The Unforgiven (1960)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

John Huston

Writers:

Alan Le May (novel)
Ben Maddow (screenplay)

Release Date:

6 April 1960 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | Western

Tagline:

A NEW TRIUMPH FROM ACADEMY AWARD WINNER JOHN HUSTON (original ad - all caps)

Plot:

The neighbors of a frontier family turn on them when it is suspected that their adopted daughter was stolen from the local Kiawa tribe.

Plot Keywords:

Revenge | Adoption | Cattle | Horse Killed | Male Female Relationship

Cast

Burt Lancaster	...	Ben Zachary
Audrey Hepburn	...	Rachel Zachary
Audie Murphy	...	Cash Zachary
John Saxon	...	Johnny Portugal
Charles Bickford	...	Zeb Rawlins
Lillian Gish	...	Mattilda Zachary
Albert Salmi	...	Charlie Rawlins
Joseph Wiseman	...	Abe Kelsey
June Walker	...	Hagar Rawlins
Kipp Hamilton	...	Georgia Rawlins
Arnold Merritt	...	Jude Rawlins
Doug McClure	...	Andy Zachary
Carlos Rivas	...	Lost Bird

Runtime:

125 min | USA:121 min (Turner library print)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Norway:16 | West Germany:12 (f) | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Durango, Mexico

Company:

James Productions

Trivia:

Audrey Hepburn was seriously injured when she was thrown by a horse between scenes. Hepburn, who was several months pregnant, spent six weeks in the hospital and completed her role wearing a back brace, which her wardrobe had to be redesigned to hide. Sadly, she suffered a miscarriage a few months later, which some blamed on her injury from this movie. John Huston blamed himself for the mishap and hated this movie. Hepburn, however, bore no ill will towards the director. While Hepburn was in hospital, Huston filmed scenes using a double.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Ben goes out with his brother Cash to find Abe Kelsey, he is not wearing neckerchief. Later in the country, when he dismounts, he is using a neckerchief.

Quotes:

[first lines]
[yelling at a cow eating grass growing on the Zachary family's roof]
Rachel Zachary: Shoo now! Shoo! Ain't you got no better manners than to eat at the top of a house?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The John Larroquette Show: The Unforgiven (#1.5)" (1993)

Outstanding western.

I believe this western to be one of the most overlooked western films of the period. When one looks at the westerns made before 1960 it is difficult to find many that come close to comparing with the realism, adult themes and complex characterisation of this film. I have viewed this film multiple times over a period of years and enjoy it more with each viewing. The movie is brilliantly cast with especially great performances from Charles Bickford (Zeb Rawlins), Joseph Wiseman (Abe Kelsey), Lillian Gish (Mattilda Zachary)and June Walker (Hagar Rawlins). This western has it all; uniformly wonderful performances from the entire cast, excellent dialogue, and a real look and feel of the western frontier. I give this film a 9 out of 10.