Rent The Unforgiven (1959)

Wild Misfire - The Unforgiven review by Steve

This was released around the start of the slow decline of the Hollywood western, and its development problems suggest reasons why they went out of favour. It was made by Burt Lancaster's production company who wanted a traditional action adventure- shot in Panavision and Technicolor.

But director-for-hire John Huston made the plot about the conflict between the settlers and indigenous tribes into a parable about the emerging civil rights movement. And it seems they undermine each other. It's neither a quality classic western, nor the work of an auteur filmmaker.

Huston intended the kind of progressive, revisionist western which became standard in the '60s, but it is compromised. What mostly remains is an abundance of tiresome, melodramatic chat divided by the usual stunts; like breaking in the wild horses and fighting off an 'Indian' attack.

There's also a problem with Audrey Hepburn- a Belgian aristocrat- playing a foundling who may be a Kiowa native; plus she goes missing after breaking her spine falling off a horse... Still Lancaster as her cattleman step-brother brings some star charisma and it's a buzz to see Lillian Gish as the matriarch.