Where was Ride a Crooked Trail filmed?
If you’ve ever watched Ride a Crooked Trail and thought, “Wow, that desert looks like it’s judging me,” you’re not alone. This 1958 Western starring Audie Murphy and Walter Matthau was filmed in the kind of locations where tumbleweeds are the primary method of public transportation. The movie’s dusty, sunbaked playground? Arizona’s Old Tucson Studios—a place so steeped in cowboy lore, even the cacti have trusty sidekicks.
But Wait, There’s More Sand (And Studio Magic)
While Old Tucson’s faux frontier town did heavy lifting for saloon brawls and horseback chases, the production also galloped over to California’s Sonora Desert. Why? Because why film in one scorching wasteland when you can have two? Rumor has it the crew survived on a diet of sunscreen and existential dread, all while avoiding rogue scorpions auditioning for villain roles.
Key Filming Tidbits:
- Old Tucson Studios: AKA “Hollywood’s Sandbox,” where 100+ Westerns baked under the same unrelenting sun.
- Sonora, CA: Provided cliffs so dramatic, they probably demanded their own billing in the credits.
- The Local Wildlife: Coyotes reportedly tried to unionize for better craft services.
Did the Set Survive? (Spoiler: It’s Complicated)
Old Tucson Studios, that iconic relic of mid-century Westerns, tragically burned down in 1995. But fear not! It was rebuilt, because nothing says “determination” like reconstructing a fake town to keep the spirit of fake cowboys alive. Today, you can still visit—just don’t challenge the gift shop clerk to a duel. They’ve seen things.
So there you have it: a film shot in places where the term “middle of nowhere” was considered a selling point. Ride a Crooked Trail? More like *Ride a Sunburned Soundstage*. Yeehaw.
Where can I watch Ride a Crooked Trail?
So, you’ve decided to saddle up for Ride a Crooked Trail, the 1958 Western where Audie Murphy out-charms outlaws and judges with a poker face sharper than a cactus needle. But where, pray tell, does one lasso this cinematic relic? Fear not, partner—your quest isn’t as crooked as the trail in the title. Amazon Prime Video is your first stop. It’s lurking there like a bandit in a saloon, ready to rent or buy. Just don’t blink, or you’ll mistake it for a tumbleweed.
Streaming Oases in the Digital Desert
- Tubi: Free as a coyote’s howl (with ads, because capitalism).
- Pluto TV: Channel-surf until you hit the “Vintage Westerns” mirage.
- Classic Westerns niche platforms: Where film buffs and tumbleweeds gather.
Pro tip: If all else fails, shout “Yeehaw!” into your remote. It won’t help, but it’ll scare your cat.
The Physical Copy Quest
Prefer something tangible? Ride a Crooked Trail occasionally gallops onto eBay or Etsy as a DVD. Warning: These listings may include phrases like “mint condition” or “lightly haunted by the ghost of Westerns past.” Check your local library too—they might have a copy collecting dust next to a book titled How to Train Your Horse to Read.
Still lost? Channel your inner outlaw and Google Play or YouTube Movies might just cough it up. Just remember: The internet is a wilder frontier than the one Audie Murphy’s navigating. Happy trails, and may buffering never cross your path.
Who played Jimmy in Ride a Crooked Trail?
If you’re squinting at the credits of Ride a Crooked Trail (1958) like a cowboy deciphering a treasure map, let’s save you the trouble: Jimmy, the ill-fated bank robber who kicks off this Western romp, was played by none other than Walter Matthau. Yes, that Walter Matthau—the future Oscar-winning grumpster of The Odd Couple and Grumpy Old Men fame. Here he’s younger, mustachioed, and (spoiler) very dead within minutes. Talk about a career trajectory that went from “outlaw corpse” to “national treasure.”
Walter Matthau: The Unlikeliest Jimmy Since Sliced Bread
Before he was hurling sarcasm at Jack Lemmon or teaching poker to dinosaurs in Dennis the Menace, Matthau’s role as Jimmy was… brief. Think of it as a cameo, but with spurs. Here’s why it’s absurdly delightful:
- Fact: Jimmy’s entire contribution to the plot is robbing a bank, dying, and letting Audie Murphy’s character steal his identity. Efficient!
- Absurdity: Matthau, later known for playing curmudgeons, here plays a corpse with more facial hair than dialogue.
- Legacy: This might be the only Western where a future comedy legend’s mustache outlives its owner.
The Mystery of Jimmy’s Screen Time (Spoiler: It’s Not a Lot)
Jimmy’s role is shorter than a tumbleweed’s attention span, but Matthau’s presence is a quirky footnote in film history. Imagine being cast as “Guy Who Dies Immediately” and then, a decade later, becoming the guy studios built comedies around. It’s like finding out the parsley on your steak dinner went on to win Top Chef. Ride a Crooked Trail? More like Ride a Crooked Career Path—with a side of existential whiplash.
So next time you watch Matthau grumble his way through a film, remember: Jimmy was his origin story. A rootin’-tootin’ ghost of roles past, haunting the desert with unfinished one-liners and a stellar mustache.
Who was the child actor in Ride a Crooked Trail?
If you’ve ever watched the 1958 Western Ride a Crooked Trail—a film where Audie Murphy plays a bank robber masquerading as a judge, because of course he does—you might’ve wondered: “Who’s that kid stealing scenes like they’re unattended horses?” Buckle up, partner. The answer is as delightfully retro as a saloon piano.
Eddie Little: The pint-sized dynamo of dusty drama
The child actor in question is Eddie Little, a name that sounds like it was plucked straight from a Wild West-themed cereal box. At just 11 years old, Eddie played “Little,” the scrappy, overalls-clad sidekick to Walter Matthau’s grizzled outlaw. Imagine a miniature cowboy who’s equal parts charm and chaos, delivering lines like he’s been chewing tobacco since kindergarten. That’s Eddie. His performance was so unexpectedly sharp, you’ll half-expect him to demand a salary paid in licorice and pocket knives.
- Fact: Eddie’s entire filmography is shorter than a tumbleweed’s resume, but he made it count.
- Absurdity: His character’s name was “Little.” Subtlety? Never heard of her.
Where’s Eddie now? (Asking for a time-traveling posse)
After Ride a Crooked Trail, Eddie Little seemingly vanished faster than a gold nugget in a bandit’s pocket. Unlike other child stars who traded acting for scandals or sitcoms, Eddie rode into the sunset of obscurity. Rumor has it he’s either living under an alias like “Medium-Sized Edward” or trapped in a black-and-white TV rerun, forever outwitting outlaws with his pre-teen wit. Either way, his legacy lives on as proof that even in a world of gruff cowboys, the smallest boots can leave the quirkiest footprints.
So next time you watch Audie Murphy fake-judge his way through the Old West, tip your hat to Eddie Little—the spitfire of spunk who turned a dusty role into a tiny triumph. Yeehaw(?)
