"Welcome to Hard Times" is a gritty and violent western from Director Burt Kennedy better known for his more light hearty westerns such as "Support Your Local Sheriff" (1969). This one is broken into three main parts....the arrival of the stranger, the reconstruction and the return of the stranger. Kennedy assembled a large cast of well known actors in all parts which makes it more enjoyable at least from my point of view.
In a little one street town called, appropriately, "Hard Times", a burly stranger known as "The Man From Bodie" (Aldo Ray) arrives in town. The stranger obviously has mayhem in mind as he brutally drags a resident prostitute Mae (Alene Golonka ) up the stairs and savagely rapes her. Young Jimmy Fee (Michael Shea) hears her screams and runs to fetch his father (Paul Birch) a founding father of the town. He grabs a thick piece of wood and goes to Mae's rescue but in an off screen moment, the stranger clubs Mr. Fee with his own weapon. Fee later dies and jimmy is left in the care of another "Saloon girl" Molly Riodon (Janice Rule).
The mayor, Will Blue (Henry Fonda) is reluctant to face the stranger despite the pleadings of bartender Avery (Lon Chaney Jr.) who fears his place will be destroyed. Town undertaker Hanson (Elisha Cook Jr.) has his horse stolen by the stranger and is forced to face him down when Blue doesn't come to his aid. In a scene reminiscent of "Shane" (1953) Hanson is shot down i\on the muddy street.
The stranger then goes on a rampage setting the small town on fire, burning it to the ground. The surviving townsfolk decide to move on including grocer Ezra Maple (John Anderson) who leaves for parts unknown. Molly and young Jimmy also remain. One day, a Wagon load of prostitutes led by a man called Zar (Keenan Wynn) arrives on their way to a nearby mining camp. Blue convinces Zar to set up shop in the town to mine the miners, so to speak from within his ;large preacher's tent which is quickly converted to a saloon. Zar and Blue rebuild the town from scrap wood obtained from a ghost town abandoned a short distance away. A gun wise stranger Leo Jenks (Warren Oates) also arrives driving Hanson's hearse. His prowess with a six shooter impresses Jesse (Fay Spain) and Blue appoints him as town sheriff.
All is going well until the stranger returns. He begins his bullying tactics once again kills Jesse and sets the saloon on fire. Jenks guns down Zar in error as the stranger sends him through the flaming doors first and then kills the sheriff. Blue finally has had enough and goes to face the marauder and..................................................
There seems to be an attraction between Blue and Molly but it comes to nothing even after he cares for her burns from the first fire. The stranger speaks no dialogue during both of his visits save for his maniacal laugh. Wher Zar came up with his wagon load of "ladies" is left unexplained as is the trole of Adah (Janis Paige) whom he orders around like a hired hand.
In addition to those mentioned above, look for Edgar Buchanan, Denver Pyle, Royal Dano and Paul Fix in various small parts. The film was originally made for TV but was deemed too violent (Ya think) for the folks at home.
In a little one street town called, appropriately, "Hard Times", a burly stranger known as "The Man From Bodie" (Aldo Ray) arrives in town. The stranger obviously has mayhem in mind as he brutally drags a resident prostitute Mae (Alene Golonka ) up the stairs and savagely rapes her. Young Jimmy Fee (Michael Shea) hears her screams and runs to fetch his father (Paul Birch) a founding father of the town. He grabs a thick piece of wood and goes to Mae's rescue but in an off screen moment, the stranger clubs Mr. Fee with his own weapon. Fee later dies and jimmy is left in the care of another "Saloon girl" Molly Riodon (Janice Rule).
The mayor, Will Blue (Henry Fonda) is reluctant to face the stranger despite the pleadings of bartender Avery (Lon Chaney Jr.) who fears his place will be destroyed. Town undertaker Hanson (Elisha Cook Jr.) has his horse stolen by the stranger and is forced to face him down when Blue doesn't come to his aid. In a scene reminiscent of "Shane" (1953) Hanson is shot down i\on the muddy street.
The stranger then goes on a rampage setting the small town on fire, burning it to the ground. The surviving townsfolk decide to move on including grocer Ezra Maple (John Anderson) who leaves for parts unknown. Molly and young Jimmy also remain. One day, a Wagon load of prostitutes led by a man called Zar (Keenan Wynn) arrives on their way to a nearby mining camp. Blue convinces Zar to set up shop in the town to mine the miners, so to speak from within his ;large preacher's tent which is quickly converted to a saloon. Zar and Blue rebuild the town from scrap wood obtained from a ghost town abandoned a short distance away. A gun wise stranger Leo Jenks (Warren Oates) also arrives driving Hanson's hearse. His prowess with a six shooter impresses Jesse (Fay Spain) and Blue appoints him as town sheriff.
All is going well until the stranger returns. He begins his bullying tactics once again kills Jesse and sets the saloon on fire. Jenks guns down Zar in error as the stranger sends him through the flaming doors first and then kills the sheriff. Blue finally has had enough and goes to face the marauder and..................................................
There seems to be an attraction between Blue and Molly but it comes to nothing even after he cares for her burns from the first fire. The stranger speaks no dialogue during both of his visits save for his maniacal laugh. Wher Zar came up with his wagon load of "ladies" is left unexplained as is the trole of Adah (Janis Paige) whom he orders around like a hired hand.
In addition to those mentioned above, look for Edgar Buchanan, Denver Pyle, Royal Dano and Paul Fix in various small parts. The film was originally made for TV but was deemed too violent (Ya think) for the folks at home.