"Heritage of Hate" is distinguished by the presence of lovely Kathie Browne, so busy in TV Westerns during the 1960's (and co-star of the series HONDO), but remains best remembered for being cast against type as the desirable queen of a dying race in STAR TREK's "Wink of an Eye," and later marrying actor Darren McGavin in 1969 (they remained together until her death in 2003). She is well cast here as Laurie Kemper, just released from a three year prison sentence for killing her abusive husband in self defense, returning to the old homestead, and bitterly opposed from starting over by John Kemper (Roy Roberts), the father of her deceased spouse. When Kemper's henchmen drive off a hired hand sent over by Marshal Troop, she gets a reprieve by the timely arrival of her new fiancée, Bill Fells (William Joyce), only two months out of jail himself, jumping at the chance for a new life through a matrimonial agency. It comes as no surprise that the two strangers wind up falling in love, but John Kemper refuses to let them live a peaceful life. There is a beautiful woman beneath that plain appearance, and Kathie really gets a chance to strut her stuff when she uses a bullwhip on Kemper's henchmen in the saloon, where an astonished Bill Fells first catches a glimpse of his bride-to-be. Hollywood veteran Frank Albertson appears with his wife Grace, and Roy Roberts is just as despicable as he was in 1953's "House of Wax," where he destroyed partner Vincent Price's wax museum. He may not be a familiar face, but William Joyce's busy TV schedule still permitted him to star in the low budget cult horror film "I Eat Your Skin," shot by director Del Tenney in 1964, but not issued until it shared a memorable drive-in double bill with 1970's "I Drink Your Blood" (needless to say, both features were filmed under different titles).
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