When I read a brief synopsis of this film I thought, oh my, that old plot again? I'm surprised Gregory Peck fell for it. But, it's difficult for me to resist a Gregory Peck film, so I watched it and was pleasantly surprised. Yes, it is another revenge Western, but the script is much better than average, the acting excellent and -- I thought -- realistic, and the settings are often quite stunning.
Let's begin with the plot. How many times have we seen the basic plot? Group of men kill man's wife...he seeks revenge. Well, this story goes a little beyond that basic plot. It involves a lovely village with good people. It involves mistaken identity. It involves a past love. It involves repentance. The only problem I had with the plot was that -- at the end -- there is no need for repentance. The outlaws killed were guilty of attempted murder, one was guilty of rape, another guilty of theft, all were guilty of escaping from jail. They were not innocent...they paid a price.
In terms of the acting, Gregory Peck is marvelous; of course, wasn't he always? The big surprise came with Joan Collins...I guess she could actually act...at least on occasion...and for brief moments. Stephen Boyd was a nasty villain here, and accomplishe dhis acting duty. Albert Salmi was one of the bad guys in a pretty much nothing part. Henry Silva had several very good scenes near the end of the film. Was there some reason that Kathleen Gallant was smiling almost the whole time during her kidnapping. Nice to see Herbert Rudley as the sheriff...a good character actor. Lee Van Cleef, another of the bad guys had one good pre-death scene. Andrew Duggan had one good scene at the end of the film. The oddest casting was Joe DeRita as the fake hangman; DeRita is best known as one of the replacements for Curly in the Three Stooges!
I rarely watch Westerns anymore, but this is a good one. Well worth your time.
Let's begin with the plot. How many times have we seen the basic plot? Group of men kill man's wife...he seeks revenge. Well, this story goes a little beyond that basic plot. It involves a lovely village with good people. It involves mistaken identity. It involves a past love. It involves repentance. The only problem I had with the plot was that -- at the end -- there is no need for repentance. The outlaws killed were guilty of attempted murder, one was guilty of rape, another guilty of theft, all were guilty of escaping from jail. They were not innocent...they paid a price.
In terms of the acting, Gregory Peck is marvelous; of course, wasn't he always? The big surprise came with Joan Collins...I guess she could actually act...at least on occasion...and for brief moments. Stephen Boyd was a nasty villain here, and accomplishe dhis acting duty. Albert Salmi was one of the bad guys in a pretty much nothing part. Henry Silva had several very good scenes near the end of the film. Was there some reason that Kathleen Gallant was smiling almost the whole time during her kidnapping. Nice to see Herbert Rudley as the sheriff...a good character actor. Lee Van Cleef, another of the bad guys had one good pre-death scene. Andrew Duggan had one good scene at the end of the film. The oddest casting was Joe DeRita as the fake hangman; DeRita is best known as one of the replacements for Curly in the Three Stooges!
I rarely watch Westerns anymore, but this is a good one. Well worth your time.