The Return of Jack Slade (1955)

"The return of Jack Slade" makes me think that perfect relax, if not happiness, is an old unpretentious western of the 1950's. Everything in the movie contributes to smooth the viewer's nerves. The story is linear, pleasantly predictable, with a suitable number of classic gunfights and dramatic events. The hero John Ericson (Jack Slade) is handsome and fast with his gun. Neville Brand makes a nice job as the villain Sutton. The movie is entirely filmed in open air: the viewer breaths freely, he feels to ride together with the guys on the screen. A little paradox: the locations are beautiful, but not stunning (that's not Monument Valley or similar wonders of nature). Yet this very fact increases the relax of the viewer: too much beauty could require a tiresome concentration...

And there is a beautifully romantic, even touching love-story... Let's give much credit to the loveliness, charm and niceness of Mari Blanchard as Texas Rose (this very name is a treat: isn't it?).

And, yes, we also find a good deal of mild, agreeable erotism in the movie. You know, the camp of the outlaws swarms with gorgeous, cheerful girls (a very young Angie Dickinson among the others)... they all wear tight trousers and shirts, showing that they are, well, in great physical shape, to say the least... and the girls keep guns in holsters, and they draw and shoot, and a couple of them wrestle on the ground of jealousy... Thereafter three smiling beauties, even more attractive wearing 19th century lady robes, hijack a stagecoach, with alluring toughness... Light, good-taste erotism, perfect for dreaming without being disturbed.

I don't want to be misunderstood: "The return of Jack Slade" is a flick of no consequence (but the intense presence of Mari Blanchard is something, believe me). I don't care: I really had a good time seeing this movie.