Starring: Charlton Heston, Joan Hackett, Donald Pleasence, Lee Majors, Bruce Dern Directed By: Tom Gries Average Rating: Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated) Binding: DVD Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC Number of Items: 1 Region Code: 1 Release Date: June 04, 2002 Running Time: 108 minutes Studio: Paramount Theatrical Release Date: April 10, 1968
Product Description: An aging and out-of-luck cowboy is taken in by a young woman travelling to meet her husband, and soon finds himself falling in love. Genre: Westerns Rating: NR Release Date: 28-MAR-2006 Media Type: DVD
A Great Western ^ One of the late Chuck Heston's favorite films, this is the tale of an aging cowboy in a changing world. Will Penny is an illiterate, aging cowboy who does the only job he has known since he was young and finds a mother and son, love and comes to the realization that he can't be what they need -- in own his mind does the right thing -- and rides away. It is a wonderful, low-key film with one of Heston's best performances (in a career so full of them) with great supporting work by Joan Hatckett, Donald Pleasance, Bruce Dern, Anthony Zerbe, Ben Johnson, J.D. Spradlin and his debut movie role, Lee Majors. A wonderful, moving western. If you are a fan of western films, this one has to be a part of your collection. No if's, an's or but's. Nice background featurete.
DIsappointed ^ After reading other reviews I bought this DVD. I'm not a Charlton Heston fan, but I do like vintage westerns. I suppose the story this movie is based on is a decent one. Parts of the movie show that a cowboy's life can be dirty and smelly (ain't no showers behind the bushes).
Unfortunately, the main actors in this movie don't do it justice. There is NO chemistry between Mr. Heston and his co-star, Ms. Hackett.
I would like to correct a few plot points which other reviewers have repeated: the main character, Will Penny, is NOT "staked out" in the desert. He is beaten and stabbed; his gear is taken from him and he is left to die. The woman does not "find" him, she is already installed in Will's cabin which Will Penny manages to stumble to after an unknown time in the wilderness.
Will's character is drawn to the woman and uncomfortable at the same time while the female is somehow drawn to him. The actors TRY to portray this in very cramped quarters. They don't manage it; I was a little embarassed for them.
Both characters are pretty much one-dimensional; the woman's son is almost an afterthought in the film.
One last thing....the characters in this film have got to be the worst shots in the history of the west. DVD works just fine; sound and picture are good.
Worth Every Penny ^ Chuck in fine form as a crusty sodbuster but a bit dour throughout. Earnest performances help carry it along but it's not quite entertainment, is it ? I don't think I can recommend buying it but should prove a worthwhile curiosity as a Wednesday night rental.
Hesten's favorite ^ Very good movie and one of Heston's favorites. Not a "traditional" western, but one of my favorites. Well acted and entertaining.
Heston's lone cowboy ^ This minor classic Western, totally ignored by Paramount when it was released in '68, stands as one of the best performances the late Chuck Heston ever gave even over "Major Dundee" which he wrote off as a fiasco in an interview he gave. He should be proud of this film because unlike many Westerns of its time, this one is more character-driven than like say "Silverado" which sacrifices character development for action (Lawrence Kasden could take a pointer from this flick). The late Joan Hackett is also excellent as the lone woman who takes in Heston after he is beaten by the crazen Donald Pleasance & his family (Bruce Dern, etc) and learns to love again as she falls for this lonely, 50'ish cowboy. Tom Gries directed with a sure hand and the outdoor photography is fantastic. This western along with Peckingpah's "Ride the High Country" stands as one of the true classics of this genre. Whole heartedly recommended for Heston enthusiasts and western buffs!!
Anything Goes Trivia
Last Kiss
Megaton Man
Tony's Online Tips
Trevor
