This ugly routine Western is advertised as the kind of old-fashioned one they used to make.

Violent Dean Martin western is so-so.

While Jericho is short on suspense it makes up for it in plenty of action and brisk direction that keep matters hanging together.

**_A professional figures out a way to cut down the odds before making a move_** An ex-lawman from Santa Fe and his ex-deputy (John McIntire and George Peppard) come to an Arizona town to assist the female owner of a stagecoach line (Jean Simmons), who happens to be persecuted by the town’s venal mogul, also an ex-lawman (Dean Martin). Since the odds are against winning a tangle with this boss, Dolan (Peppard) is determined to move on. Is he yella or will he make a stand? “Rough Night in Jericho” (1967) comes in the spirit of “Rio Bravo” and “El Dorado,” just minus John Wayne. It’s mostly town-bound, but there are more than enough scenic sequences shot in the Southwest wilderness (cited below). The emphasis is human interest, which effectively draws you into the lives of the characters at play. A minor example is when a certain man is humiliated and written off as a coward, but he’s later given a chance to prove his mettle. A better example is how Flood (Martin) and Dolan are fleshed out with several interesting dialogues. You just know they’re gonna have a showdown. There’s also a great knock-down-drag-out fight between Dolan and Yarbrough (Slim Pickens). Impressive Steve Sandor plays a side character in this particular sequence as Flood’s henchman Simms; the role happened to be his cinematic debut. Regrettably, the ending needed tightened up and the flick is strapped…