rather odd when the omniscient-sounding storyteller is unaware of what we plainly see on the screen. Stephen McNally plays the famous Marshal who wasn't interested in the Kid's poker, but he was interested in the way he handled a six-gun… He needed a right hand and he had the fastest one he ever saw… He didn't see it dangerous to make him his deputy… Audie Murphy as Luke Cromwell, aka The Silver Kid, looking for the men who killed his father in The Duel at Silver Creek (1952) A fast-paced western, the first directed by Don Siegel, "The Duel at Silver Creek" is a classic good vs evil oater and ideal Saturday matinee fare. A gang of claim jumpers force miners to sign over their property, then shoot them to cover up the crime. The son of one murdered miner heads to the town where the jumpers are headquartered, and there he teams with the local marshal and finds romance. Although war-hero Audie Murphy is first billed as the young Silver Kid, Stephen McNally as Marshal Lightening Tyrone is the lead. Although the characters are one dimensional, and the acting requirements minimal, both actors adequately fill the bill, shoot convincingly, and ride a horse with conviction. Nothing more needed, although both have a yen for the ladies. He held the honor of being the most decorated living combat veteran.Audie Murphy, having single-handedly held off hordes of incoming German soldiers in France during World War II (and then leading a counterassault despite being out of ammo), earned literally every military service award that was available- even the Medal of Honor, which is most commonly given posthumously.

Marshal Tyrone, when Opal says she’s heard of his renown as a gunman: “Famous is a pretty big word. I’m afraid most people call me a lot of other things.” For a B-Western, this film is very entertaining. I'm surprised that it is rated --as of today-- only 6.1 at IMDb. What more do they want for a B-Western?

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This is a convoluted and often frustrating tale of claims jumpers ruthlessly hopping from threat to threat (and killing them anyway) that seems to be too determined to keep a constantly tense pace which ultimately causes its downfall. It has great color photography and a great set-up, but there are far too many characters written with too many clichés, but often takes some fascinating, sinister turns. The Duel at Silver Creek refers to the place where the final confrontation between the good guys led by Stephen McNally and Audie Murphy and the bad guys headed by Gerald Mohr. I came to this film on the basis of it being Don Siegel's first western and the first film he made in colour. The plot is pretty basic and doesn't live up to the suggestions of the opening – instead becoming rather focused on the actions of a few characters. As such, it works on a B movie level and that is pretty much what I expected it to do. This focused plot is improved by a good range of fun characters – with fancy names and exaggerated characters to match: the tough broad, the kid, the tough sheriff, the old coot etc. All the clichés are here but they are delivered with a slight sense of fun that helps it move smoothly. The colour is good and Siegel's direction is solid enough (although he would do much better later).

Although pretty average in terms of story, this is still entertaining thanks to the assured direction of Don Siegel, in the years before he'd graduated to the ranks of major A list directors. He knew how to handle action scenes, for one thing, and "The Duel at Silver Creek" is reasonably rousing at times. Overall, the filmmaking is quite capable, with top notch location work and superb creation of the classic Western look (in glorious Technicolor). You will notice that Siegel and the screenwriters don't exactly bother to keep the identities of certain villains a secret. You're also left in little doubt as to how the predictable script will unfold, so the scenario isn't about suspense, despite the fact that good guy Lightning has been badly wounded and can't handle a gun as well as he used to.Susan Cabot plays Dusty Fargo, the innocent girl who takes care of the Marshal better than many a wife he knows… This Kino Lorber disc has a fantastic commentary by film historians/filmmakers Steve Mitchell and Gary Gerani.Right away, Gerani makes a key equation with No Name on the Bulletas a kind of Biblical-styled morality play.He homes in on the way the film dwells on “What’s good?What’s evil?What’s in between?What’s prejudice?”This discussion is great added value in terms of legitimate food for thought.Mitchell and Gerani have a lot of positive things to say about Murphy and the others involved with this film, nailing the point that No Name on the Bulletis its star’s finest Western, and is certainly among the finest of his many films. ***** Meanwhile, the Silver Kid is attracted to Dusty, but knows she’ll have to get over the marshal before she’ll ever gaze at him with romance in her eyes. Don Siegel's "Duel at Silver Creek" opens with vicious gang of claim jumpers let by a killer called Rod Lacy (Gerald Mohr) who'd been forcing miners to sign away their claims through fear of torture or death…