It is the late fall of an unspecified year, but the 1880s seems about the right decade. Cowpuncher Will Penny (Charlton Heston), nearing fifty years of age, has just finished bringing in a herd of cattle. A loner, he is set in his ways but is also decent. As he is illiterate he makes his X-mark on a voucher while drawing out his last pay for the company. Just before winter sets in, Penny's experience has earned him a job of riding line for the Flat Iron Ranch, a large cattle outfit. His new work entails picking up stray cattle and keeping alert for potential range rustlers. To his dismay he finds his allotted line cabin is occupied by a woman (Catherine Allen = Joan Hackett) and her young son Horace ("Button" = Jon Gries). Penny had met them earlier at a rest stop; they have since been abandoned by a shifty man who was previously paid to guide them to California. Unable to turn them out to the mercy of the elements, the sensitive Penny allows them to stay a little longer.
Because of an earlier confrontation, Penny is ambushed, thoroughly beaten, and left to die by murderous, insane, Bible-quoting preacher Quint (Donald Pleasence) and his sons Rafe (Bruce Dern) and Rufus (Gene Rutherford). Nevertheless, the strong-willed Penny is able to stagger to his cabin in cold weather. There the cowboy is nursed back to health by the "somewhat married" Catherine. Over time a growing (unhurried) attachment develops among Catherine, Will, and Horace. At Christmas time the three even have a modest tree and sing some holiday songs. But as the looming Quints are still sniffing around, an action finale is forecast.
Charlton Heston and Joan Hackett compliment each other superbly, while the California cinematography (especially the bleakness of the snow-covered terrain) and screenplay are all very well done. There is nice backup by supporting roles, like those of Ben Johnson, Slim Pickens, Anthony Zerbe, and Lee Majors. Although Joan Hackett looks a bit too clean, this film might have been representative of the real West of the nineteenth century: rugged, dusty, and harsh.
Because of an earlier confrontation, Penny is ambushed, thoroughly beaten, and left to die by murderous, insane, Bible-quoting preacher Quint (Donald Pleasence) and his sons Rafe (Bruce Dern) and Rufus (Gene Rutherford). Nevertheless, the strong-willed Penny is able to stagger to his cabin in cold weather. There the cowboy is nursed back to health by the "somewhat married" Catherine. Over time a growing (unhurried) attachment develops among Catherine, Will, and Horace. At Christmas time the three even have a modest tree and sing some holiday songs. But as the looming Quints are still sniffing around, an action finale is forecast.
Charlton Heston and Joan Hackett compliment each other superbly, while the California cinematography (especially the bleakness of the snow-covered terrain) and screenplay are all very well done. There is nice backup by supporting roles, like those of Ben Johnson, Slim Pickens, Anthony Zerbe, and Lee Majors. Although Joan Hackett looks a bit too clean, this film might have been representative of the real West of the nineteenth century: rugged, dusty, and harsh.