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#81
Good Movies / Re: Recent Viewings, Part 2
Last post by M.10rda - March 23, 2026, 11:25:58 AMTHE FIEND WHO WALKED THE WEST (1958):
Another offbeat Philip Yordan screenplay, 'cause THE CHASE was decent. This one's a very noir Western, which automatically makes it more interesting to me than the standard-issue John Wayne-type stuff of the era. Officially it's a genre-switching remake of KISS OF DEATH (remade again in the 90s under the original title and urban setting, w/ Nicolas Cage as the psycho bad guy). I didn't recall that when I started watching and had to Google to confirm it, as THE FIEND takes a lot of liberties with KOD's plot, and probably for the better.
Really it's a post-heist thriller w/ the craziest member of a gang of bandits (the eponymous "Fiend") rounding up the proceeds of the last big job, with no partners or elderly ladies or unborn fetuses safe from his sadistic killing spree. One former affiliate yearns to escape his past and settle down as a rancher, but the long arm of the law presses him into service to help put an end to the Fiend's one-man crimewave. Things get slightly more complicated than that, w/ better dialogue and a bit greater psychological complexity than most westerns of the 50s. Crisp widescreen B+W photography makes TFWWTW look like a grander, more serious film than it actually is. (Some shots recall Welles or Kurosawa flicks.) The acting is mostly across the spectrum from competent to dull to bad. (The female lead kinda' sucks.)
But! If you're gonna' make a movie called THE FIEND WHO WALKED THE WEST, you gotta' have a compelling, watchable title character....... and if TFWWTW is remembered at all today, it's solely on account of that central performance. "The Fiend" is a high-pitched, whiny, unstable, neurotic, psychotic, totally loathsome piece of work... played by none other than legendary Hollywood producer Robert Evans in one of his few early onscreen gigs and only lead role. His performance feels straight out of the Actors' Studio - Evans' antagonist could easily pass for the annoying younger brother of the twitchy nut played by (Evans' associate) Jack Nicholson in THE SHOOTING. Maybe Evans' wasn't ever going to be a Hollywood leading man, but he did a good job making me hate the guts of the guy he plays here.
3/5 Directed by Gordon Douglas of THEM! fame.
Another offbeat Philip Yordan screenplay, 'cause THE CHASE was decent. This one's a very noir Western, which automatically makes it more interesting to me than the standard-issue John Wayne-type stuff of the era. Officially it's a genre-switching remake of KISS OF DEATH (remade again in the 90s under the original title and urban setting, w/ Nicolas Cage as the psycho bad guy). I didn't recall that when I started watching and had to Google to confirm it, as THE FIEND takes a lot of liberties with KOD's plot, and probably for the better.
Really it's a post-heist thriller w/ the craziest member of a gang of bandits (the eponymous "Fiend") rounding up the proceeds of the last big job, with no partners or elderly ladies or unborn fetuses safe from his sadistic killing spree. One former affiliate yearns to escape his past and settle down as a rancher, but the long arm of the law presses him into service to help put an end to the Fiend's one-man crimewave. Things get slightly more complicated than that, w/ better dialogue and a bit greater psychological complexity than most westerns of the 50s. Crisp widescreen B+W photography makes TFWWTW look like a grander, more serious film than it actually is. (Some shots recall Welles or Kurosawa flicks.) The acting is mostly across the spectrum from competent to dull to bad. (The female lead kinda' sucks.)
But! If you're gonna' make a movie called THE FIEND WHO WALKED THE WEST, you gotta' have a compelling, watchable title character....... and if TFWWTW is remembered at all today, it's solely on account of that central performance. "The Fiend" is a high-pitched, whiny, unstable, neurotic, psychotic, totally loathsome piece of work... played by none other than legendary Hollywood producer Robert Evans in one of his few early onscreen gigs and only lead role. His performance feels straight out of the Actors' Studio - Evans' antagonist could easily pass for the annoying younger brother of the twitchy nut played by (Evans' associate) Jack Nicholson in THE SHOOTING. Maybe Evans' wasn't ever going to be a Hollywood leading man, but he did a good job making me hate the guts of the guy he plays here.
3/5 Directed by Gordon Douglas of THEM! fame.
#82
Press Releases and Film News / RIP Valerie Perrine
Last post by Trevor - March 23, 2026, 11:23:04 AMThe Oscar nominated actress Valerie Perrine has passed away at the age of 82.
RIP beautiful lady 😢❤️❤️🌹🌹❤️❤️
RIP beautiful lady 😢❤️❤️🌹🌹❤️❤️
#83
Off Topic Discussion / Re: Picture of the day, part I...
Last post by Rev. Powell - March 23, 2026, 10:54:08 AM
#84
Off Topic Discussion / Re: Goodbye, Dad
Last post by claws - March 23, 2026, 10:35:38 AMMy condolences to you and your family.
#85
Entertainment / Re: What have you been listeni...
Last post by Rev. Powell - March 23, 2026, 08:05:50 AM
"A Certain Smile, a Certain Sadness" by Rocketship
#86
Off Topic Discussion / Re: Goodbye, Dad
Last post by Rev. Powell - March 23, 2026, 08:03:35 AMMy condolences to you and to all those who loved him.
#87
Bad Movies / Re: Generate Movie Poster with...
Last post by Rev. Powell - March 23, 2026, 08:01:47 AM
#89
Off Topic Discussion / Re: Goodbye, Dad
Last post by Alex - March 23, 2026, 07:52:14 AMSorry to hear that.
