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      The Lawless Breed

      Released Jan 3, 1953 1h 23m Western List
      Reviews 67% 100+ Ratings Audience Score Released from prison after serving 16 years of a quarter-century sentence for murder, reformed gunfighter John Wesley Hardin (Rock Hudson) completes a written autobiography, hoping to convince his son (Race Gentry) not to follow a criminal path. In it, he shows how having left home as a young man against the wishes of his strict preacher father (John McIntire) and his first love (Mary Castle), he is hurled into the outlaw life when he shoots a man in self-defense during a card game in a saloon. Read More Read Less

      Critics Reviews

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      Clyde Gilmour Maclean's Magazine Better-than-average frontier mellerdrammer. Oct 7, 2019 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Highly inaccurate biopic on legendary Texas outlaw John Wesley Hardin. Rated: C+ May 20, 2010 Full Review Michael E. Grost Classic Film and Television Indifferent Western about a repulsive outlaw, with some decent use of color as a saving grace. Jul 17, 2009 Full Review Read all reviews

      Audience Reviews

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      Audience Member This is a very good movie. A lot of stars and familiar character actors like Michael Ansara and Lee Van Cleef. Good acting and directing. It's definitely worth your time. Was there a better time for movies than the 1950's? Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/19/23 Full Review Audience Member The Lawless Breed is a 1953 western directed by Raoul Walsh. The film stars Rock Hudson as John Wesley Hardin and Julie Adams as Rosse. The acting in film is very good mainly because the actors make the characters feel realistic. Lee Van Cleef also appears in the film playing a character called Dirk Hanley. Personally I always like to see Lee Van Cleef even if its just a very small part. The characters were fun and enjoyable to watch even if there not the most memorable characters. I also found that the actors fit the characters very nicely. The cinematography in the film fits the scenes nicely and gives it a slow but steady feel to it. The settings consist of Bars, Farms and even horse tracks set in the western era. The set design and props consist of mostly guns, Alcohol and mostly house design. The costume design fits near perfectly with the era and the characters. I especially liked John Wesley Hardins costume to me it gave a innocent but still deadly look to it. The practical effects are good especially for the time the film was made. Most of the practical effects consisted of gun use and stunts one stunt I liked in particular was a stunt were John Wesley Hardin has to hold onto the side of the horse whilst being chased. The action in the film though not gory is still very good for the time and entertaining to watch. The dialogue in the film is steady and delivered well even though sometimes you can tell the dialogue was cut off. The editing in the film is steady but sometimes like the dialogue can cut off. The music in the film is in the traditional western style which in my personal opinion helps with the atmosphere. The story follows John Wesley Hardin as he has just been released from prison for being found guilty of murder. The main point of the story is that John doesnt want his son to follow in his footsteps of becoming a criminal. He does this by writing his autobiography and this is were we see how he became an outlaw. The film has a Sunday afternoon atmosphere to it which I personally very much like. The film is also very enjoyable even though I can see people like my brother getting bored. The film does also have a few things wrong with it but luckily it doesnt take away that much. Over all I give it a 6/10 - A Sunday afternoon movie Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/23/23 Full Review Audience Member It's not top-tier Raoul Walsh to be sure. However, it's solidly done with a fine performance by Rock Hudson. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/26/23 Full Review Audience Member Dreadfully dull and wildly inaccurate western about the notorious outlaw John Wesley Hardin, played by Rock Hudson. The usually reliable director Raoul Walsh (THE ROARING TWENTIES, HIGH SIERRA, WHITE HEAT) seems bored with the melodramatic nonsense. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 02/23/23 Full Review Audience Member Excellent Anti-Western directed by the Master Raoul Walsh starring the Great Rock Hudson as one of the most tragic Western Characters ever in a Minor Role shines Lee Van Cleef Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/16/23 Full Review Audience Member I'm not into Westerns made before the 60's or 70's so I expected to either hate The Lawless Breed or it would be just be something to watch but it was way better then I even expected it to be.It had me hooked right from the start all the way to the finish & I can see why it's a Western classic. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/23/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

      Cast & Crew

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      The Lawless Breed

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      Movie Info

      Synopsis Released from prison after serving 16 years of a quarter-century sentence for murder, reformed gunfighter John Wesley Hardin (Rock Hudson) completes a written autobiography, hoping to convince his son (Race Gentry) not to follow a criminal path. In it, he shows how having left home as a young man against the wishes of his strict preacher father (John McIntire) and his first love (Mary Castle), he is hurled into the outlaw life when he shoots a man in self-defense during a card game in a saloon.
      Director
      Raoul Walsh
      Screenwriter
      William Alland, Bernard Gordon
      Distributor
      Universal Pictures
      Production Co
      Universal International Pictures
      Genre
      Western
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Jan 3, 1953, Original
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Nov 5, 2019
      Runtime
      1h 23m