review for Branded a Coward on AllMovie

An early example of the "adult," or psychological Western, Branded a Coward succeeds mainly because of Johnny Mack Brown's solid performance as the hero, Robert Kortman's always interesting portrayal of the villain, and several fine stunts by that grand old man of the genre, Yakima Canutt. Canutt, in fact, performs what may have been his earliest successful attempt at the famous stagecoach stunt, later perfected in John Ford's seminal Stagecoach (1939). Comic sidekick Syd Saylor, meanwhile, plays down his trademark stuttering in favor of some fine dramatic acting. Released by Syndicate Pictures Corp., a forerunner of Republic Pictures, Branded a Coward was obviously not geared to children, who must have been dismayed and upset by the death of the comedy relief.