Runtime: 121 minutes
Directed by: Edward Dmytryk
Starring: Richard Widmark, Henry Fonda, Anthony Quinn, Dorothy Malone, Dolores Michaels
From: 20th Century Fox
Whether or not this is proper prep for Horizon: An American Saga-Chapter 1, I was glad to have finally seen this Western. Actually, I’ve seen enough of the genre where prep isn’t really needed and I’d like to see Horizon theatrically… although the mixed reviews do have my expectations in check. The legit reason for my viewing this Western: a Letterboxd mutual recommended the film and I put off this task for way too long.
The plot appears bog-standard: cowboys working for a real heel run roughshod over the town of Warlock, Utah-humiliating any law enforcement attempting to stop them, let alone any random citizen. Some decide to hire gunman Henry Fonda to act as the town’s marshal; he brings along pal Anthony Quinn, who is real sensitive about his clubfoot condition. Fonda does intimidate those cowpokes. However, the viewer soon learns that the movie is more complex than expected; it’s actually about a variety of interesting characters interacting w/ each other. For example, Richard Widmark is listed first in the cast because he was part of the heel’s faction but tires of them so he becomes more honorable. In addition, Warlock’s opinion of Fonda changes over time. There’s also romance, revenge, rivalry, and a few other words that begin with the letter R.
It's the sort of plot where I don’t want to reveal much more. Instead, I’ll note that while it’s not always successful, the story typically is so I was more often than not invested in all the dialogue the characters fired off at each other. A cast that also includes Dorothy Malone, DeForest Kelley, Wallace Ford, Regis Toomey, Whit Bissel, and Frank Gorshin for certain is an asset. So is a solid 20th Century Fox production and the direction of Edward Dmytryk.
For those that like Westerns which are more thought-provoking and are character-driven, Warlock is worth a shot.
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