Ride a Crooked Trail
“Alone . . . he faced the deadly crossfire of a killer mob . . . and a fear-crazed town!”
Synopsis
After robbing a bank Murphy assumes the identity of his pursuer, a famous US Marshal, when he stumbles into a town and is confronted by the local judge, Matthau. Murphy is forced to remain as the new Marshal; an old flame, Scala, nearly unmasks him by accident, only to be forced to assume the ruse of being Murphy's wife. The "couple" given a house and respectability, which neither has had before. They maintain the charade to avoid hurting a young orphan boy, Matthau's ward. Scala is torn by her loyalty to boyfriend planning to rob the bank and growing feelings for Murphy
Top Cast
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Audie Murphy
Joe Maybe
Gia Scala
Tessa Milotte
Walter Matthau
Judge Kyle
Henry Silva
Sam Teeler
Joanna Moore
Little Brandy
Eddie Little
Jimmy
Mary Field
Mrs. Curtis
Leo Gordon
Sam Mason
Mort Mills
Pecos
Frank Chase
Ben
Bill Walker
Jackson
Ned Wever
Attorney Clark
Richard H. Cutting
Mr. Curtis
Rayford Barnes
Teeler Gang Member (uncredited)
John Barton
Townsman (uncredited)
Jimmie Booth
Townsman (uncredited)
Forrest Burns
Posse Member (uncredited)
Russell Custer
Townsman (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
November 23, 1958
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Jesse Hibbs
- Screenplay & Story
- Borden Chase
- Original Score
- Stanley Wilson
- Original Title
- Ride a Crooked Trail
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 28m
- Production Studios
- Universal International Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Jesse Hibbs
Borden Chase, George Bruce
Stanley Wilson
Harold Lipstein
Edward Curtiss
Howard Pine
Department Leadership Roster
Borden Chase
Screenplay
Jesse Hibbs
Director
Edward Curtiss
Editor
Harold Lipstein
Director of Photography
Howard Pine
Producer
Bill Thomas
Costume Design
Stanley Wilson
Original Music Composer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Ride a Crooked Trail.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Ride a Crooked Trail.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Ride a Crooked Trail
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Ride a Crooked Trail about?
After robbing a bank Murphy assumes the identity of his pursuer, a famous US Marshal, when he stumbles into a town and is confronted by the local judge, Matthau. Murphy is forced to remain as the new Marshal; an old flame, Scala, nearly unmasks him by accident, only to be forced to assume the ruse of being Murphy's wife. The "couple" given a house and respectability, which neither has had before. They maintain the charade to avoid hurting a young orphan boy, Matthau's ward. Scala is torn by her loyalty to boyfriend planning to rob the bank and growing feelings for Murphy
Who directed Ride a Crooked Trail?
Ride a Crooked Trail was directed by Jesse Hibbs.
Who stars in Ride a Crooked Trail?
The principal cast of Ride a Crooked Trail includes Audie Murphy, Gia Scala, Walter Matthau, Henry Silva, Joanna Moore.
When was Ride a Crooked Trail released and how long is it?
Ride a Crooked Trail was released in 1958 with a total runtime of 1h 28m.
Who composed the musical score for Ride a Crooked Trail?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Ride a Crooked Trail was composed by Stanley Wilson.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Ride a Crooked Trail?
Ride a Crooked Trail holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).