Line #21 Film/RideACrookedTrail


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ride_a_crooked_trail.jpg]]
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3	''Ride a Crooked Trail'' is a 1958 {{Western}} film directed by Jesse Hibbs, starring Creator/AudieMurphy, Creator/WalterMatthau, and ''Film/TheGunsOfNavarone's'' Gia Scala.
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5	Murphy plays petty criminal Joe Maybe, who is [[ThoroughlyMistakenIdentity mistaken for]] the famous U.S. Marshal Tom Noonan and drafted by the crazy Judge Kyle (Matthau) to keep order in town.
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8	!!''Ride a Crooked Trail'' contains examples of:
9	* ActionPrologue: Maybe on the run from Noonan.
10	* ActionFilmQuietDramaScene: a very well-done scene with Jimmy and Maybe, discussing their pasts and similarities.
11	* BadassBureaucrat: Judge Kyle gets shot in the arm by Maybe in the second scene, and just gets back up and walks like it's nothing.
12	--> '''Maybe''': "How come he doesn't fall over?"
13	--> '''Sam''': "I've seen him get shot six times and not fall over. Less'n he was drunk."
14	* BratsWithSlingshots: gunpowder variant. Jimmy has a varmint rifle, which he puts to good use in the penultimate fight.
15	* CatchPhrase / RunningGag: "It's the law."
16	* CatFight: an abbreviated one. Dancehall girl Brandy taunts Tessa about her "husband's" lack of training. Tessa floors her with a single blow.
17	* CheshireCatGrin: Maybe sports one at points while bantering with Tessa.
18	* CommonalityConnection: Between Joe Maybe and Jimmy. [[spoiler: Both are orphans, whose mothers were saloon girls. However, while Jimmy was adopted by the community and raised by Judge Kyle, Maybe...wasn't.]]
19	* CombatPragmatist: The Judge is a ''huge'' fan.
20	* DisneyVillainDeath: Noonan, though not a villain, dies by falling off a cliff.
21	* DoubleEntendre: Tessa and Maybe exchange quite a few of them, most notably:
22	--> '''Tessa:''' "Once I give him the word, Teeler's going to ride into town with ten men and do what you'd like to do."
23	--> '''Maybe:''' "We're, uh, still talking about the bank, right?"
24	--> '''Tessa:''' "And ''nothing'' else."
25	* DisorganizedOutlineSpeech: "Noonan"'s address at the railroad is one of these, as he gets distracted halfway through by Teeler's gang riding into town. However, he manages to play it off as a vague paean to the law and wraps it up before anybody besides Tessa notices.
26	* ExiledToTheCouch: Variant. Tessa won't allow him in her room and Jimmy has the spare room, so Maybe ends up sleeping in the bathtub for most of the movie.
27	* FemmeFatale: Tessa.
28	* ForeShadowing: Blink and you'll miss it, but Sam Teeler is namedropped as a murderer before Tessa even arrives.
29	%% * Getting Crap Past The Radar: Due to overwhelming and persistent misuse, GCPTR is on-page examples only until 01 June 2021. If you are reading this in the future, please check the trope page to make sure your example fits the current definition.
30	* HeelFaceTurn: Maybe and Tessa both decide to go straight (and get married).
31	* HeartwarmingOrphan: Jimmy.
32	* IHaveThisFriend: "Noonan" to Jimmy during their ActionFilmQuietDramaScene.
33	* LargeHam: the Judge.
34	* LeaveTheTwoLovebirdsAlone: Maybe and Tessa exploit this to get time alone...to coordinate their stories.
35	* LineOfSightName: Joe Maybe.
36	* MoralityPet: Jimmy is one to Judge Kyle, as well as becoming one to Maybe and Tessa.
37	* MeaningfulEcho: Tessa doesn't like men she's not involved with "mussing her clothes." She uses this to get Maybe to back off at first....and finally also says this to Sam Teeler.
38	* MultitaskedConversation: Judge Kyle and Jimmy aren't really talking about Jimmy's dog Paddlefoot being a possible murderer.
39	* NeverBringAKnifeToAFistFight: Teeler pulls a knife on Maybe in their final confrontation.
40	* PetTheDog: Tessa begins to defrost when Jimmy shows up; among other things, buying him a pony of his own.
41	* ParentalSubstitute: "Mr. and Mrs Noonan" are pegged as the perfect substitutes for Jimmy. It's a surprise to all three of them when it works out.
42	* PragmaticVillainy: Teeler is totally willing to listen to Maybe and follow his plan (to wait for the trail herds) instead of his original one....up to a point.
43	* RavenHairIvorySkin: Gia Scala as Tessa.
44	* RunningGag: "Ain't never gonna last," as well as "It's the law."
45	* SmarterThanYouLook: The Judge's assistant ''also'' knows that "Mrs. Noonan" isn't Noonan's actual wife, but keeps his mouth shut for the same reason Jimmy does.
46	* ThatManIsDead: The Judge suggests [[spoiler: Joe Maybe]] be the next name on "Noonan's" badge.
47	* UnconventionalCourtroomTactics: Among the judge's antics: forbidding the defense council from speaking, because "On account of, you're a liar and a cheat...and if you don't like hearing that, take me to court" and, "Drinks is on the railroad until midnight."
48	* UndercoverAsLovers: Maybe (as Noonan) has to pretend to be married to Tessa when she recognizes him (and greets him as Maybe.) He spins it that she called him "Baby" and she knows him well enough to play along.

Context Film / RideACrookedTrail