in San Francisco. Only problem is McCarty(presumably) cut the telegraph wire some distance out of town. This act should have been sufficient to cast doubt on the validity of McCarty's credentials, but little was made over this situation........Ballard gets one of McCarty's deputies(Johnson) to talk for a $5000. bribe, confirming that his marshal credentials are a clever fake, and telling where the telegraph line was cut. But official confirmation of this charge was still needed. An incident followed involving Ballard, Johnson, Sheriff Wooley, and McCarty threatening and shooting at each other in the livery stable. The sheriff, and Johnson ended up dead, and McCarty wounded. Ballard was blamed as the murderer, as MccCarty claimed. The populace turned against Ballard, who now had to fight for his life, killing several deputies or citizens in self defense, as he ran around town. Only Rose and the gorgeous saloon girl Dolly((Dolores Moran) still believed in him. These 2 might seem like natural enemies: a 'good' girl and a 'bad' girl. But they both had romantic attachments to Ballard , and cooperated in forcing the telegraph operator to fake a telegram saying that McCarty was a fake. Rose ran with this message to the church, where a mob was gathered, as Ballard and McCarty were above, in the bell tower. The telegram convinced the mob that McCarty was in the wrong. Ballard and McCarty were now on opposite sides of a large bell. See the film to find out what happened. Meanwhile, a valid telegram was received saying that McCarty was wanted for murder and rustling. In the fade out, Dolly is running with this to the church to show........Duryea is easily the most charismatic male, but in a negative way, with his nasal sneering voice. Payne looks more believable as a westerner than in some of his westerns. Dolores, as Dolly, is much more interesting, if shadier, than the prim Rose. This fits the standard formula of westerns.......See it in gorgeous Technicolor at You Tube.

Spikeopath Silver Lode is directed by Allan Dwan and written by Karen DeWolf. It stars John Payne, Lizabeth Scott, Dan Duryea, Dolores Moran and Emile Meyer. Music is by Louis Forbes and cinematography by John Alton.Dan Ballard (Payne) is a respected resident of the town Silver Lode, but on his wedding day Marshal Fred McCarty (Duryea) rolls into town looking to arrest him, accusing him of having murdered the Marshal's brother. The townsfolk refuse to accept the charge and stand up for Dan, and Dan loudly protests his innocence, but once suspicious mud is thrown it begins to stick and soon Dan finds himself running out of friends and is forced to prove his innocence.Two things always pop up when the film Silver Lode is spoke about, one is its similarities to High Noon, the other is its veiled allegory of Senator McCarthy and his witch hunts. These are two things which are hard to ignore, though as a "British" lover of Westerns myself, the McCarthy politico aspect doesn't really resonate, but Silver Lode deserves to primarily be known for being the damn fine Western that it is.Fickle mob rule and knee jerk reactions drive Silver Lode forward, it's a thematic powder keg ignited with some skill by the prolific Dwann. Aided by the supremely talented Alton, Dwann achieves so much mood and tension from a small town set up, this is never dealing in expansive vistas, its primary goal is to suffocate Dan Ballard. Where once was freedom and love, now is a place closing in on him, with the story moving into a noir realm as Dan becomes a man whose past is proving to be inescapable, while fate, another big noir ingredient, has a big part in proceedings as events conspire to make Dan seem more of a guilty man the harder he tries to prove his innocence.It's a lean and mean screenplay, devoid of filler and characterisations are colourful. Payne makes for a good put upon hero, his Dan Ballard as written is stoic and tough, and resilience needs to be his middle name. Duryea does another in his great line of weasels, and here he is wonderfully cloaked in suspicion from the off. Tagging behind him are his three equally suspicious cohorts played by Stuart Whitman, Alan Hale Junior and Harry Carey Junior, while the upstanding town elders (Sheriff, Judge, Reverend) have time to make a mark before the fragile nature of small town justice begins to take a hold and the clock ticks down on Dan Ballard's life.Most impressive is the influence on the story of the lady characters, so often a token interest in the B Westerns of the 50s. Deftly perched on either side of Ballard, the femmes are key characters in the piece. Rose Evans (Scott) is virtuous, brightly attired in white, she's the town sweetheart who Dan is set to marry, the question is will her loyalty to Dan remain? Dolly (Moran giving the best performance in the film and getting all the best lines) is a slinky saloon gal, in purple frills and with a tongue as sharp as a scorpion's sting, she still carries a torch for the unobtainable Dan.Alton's colour photography is most appealing but we don't see the best of his work until the finale inside the town church. With clever use of light, shadows and colour enhancements, Alton is able to sum up the whole tone of the story in this segment. As for if the finale is worth the wait? It is but it's a little mischievous. Certainly it's interesting, a quirk of fate again playing a hand as two men do battle in the church bell tower. But there's a religious angle dropped into the narrative and I'm at a loss as to why that would be the case? Still, it's a very small irritant, for this is a cracker of a Western, a lesson in achieving big things from such small beginnings. 8.5/10

cstotlar-1 Some have claimed how "impossible" it is not to compare this with "High Noon". I haven't seen "Noon" in years but this film was fresh in every way. Just to think of it - here is a collaborator with D. W. Griffith who has made more films during his successful career than any ten directors combined - and many of them Westerns! He was wowing audiences with his technical know-how long before "High Noon" was a twinkling in anyone's eye. How much the villain and McCarthy have in common is more in the domain of the scriptwriter than the director, perhaps - after all, the scriptwriters got the shaft more often than anybody else during the witch hunts. This is a lively tale and it moves quickly. The colors are wonderful and the tracking shots vivid. Come to think of it, I might just prefer it. It doesn't talk itself to death, but neither do the other Dwan films I've seen over the years.Curtis Stotlar

Sean Morrow Dan Duryea is the reason I decided to watch this western and he is wonderful but far from the only reason I rate the movie an 8. The action starts with Dan and three other riders (Harry Carey Jr and Alan Hale Jr for gosh sakes... you know you're in for a good time) riding into the town of Silver Lode on forth of July. They're looking for the man named "Dan Ballard" but everyone they ask gives them the cold shoulder, one remarks they know a gunfighter when they see one. Turns out Dan is a federal marshal named Ned McCarty (other reviews have noted the McCarthy similarity and I agree with them on that) come to take Ballard -- solidly played by John Payne -- prisoner back to California for a murder rap. The victim is, it turns out, McCarty's brother and there is also a matter of $20,000 stolen at the same time.At first the town's people are solidly behind Ballard but gradually they come around to bow McCarty's assumed authority and turn against Ballard. This is done rather well, not nearly as heavy handedly as might be. Many reviewers have noted the similarity to "High Noon", it's sort of a "High Noon" in reverse. While that's mighty high company the comparison is not out of line and the wonderful direction of Allan Dwan makes up for the lower production values. This is a good story, well made and worth looking for.