Rugged veteran bounty hunter Talian (a fine and credible performance by Robert Lansing) and amiable eager beaver novice Benny Wallace (a likable portrayal by Patrick Wayne) join forces to nab vicious no-count cowboy Ike Slant (robustly played to the deliciously despicable hilt by Slim Pickens). Both are left crippled after a confrontation with Slant: Talian's gun hand gets maimed while Benny is blinded. The duo concoct a unique method to get revenge on Slant. Director Michael Moore, working from a compact script by Bing Russell and Sumner Williams, relates the absorbing story at a steady pace, maintains a serious tone throughout, and stages the stirring shoot-outs with real skill. This film further benefits from capable acting from the sound cast: Lansing and Wayner display a nice and natural chemistry as the engaging protagonists, Pickens makes for a pleasingly mean and detestable villain, the always terrific Strother Martin almost steals the whole show with his marvelously wormy turn as slimy and sniveling rat Trumball the Fink, plus there are sturdy contributions by Paul Fix as folksy storekeeper Brian Quince, fetching Gloria Talbott as the sweet Bri Quince, and a very young Clint Howard as cute little squirt kid Jo-Hi. Lucien Ballard's sharp cinematography gives the film a strikingly lovely picturesque look. Raoul Kraushaar's twangy score hits the harmonic spot. The climactic showdown between our two disabled heroes and Slant is quite tense and exciting. A solid and satisfying Grade B oater.
Review of An Eye for an Eye
