Slow pace in the most part of the movie.

It is a performances centric movie

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

When a bus arrives in San Pablo, the mysterious American Lucky Gagin (Robert Montgomery) looks for the La Fonda Hotel and he meets the local Pila (Wanda Hendrix) that offers to take him there. Gagin is a tough man and army veteran and he seeks out a man called Frank Hugo (Fred Clark) and he learns that he will be back to his room only on the next day. Gagin stumbles upon FBI Agent Bill Retz (Art Smith), who is chasing the powerful mobster Frank Hugo, and he warns Gagin to forget his scheme for revenging his friend Shorty that was murdered by Frank. Then Gagin looks for a hotel room and he goes to the Bar Tres Violetas, where he befriends the owner of carousel called Pancho (Thomas Gomez) and he buys drinks for his friends in the bar. Pancho offers a place to Gagin to spend the night. On the next morning, Gagin goes to the hotel and meets Frank Hugo. He blackmails the mobster, asking for 30,000 dollars to give a check that incriminates him. Frank Hugo accepts the deal and tell that the money will be available only at 7:00 PM. Will Gagin succeed in his extortion of money from Frank?"Ride the Pink Horse" is a different film-noir directed by Robert Montgomery, who is also the lead actor. His bitter and unpleasant character is well-developed as a war veteran disillusioned with the post-war life since his lover is unfaithful and his best friend was murdered by a mobster. Wanda Hendrix performs a weird character, maltreated by Gagin but following him like a puppy. But the plot is a good story of friendship. My vote is seven.Title (Brazil): "Do Lodo Brotou Uma Flor" ("From the Mud Sprouted a Flower")

most definitely will buy any blu-ray copy I can get my hands on,if only to copy word for word,the rapid fire dialogue,enormously entertaining tough-guy talk,not cop talk,not gangster talk,just sharp,cut-to-the-chase observations about life on the streets by washed up drunken gangster Montgomery,a bitter,ex-GI returned to America & now arriving in a seedy,dust-choked border town(San Pablo,New Mexico), looking to exact revenge on big time mobster Frank Hugo, for killing his former boss,Sparky. Filmed on a Hollywood back lot,it sure looked like an authentic,'Tijuana'-like backdrop on the eve of a big,Mexican fiesta town celebration,which adds to the authenticity. Montgomery's('Lucky Gagin') target is Hugo,a slimy mobster surrounded by loyal henchmen & a glamorous femme fatale mob moll(andrea King), a B-list actress whose seductive ways w/ men,make today's women on Facebook,twitter look like girl scouts hawking cookies at a shopping mall. Also killer performances by Wanda Hendrix as a mysterious,Mexican waif who keeps popping up in the movie at the strangest times. Also art smith as a wily FBI agent, also on the hunt for Hugo....

Fans of Robert Montgomery's performances in such lighter fare as HERE COMES MR. JORDAN or MR & MRS SMITH will likely be stunned by his work in this hard-nosed, decidedly kinky film noir set in a seedy New Mexico border town. Montgomery comes to town looking to blackmail the underworld boss who had his friend killed. The fact that the underworld boss is played by Fred Clark(!) gives a good indication that this thriller is going to be anything but typical Hollywood fare. Montgomery directed with a deft touch and he's populated the film with a stellar supporting cast including a very young Wanda Hendrix, Andrea King as a bitchy gun moll and Art Smith as a very Truman- like government man (it's 1947!). Stealing the film is Thomas Gomez as Pancho, Montgomery's sleazy sidekick and owner of the carousel featuring the eponymous horse. Clark is exceptional in his unlikely role, a wolf in sheep's clothing with a hearing aid and a hidden temper. Ben Hecht worked on the script and the excellent art direction is by Robert Boyle & Bernard Herzbrun. Montgomery would later adapt the same story on his television anthology show in which both he & Gomez would reprise their roles.

This is a classic pseudo film noir. It means to emulate, but not necessarily be, a true film noir.Robert Montgomery is excellent and believable as a man driven to revenge the death of his war time pal.The scenes with Wanda Hendrix as, in turns, a guileless teen, a knowing friend and a woman who 'sees things' are taut and dramatic. There are a few moments of humor there too.Mr Montgomery's direction is both intelligent and convincing. There are moments of drama. Moments of near pathos. Moments of comedy. Moments of boredom - from the characters, not the audience.The 'Fed' and 'Pancho' the carousel owner are interesting and engaging characters. Not hollow or cardboard cutouts that one might see in some films.All in all it is a very enjoyable film and a must see for those that appreciate both the acting skills and the directorial skills of Mr. Robert Montgomery.