Copyright 13 March 1964 by Universal Pictures Company, Inc. New York opening on a double bill at the Palace and other theatres: 24 December 1964. U.S. release: 1 February 1965. U.K. release: 28 March 1965. 7,650 feet. 85 minutes.
SYNOPSIS: Lone survivor of a family massacre is pursued by three hired gunmen into Apache territory.
COMMENT: Making extensive use of action footage from some 3-D feature (Fort Ti?) for its Indians-attack-the-fort climax, Taggart is a reasonably actionful "B" western, with a strong if over-talkative villain (Dan Duryea), a commanding if too briefly observed heroine's dad (Dick Foran), and a quite pretty if late-entering female lead (Jean Hale). There are other interesting players as well, though I would exclude the somewhat surly Tony Young, who seems to have only the one expression and to deliver his lines in a similar monotone.
Springsteen's direction and other credits are competent enough. The editor has done a reasonable job splicing in the stock material of cattle rustling and fort storming which gives the movie the air of a fair-sized budget.
The story is developed somewhat along television lines with our hunted hero involved in three different encounters. The first is with a widow desperately trying to make a go at being a bar-girl -- an appealing portrait here by Claudia Barrett.
Fans will recognise Bob Steele in a fleeting part as the Taggart cook.
Aside from the stock footage, lots of dialogue, repetitious and/or fixed camera positions, Taggart has other "B"-picture stratagems including the novel idea of having the hero remonstrate (at length of course) with his dad for not hiring enough men! It's a pity that some of this ingenuity wasn't devoted to developing and motivating the character played by Elsa Cardenas. This lack of conviction undermines the impact of the climax considerably.
SYNOPSIS: Lone survivor of a family massacre is pursued by three hired gunmen into Apache territory.
COMMENT: Making extensive use of action footage from some 3-D feature (Fort Ti?) for its Indians-attack-the-fort climax, Taggart is a reasonably actionful "B" western, with a strong if over-talkative villain (Dan Duryea), a commanding if too briefly observed heroine's dad (Dick Foran), and a quite pretty if late-entering female lead (Jean Hale). There are other interesting players as well, though I would exclude the somewhat surly Tony Young, who seems to have only the one expression and to deliver his lines in a similar monotone.
Springsteen's direction and other credits are competent enough. The editor has done a reasonable job splicing in the stock material of cattle rustling and fort storming which gives the movie the air of a fair-sized budget.
The story is developed somewhat along television lines with our hunted hero involved in three different encounters. The first is with a widow desperately trying to make a go at being a bar-girl -- an appealing portrait here by Claudia Barrett.
Fans will recognise Bob Steele in a fleeting part as the Taggart cook.
Aside from the stock footage, lots of dialogue, repetitious and/or fixed camera positions, Taggart has other "B"-picture stratagems including the novel idea of having the hero remonstrate (at length of course) with his dad for not hiring enough men! It's a pity that some of this ingenuity wasn't devoted to developing and motivating the character played by Elsa Cardenas. This lack of conviction undermines the impact of the climax considerably.