_**Individuals seem insignificant against a barren, desolate, unforgiving environment**_ A hardened bounty hunter (Randolph Scott) takes his prisoner (James Best) into the wilderness of east-central California with the intention of delivering him to Santa Cruz. However, he finds himself needing to join forces with two questionable men (Pernell Roberts & James Coburn) and a solitary woman (Karen Steele) at an isolated swing station in order to confront Mescalero Indians. Simultaneously, the young outlaw’s gang is tracking them (Lee Van Cleef, among others). "Ride Lonesome" (1959) is part of a series of five Western films made between 1956 and 1960 that were written by Burt Kennedy, directed by Budd Boetticher, and starred Randolph Scott. The other entries are: “7 Men from now,” “The Tall T,” “Buchanan Rides Alone” and “Comanche Station.” Two additional movies don’t include writer Kennedy: "Decision at Sundown" and "Westbound." A dedicated following has developed around these Westerns, and most of them are excellent despite having relatively modest budgets, as is the case with this one. Like “The Tall T,” it was filmed entirely outdoors and in roughly the same region. There's a pervasive sense of sadness to what’s happening as the characters chase after money, justice, love, redemption or revenge in a decaying Western world. I personally favor “The Tall T,” but this film is quite good too if you don’t mind the feeling of emptiness and gloom. The final moments leave one with a positive impression. This was Coburn's first movie role; seven years later he would be starring in "Our Man Flint" as the King of Cool. It's noteworthy that everyone else in the primary cast eventually appeared on Bonanza, with the exception of Scott. The film’s running time is tight at 1 hour, 13 minutes, and it was shot in Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, and nearby Olancha Dunes, Olancha, California. GRADE: B/B-

Source on TMDB