Ride a Crooked Trail

Ride a Crooked Trail is a 1958 American Western film shot in CinemaScope and Eastman Color, with Audie Murphy and future Academy Award-winning actor Walter Matthau heading a strong if not well-known cast.

During his escape, bank robber Joe Maybe sees famous US Marshal Jim Noonan, who is searching for him, stumble and fall from a cliff to his death.

His real identity is nearly blown when the riverboat brings to town Tessa Milott, an acquaintance of Maybe's who calls him by his surname in front of the judge.

She must now pretend that she is his wife to avoid further scrutiny from Kyle, but this causes problems with her current boyfriend, bandit leader Sam Teeler.

The "couple" moves into a house and are well respected in town, although their secrecy is nearly compromised by a young orphan boy who expects "the marshal and his wife" to adopt him.