Day of the Outlaw (1959)

Plot:   In the dead of Winter, a small Western Town is taken over by an Outlaw Gang.
Stars:  Robert Ryan, Burl Ives (as the Outlaw leader),  Tina Louise

Well done, if low-budget and derivative Western. The first act gives us rancher (Ryan) vs. small town farmers ala Shane. Ryan even makes a "Ryker" like speech about the "men who got here first and ran the risks"  getting pushed out.  In the 2nd Act, Ives' gang shows up & holds the town hostage, like a Western version of Desperate Hours/The Wild One.  The last act gives us a Key Largo ending with Ryan leading the gang out-of-town on a supposedly "safe" trail over the mountains.

Living aside the derivative nature of the script, its well directed and the final 20 minutes shot on location (in snow and freezing temperatures) is beautiful & compelling. The acting?  Well, Burl Ives is Burl Ives. As for Ryan, he lacked the necessary charm/likability to be a leading man - but here, he's a good fit since there's no romance and he's mostly cantankerous. The various supporting players (including "Ginger" from Gilligan's Island) are more than adequate.

Summary:  Historically, its all balls. No real western town would've put up with Ives' Gang for a second, and no Western Gang ever acted like the "Burl Ives Gang".  But its a well done film,  with a great last 20 minutes. An unjustly forgotten 'small picture' Western.