My Outlaw Brother

Plot

This medium-budget western is also known as My Brother, the Outlaw and Outlaw Brother. Mickey Rooney plays an Eastern dude who heads westward to visit his brother Robert Stack. When ranger Robert Preston informs Rooney that Stack is a wanted outlaw, the Mick refuses to believe it. But when Preston's words prove to be true, Rooney vows to bring Stack to justice himself. Based on a short story by Max Brand, My Outlaw Brother is a somewhat uncharacteristic project for Elliot Nugent, a director usually associated with comedies and romantic dramas. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Review

Although it's odd to see the 1951 version of Mickey Rooney in a Western, My Outlaw Brother owes its very modest appeal to his presence, as well as the presence of co-stars Robert Stack (as the brother) and Robert Preston. They're an odd trio to bring together in one movie, to be sure, but they each have a particular sort of charisma and style, something that Outlaw as a whole lacks. Gene Fowler's screenplay is terribly predictable; it's pretty much a standard issues good brother vs. bad brother scenario, with the added layer of the good brother being a city slicker; one doesn't even have to see the film to imagine how it all plays out, and one would rarely be wrong. Some snappier, more characterful direction would have helped matters, but Elliott Nugent seems to be operating pretty much on automatic pilot here; he gets things done, but without a great deal of flair. The sets are fine, if not particularly impressive. All of this leaves it up to the stars, who may not be turning in dazzling performances but who do provide a good degree of distraction and pleasure. ~ Craig Butler, Rovi

Cast

• Mickey Rooney - Denny O'More
• Wanda Hendrix - Senorita Carmel Alvarado
• Robert Preston - Joe Warnder
• Carlos Muzquiz - El Capitan

José Torvay - Ortiz; Margarito Luna - Lorenzo; Chel Lopez - Pancho; Robert Stack - Patrick O'More

Credit

Edward FitzGerald - Art Director, Elliott Nugent - Director, George Crone - Editor, Jose Ortiz Ramos - Cinematographer, Benedict E. Bogeaus - Producer, Gene Fowler - Screenwriter, Max Brand - Short Story Author

Previous:	My Only Sunshine (2008 Film), My One and Only (2009 Film)
Next:	My Own (1994 Film), My Own Country (1998 Film)