Something that becomes very clear, if you ever watch a lot of similar films in a row, is that it takes remarkably little effort or innovation to shift a run-of-the-mill exercise in genre filmmaking into an attention-grabbing and inventive highlight. A Man Alone is a case in point. This 1955 western follows a gunslinger, falsely accused of a multiple murder, who must stand up against the corrupt rich magnate that dominates his town. It is one of a bunch of stock plots that mid-century westerns tend to adopt, alongside films about range wars, gold rushes, and colonial-versus-Native-American conflicts. Here the artistic flourishes help the film to stand out. Among the 20-odd 1955 westerns I have watched to date, it is easily one of the most enjoyable.

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the film is that it essentially goes without dialogue for the first 20 minutes. Even when someone does speak, the protagonist stays silent for a good half hour. This forces the film’s opening act to do what motion pictures are best set up for: visual storytelling.

Once events spin into motion, A Man Alone becomes very much a stock western drama about a corrupt tycoon dominating a town with a single man willing to stand up against his villainy. It is a solid narrative, and is brought to life in this case by some genuinely good performances. Raymond Burr brings a strong physicality to his role as the villainous banker Stanley, while Lee Van Cleef – in his seventh of eight film performances in 1955 – continues to develop the presence that will subsequently reward him with many more roles in the western genre. Mary Murphy is good as heroine Nadine Corrigan.

In the lead is Ray Milland, a Welsh actor whose career in Hollywood was kickstarted by his Oscar-winning performance in Billy Wilder’s The Lost Weekend (1945). In 1954 he co-starred in Alfred Hitchcock’s Dial M for Murder. With A Man Alone, Milland made another major step forward in his career by directing as well. He prepared for the task by directing episodes of his situation comedy Meet Mr McNutley, and gained the directing role on A Man Alone by taking a lower fee in return for a percentage of its profits. He directed another four films over the following decade or so. Here he does a straightforward, dramatically effective job – particularly with its striking all-but-silent first act.

A Man Alone is a perfect example of a straightforward, well executed genre piece that does a strong job of delivering on audience expectations. It does not innovate beyond those initial 20 minutes, but it follows up that inventiveness with grit, character, and satisfying storytelling. It is an easy example of the genre and the period to recommend.

1955 West is a review project to watch as many western features from 1955 as possible, in order to gain a ‘snapshot’ view of the genre at its height. According to Letterboxd, there were 72 westerns released that year. You can see all of FictionMachine’s reviews of them to date by clicking here.