I am no fan of Westerns, although grew up watching Gunsmoke and Bonanza because of the regular cast. Only watched this because had never seen an Audi Murphy movie and recognized some other cast.. Loved the powerful beginning, four escaped convicts with nothing to lose doing whatever they wanted, holding hostages and killing freely. The final scenes of the posse remnants chasing the bad guys were very beautifully filmed. It was all the stuff in the middle that didn't seem to fit. I then read the reviews and watched it again. I originally recognized John Saxons strong performance, but on reviewing the film I realized that he also that the best part in it. His is the only character that actually grows and develops, going from a New Yorker pressured by his boss to be part of the posse, to being a man giving his all to the the unenviable task. There are 2 great lines in this movie and he has one of them. Jock(PaulCarr) gushes about them becoming famous and being in every newspaper in the country, and Saxon replied " Hopefully not in the obituaries."
One reviewer thought Frank Overton's performance was iffy, but I think it's the character he plays that's iffy. He joins the posse because his brother was one of the men killed, but he tells the undertaker that the cheapest coffin is good enough. Not surprisingly
as soon as one bad guy is dead, it's good enough for him, he's done. After getting punched by Banner Cole for insulting
Jonny Caddo he gets the last word "At least I didn't have to shoot one of our own men!" , as Cole was forced to do. Many people cite their trouble seeing the soft spoken, babyfaced Murphy as the guy with the Right Stuff. I think there is something similar when they see Frank Overton as this iffy character. He is a big man with a strong rich voice best known for authoritative roles as lawyer, police or army officer, and he clearly is not that in this film. But as a superb character actor, he has also excelled playing wimpier types like Morris Lacey in The Dark at the Top of the Stairs and Lee Remick rejected suitor in Wild River.
Both Paul Carr and Robert Keith are overacting, but I put the onus on the director, they fit with the heavy handed irony that weighs down the middle of the film. The ultimate irony is actually the title, the posse is from the town of Paradise, and it's headed toward Hell.
Robert Keith was in Boomerang , in which Frank Overton had his first uncredited movie part. Franks first speaking role was in No Way Out. Strangely that title was first used for a Broadway play years earlier , with Robert Keith.
Both Paul Carr and Robert Keith are overacting, but I put the onus on the director, they fit with the heavy handed irony that weighs down the middle of the film. The ultimate irony is actually the title, the posse is from the town of Paradise, and it's headed toward Hell.
Robert Keith was in Boomerang , in which Frank Overton had his first uncredited movie part. Franks first speaking role was in No Way Out. Strangely that title was first used for a Broadway play years earlier , with Robert Keith.