Tag der Gesetzlosen

Well, this is one of those movies you watch without any preconceptions because you have never heard of it before and it creeps up and socks you in the jaw. Starts, seemingly simply enough with Robert Ryan as the old school cowboy coming up against the more conservative farmers and settlers. There is the added ingredient of sexy Tina Louise, married to one of the new boys but clearly still having the hots for old flame, Ryan. Just when we think we have the measure of it and Ryan has picked his fight and the bottle is rolling down the bar, its crash to signal the start, the door bursts open. Knowing that Burl Ives was in the film and having mixed feelings about his acting abilities, i had wondered whether the miserable and bearded drunken side-kick to Ryan was he, but there was no doubting anymore as Ives and his crew of degenerates tumble in. Tensions abound throughout, the incredible barnyard type dance without liquor but plenty of vigour and barely disguised rape fantasies, is probably the most dramatic but there is an effective fist fight, various confrontations with the sexy lady and all this before the sublime and so very snowy last section as beauty and good intentions clash with cruelty and betrayal. Very fine and essential quirky western with solid dialogue and fine cinematography.