The Broken Land (1962)

User Rating:

4.5/10   

Director:

John A. Bushelman

Writer:

Edward J. Lakso (written by)

Release Date:

1 April 1962 (USA)

Genre:

Western

Plot:

A cowboy rides into a small town that is ruled with an iron fist by a corrupt sheriff. He becomes involved...

Plot Keywords:

Sheriff | Cowboy | Murder | Character Study | Deputy

Cast

Kent Taylor	...	Marshal Jim Cogan
Diana Darrin	...	Mavera
Jody McCrea	...	Deputy Ed Flynn
Robert Sampson	...	Dave Dunson
Jack Nicholson	...	Will Brocious
Gary Sneed	...	Billy
Don Orlando	...	Frenchy Douchette
Helen Joseph	...	Ruth Flynn
H. Tom Cain	...	Mr. Flynn
Robert Hinkle	...	Dave
Bob Pollard

Runtime:

70 min | USA:60 min | USA:75 min (director's cut)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Apacheland Movie Ranch, 4369 S. Kings Ranch Road, Gold Canyon, Arizona, USA

Company:

Associated Producers (API)

Trivia:

Burt Reynolds was originally cast to play Will Brocious.

Quotes:

Marshall Jim Cogan: You see, no man really knows right from wrong. That's why laws were invented. I've lived by them all my life. It's the only way I can be sure of myself.

Early Jack

The only reason to see BROKEN LAND, a low-rent western from 1962, is for a young Jack Nicholson as a hot head who tangles with a small town's evil sheriff and then teams up with two other men and a "wayward" woman who also have run afoul of the sheriff. Shot in Arizona, the film looks pretty good for a DeLuxe color print job, but the acting and dialogue are absolutely atrocious. Nicholson at least stands out with his toothy grin and hambone delivery. Apparently, Burt Reynoldsa was originally cast in the Nicholson role, not that that would have helped this turkey. All the cowpokes are laughably clean shaven with 1950s-style hairdos. The "wayward" woman of the film looks like someone's grandma in a bad wig. The entire cast consists of maybe 12 people. It is a very small town, obviously. My best guess is this was shot to fill out the bottom half of a movie bill, as it barely runs 70 minutes. Any kid watching this in a theater or drive-in must have been ready to jump off a bridge long before its short running time was played out.