The title of the picture hearkens back in time to a Western Gene Autry or Roy Rogers might have appeared in. I rather surprised myself by checking the credits for this film and found that it had been made four times previous, going as far back as 1918 and prior to this version, the most recent was 1941's treatment starring George Montgomery in the Lassiter role. A further surprise turned out to be that this was actually a made for TV film, quite shocking since the quality of the cast and cinematography compare favorably to a theatrical release.
Jim Lassiter, portrayed by Ed Harris, struck me as a High Plains Drifter type, a lone gunman traveling the American West and rising to the occasion when trouble comes his way. Here he has a mission, to find the man who drove his sister to suicide following the loss of her daughter via a kidnapping. The portrayal of the unnamed religious sect is given harsh treatment in the story. It was shocking to see and hear Pastor Dyer (G.D. Spradlin) lecture Jane Withersteen (Amy Madigan) from the pulpit, essentially condemning her for remaining unmarried at her age.
As the story plays out, and if you've seen enough of these types of films, one handily comes to the conclusion that Oldring's rider Bess (Robin Tunney) is the missing young niece that Lassiter is searching for. However the picture did leave me with a rather large unanswered question regarding the hanging death of Brother Judkins (Tom Bower). Did Judkins commit suicide fearing the prospect of vengeance from the religious sect and Oldring's gang, or was he murdered by Oldring's bunch? It's an interesting question left to one's own judgment. If the story by Zane Grey on which the film is based answers the question, I imagine It will be some time before I find out.
If you liked this picture and Harris' portrayal of gunslinger Lassiter, I'd recommend the 2008 Western "Appaloosa" in which Harris teams with Viggo Mortensen as two hard bitten lawmen on the trail of outlaws who kidnap Renee Zellweger. Just like Lassiter, Harris' character Virgil Cole is a man of absolutes who doesn't compromise on seeking retribution for wrongs committed against the innocent. For my money, it's the stronger of the two movies considered here.
Jim Lassiter, portrayed by Ed Harris, struck me as a High Plains Drifter type, a lone gunman traveling the American West and rising to the occasion when trouble comes his way. Here he has a mission, to find the man who drove his sister to suicide following the loss of her daughter via a kidnapping. The portrayal of the unnamed religious sect is given harsh treatment in the story. It was shocking to see and hear Pastor Dyer (G.D. Spradlin) lecture Jane Withersteen (Amy Madigan) from the pulpit, essentially condemning her for remaining unmarried at her age.
As the story plays out, and if you've seen enough of these types of films, one handily comes to the conclusion that Oldring's rider Bess (Robin Tunney) is the missing young niece that Lassiter is searching for. However the picture did leave me with a rather large unanswered question regarding the hanging death of Brother Judkins (Tom Bower). Did Judkins commit suicide fearing the prospect of vengeance from the religious sect and Oldring's gang, or was he murdered by Oldring's bunch? It's an interesting question left to one's own judgment. If the story by Zane Grey on which the film is based answers the question, I imagine It will be some time before I find out.
If you liked this picture and Harris' portrayal of gunslinger Lassiter, I'd recommend the 2008 Western "Appaloosa" in which Harris teams with Viggo Mortensen as two hard bitten lawmen on the trail of outlaws who kidnap Renee Zellweger. Just like Lassiter, Harris' character Virgil Cole is a man of absolutes who doesn't compromise on seeking retribution for wrongs committed against the innocent. For my money, it's the stronger of the two movies considered here.