Tuchergson Truly the worst movie I've ever seen in a theater

Evengyny Thanks for the memories!

Wordiezett So much average

Lightdeossk Captivating movie !

classicsoncall I'm sitting here trying to come up with some insightful things to say about this picture but I'm coming up blank. For me it was a so-so cavalry Western with a Civil War backdrop, and what I found interesting more so than the story was a handful of observations made along the way about the way the picture was filmed. Like, was it possible to have a woman as gorgeous as Inger Stevens show up at a Union prison camp as the fiancée of a commanding officer (Glenn Ford)? Now I don't know when eye shadow was invented, but the blue highlights in Emily Biddle's eyes managed to be an early distraction.Another distraction was the casting of Max Baer Jr. in the role of a lunkhead Confederate soldier under the command of Captain Dorritt Bentley (George Hamilton). His character Luther was a goof-ball maniac, and if that seems an oxymoron, then you need to see him in the role. It would be similar to watching Jethro Bodine as the title character in "Raging Bull". Try to picture that.So the main premise here is that the Civil War is over but known only to Captain Bentley and Luther when a Union dispatch rider is accosted by Luther in a saloon dust-up. Already on the run from a prison break, Bentley's rage as a Confederate knows no bounds after his soldiers take Miss Biddle hostage. His pent up hostility results in the rape of his captive, so when the Major eventually catches up with the rag-tag bunch, she keeps the War's end a secret to serve her own desire for revenge.Gosh, there's a glaring continuity gaffe in the filming and I'm surprised no one else mentioned it either in the reviews or on the edits page. When Captain Bentley attacks Miss Biddle he savagely rips off the back of her dress exposing her entire back. Yet just a few scenes later when Major Wolcott (Ford) arrives on the scene, she's shown wearing the same dress with no hint of damage or repair. I can't imagine why no one connected with the film wouldn't have made mention of it because it was such an obvious lack of continuity. Thinking about it, I almost missed the bruise on Emily's face changing size and color in the scenes that followed.

jjnxn-1 Somewhat scattered drama set in the last days of the Civil War. Glenn Ford is the top billed star but he disappears for almost the entire middle of the film and it's really George Hamilton and Inger's show. Partly a chase story and partly a drama of how once fastidious men can be corrupted and destroyed by war. George does fine as the Confederate soldier who can't face the war's imminent end since it has given him purpose and he has nothing to go back to. This was made towards the end of his short serious actor phase before he slipped into the overly tanned caricature he became and he gives it his best effort.Inger Stevens, breathtakingly beautiful in the first of several westerns she made in the period between the end of her series "The Farmer's Daughter" and her too early death, registers strongly as the missionary who is in love with Glenn Ford but must contend with her captive status against George and his increasingly unruly band of refugees. It also affords a chance to see several notable actors starting out. Max Baer of Beverly Hillbillies Jethro fame plays a total whack job with brio and Harry Dean Stanton shows up in a small part. Most surprisingly right at the top of the film is a baby faced Harrison Ford who vanishes after a few minutes. Not really a western nor a great film by any means but a decent effort if you like dramas set in the West.

wes-connors The Civil War may be ending, but not for Captain George Hamilton (as Dorrit Bentley), a handsome Confederate prisoner. "This war will never be over," Hamilton states, "Whether we like it or not, we'll fight this war for the next hundred years!" After a Union officer maliciously orders a Southern soldier killed, Mr. Hamilton leads his Rebels on an escape to Mexico, although everyone knows the captured men will soon be granted amnesty. For good measure, Hamilton kidnaps beautiful blonde Inger Stevens (as Emily Biddle), the fiancée of steadfast Major Glenn Ford (as Charles Wolcott), who leads the pursuit for Hamilton and his men.This film starts out surprisingly well, with some nice action from director Phil Karlson and the crew. Unfortunately, it unravels into mediocrity. Though Mr. Ford is top-billed, and has one good scene, the film stars Hamilton. His "anti-hero" characterization is weakly scripted - the main thrust seems to be: let's see long it takes until Ms. Stevens gets raped.The violated Stevens (from "The Farmer's Daughter"), bugle boy Paul Peterson (from "The Donna Reed Show"), and wacky Max Baer Jr. (from "The Beverly Hillbillies") are recognizable from their TV roles. The latter two actors perform embarrassingly bad last scenes. Also interesting in the cast are handsome young Harrison Ford and Harry Dean Stanton, in early roles. Hamilton's group is hunk-heavy, with Todd Armstrong (as Pru), Duke Hobbie (as Lonnie), James Davidson (as Mo), Charlie Briggs (as Kettlinger), and Craig Curtis (as Bagnef) really beefing up the Confederacy. Its eclectic cast is the main reason to take "A Time for Killing".***** A Time for Killing (8/15/67) Phil Karlson ~ George Hamilton, Glenn Ford, Inger Stevens, Paul Peterson

Poseidon-3 If only for it's unusual cast, this Civil War western revenge saga merits watching one time. Unfortunately, there isn't a great deal more about it to recommend as it is uneven and unsatisfying for the most part. Stevens plays a missionary (complete with bleached-out blonde hair and '60's eyeliner) who's visiting her beau Ford at a cavalry outpost where he's holding Confederate Captain Hamilton and others prisoner. Soon after she leaves, Hamilton and a cache of his men revolt and escape. They capture Stevens and kick off a chase across the desert to Mexico with Ford in pursuit. Of main interest is the oddball cast which includes Ford (who, at 51, sure was dragging his feet in marrying Stevens!), Hamilton (his tan completely in place and with his helmet hair and come 'n go accent, a very unlikely Confederate prisoner of war!), Baer, jr (giving quite possibly the worst performance ever captured on film as a lunatic soldier who giggles when killing and fights incessantly with everyone), Armstrong (trading in his sword and sandals), Stanton (long-time character actor who appeared in many cult favorites), Peterson (fourth-billed former child star who has little to do but represent innocence) and Harrison J. Ford (hardly onscreen as a heavily side-burned Union soldier.) The film starts out with an incongruent theme song which is abruptly cut short by the action of the plot. This sets up a consistent pattern of odd music cuts and choppy editing (the music in this film is FAR too over-emphatic and insistent, not to mention repetitive.) There are some okay action sequences and some decent scenery and occasional periods of dramatic interest. They are often undone, however, by some really bad supporting cast members and awkward writing and direction. There's a Union officer with a thick New York accent, a pair of nitwit, supposedly amusing, but actually deadly unfunny soldiers who keep interrupting the drama with their awful shtick and then a passel of chatty cantina whores. The all time worst acting honor, though, goes to Baer, jr who is so relentlessly bad that it actually hurts to watch him. He's a lunkheaded, unbalanced giant whose penchant for violence is not as shocking as it is annoying. The actor claims that playing on "The Beverly Hillbillies" type-cast him, but he seems here to be unable to play anything better. The "comic" relief in the film (which couldn't be any less amusing) is at great odds with the rather visceral violence and cruelty of the rest of the film. It's all put together so amateurishly and with so little regard for nuance or real feelings that it hardly matters. Thus the opportunity to see some name/cult actors in a tough little western remains the primary attraction.