With its genesis in an original screenplay by Sam Roeca (ANGEL BABY), THE TALL TEXAN stars Bridges as a convicted murderer being escorted by sheriff Samuel Herrick to an El Paso prison aboard a covered wagon. The wagon is attacked by Indians, who kill one of the passengers and overturn the wagon. Stranded in the desert without horses, Bridges, Herrick, and the other survivors, who include sea captain Cobb, Eastern widow Windsor, driver Syd Saylor (THE THREE MESQUITEERS), and Indian George Steele (BADMEN OF THE WEST), team up with trader Adler to investigate an alleged gold cache.
Suffice to say, many of them come down with a wicked case of gold fever, even the sheriff, who neglects his duties in taking in Bridges. The emphasis is on drama over action in this agreeable B-picture with more than a little debt to TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE. Bridges and Cobb predictably clash over the only woman in the group. Whether the short schedule or Williams’ status as a first-time director is to blame, the movie suffers from occasional sloppiness, such as the tire tracks of the camera car consistently getting into the shot. Though the film establishes Bridges’ conviction earlier, later dialogue calls for Bridges to continue to El Paso to stand trial (Reinhardt probably has to take the hit for this).
On the other hand, Williams served as his own editor and cut the picture to a tight 81 minutes. He does a nice job moving the camera to spice up the visuals, and uses his barren New Mexican locations to good advantage. The blacklisted stars appear to relish their roles at a time when they weren’t getting many. Cobb and Bridges cooperated with the House Un-American Activities Committee and resumed their careers.
