Lust to Kill, A

Year: 1959
Cast: Jim Davis, Don Megowan, Allison Hayes, Claire Carleton, John Holland
Directed By: Oliver Drake

With very little in the way of a storyline, and with sets as crude as a high school play, "A Lust To Kill" is a textbook definition of the 1950s "B" western flick. This movie's greatest asset, arguably, is that it offers a chance to see Don Megowan at an early stage in his career. Despite his imposing physical presence, Megowan was clearly not the seasoned actor that he would become years later when playing outlaws and thugs in various movies and television productions. At times in "Lust," he seems awkward and uncomfortable when delivering lines of a threatening nature, which is surprising given the fact that he was superb at such discourse in films like "Devil's Brigade." Allison Hayes seems virtually invisible, despite her co-star billing, and Jim Davis is believable as the Marshal but, like the rest of the cast, lacking in charisma. Also, the events which unfold in the movie scarcely resemble the plot summary which is typically offered for this picture. Suffice it to say that Megowan's character finds himself in a position to wreak havoc on the townsfolk almost by accident, rather than by design, as the film nears its conclusion. Still, the simplicity of "A Lust To Kill" is a nostalgic trip down memory lane in the world of black-and-white, "B" productions. It's also an interesting study in actors like Megowan and Davis, who were probably at their best in supporting roles in more prominent movies instead of leading roles in minor ones.

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