When you think of A-List Western Stars the names that pop up are Cooper, Glenn Ford, Wayne, Stewart, Marvin, Scott, Peck, Ladd, Stanwyck and Eastwood. Then there is Richard Widmark. People do not identify him with Westerns, but he did do 18 of them and is in the Western Performers Hall Of Fame, so they should. Backlish is the rarest of the theatrical movies of Widmark's but well worth seeing. It is a not only a western but a mystery as well, because Jim Slater ( Widmark) tries to find out who killed his father years ago, and why. Widmark ( when he is the hero and he is here), usually plays tormented and conflicted characters, and he certainly is here. It is especially true ( spoilers ahead) when he finds out his father is not only alive but an evil man ( John McIntire), and he must stop him or 100 men will die. Excellent performances by Donna Reed as love interest Karyl Orton, and William Campbell as psychotic gunman Johnny Cool. Widmark is in almost every scene so if people reading this are Widmark fans this should be a must see. 10/10 stars.
Review of Backlash
