The Unforgiven (1960)

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

Director:

John Huston

Writers:

Ben Maddow (screenplay), Alan Le May (novel)

Stars:

Burt Lancaster, Audrey Hepburn, Audie Murphy

Cast

Complete credited 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

Storyline

Odd Western about racial intolerance focuses around Kiowa claim that the Zachary daughter is one of their own, stolen in a raid. The dispute results in other whites' turning their backs on the Zacharys when the truth is revealed by Mother. Murphy plays Cash, the hotheaded brother who reacts violently to learning his "sister" is a "red-hide Indian." He leaves the family but returns to help them fight off an Indian raid during which Hepburn kills her Kiowa brother, thus choosing sides once and for all.

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Plot Keywords:

family relationships | stolen child | soldier | n word | gun battle | 

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Taglines:

The Heroic Story That Stands Tall and Proud Among the Screen Giants!

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Genres:

Drama | Romance | Western

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 April 1960 (USA)

Also Known As:

Denen man nicht vergibt

Filming Locations:

Durango, Mexico

Box Office

Budget:

$5,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

James Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

125 min 121 min (Turner library print)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to Lancaster biographer Gary Fishgall, Lancaster and co-star Audie Murphy were engaged in an invitational tournament at a new golf course near Durango. Huston had an airplane filled with 2000 ping-pong ball with anti-Mexican and profane language and had them dropped all over the course, making it impossible to continue as none of the players could find their golf balls. Lancaster, who co-sponsored the event, was furious with Huston.

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Goofs

In the scene where the piano is delivered, Lancaster's hair style changes again and again, from trimmed to long, from wind swept to coiffured.

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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?

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Connections

Featured in The 43rd Annual Academy Awards (1971)

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Soundtracks

"Turkey in the Straw"
(uncredited)
Traditional
Played after the lunch of the Zacharys and the Rawlins families

User Reviews

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.