Count Three and Pray (1955)

A pastor with a shady past moves into a rural town just after the Civil War.

Director:

George Sherman

Writers:

Herb Meadow (dialogue), Herb Meadow (story "Calico Pony")

Stars:

Van Heflin, Joanne Woodward, Philip Carey

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Van Heflin	...	Luke Fargo
Joanne Woodward	...	Lissy
Philip Carey	...	Albert Loomis (as Phil Carey)
Raymond Burr	...	Yancey Huggins
Allison Hayes	...	Georgina Decrais
Myron Healey	...	Floyd Miller
Nancy Kulp	...	Matty Miller
James Griffith	...	Swallow
Richard Webb	...	Big
Kathryn Givney	...	Mrs. Decrais
Robert Burton	...	Bishop

Storyline

A pastor with a shady past moves into a rural town just after the Civil War.

---

Plot Keywords:

plantation | southern | 19th century | post civil war | naivety | 

---

Taglines:

A whip-wielding woman ... a gun-toting girl ... and a hate-loaded town !

---

Genres:

Drama | Western

---

Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

Joanne's middle daughter is supposedly named after the character she played in this.

---

Goofs

The song, "Little Brown Jug", is heard at the church's dedication ceremony. This song song was written in 1869 but the film is set just after the American Civil War, most likely around 1866-7.

---

Soundtracks

Little Brown Jug
Written by Joseph Winner
1

User Reviews

The Punching Preacher.

Count Three and Pray is directed by George Sherman and written by Herb Meadow. It stars Van Heflin, Joanne Woodward, Raymond Burr, Phillip Carey and Allison Hayes. A CinemaScope/Technicolor production, music is by George Duning and cinematography by Burnett Guffey.

At first glance it appears to be a film about a bad man finding his faith and coming good in the face of adversity, but there are many more strings to this particular bow. Even if it never quite reaches greatness.

Story has Heflin as Luke Fargo, a man who before the Civil War was something of a hell raiser, he loved women, he loved to drink, and he loved to fight. While serving in the war he was emotionally scarred by what he witnessed at The Battle of Vicksburg, he decided then that a change in his life trajectory was required. The bite here is that Fargo, a Southerner, fought for the North because that was the political side he believed in. So upon returning to his Southern hometown, he's persona non grata, a major problem since he wants to spread the gospel and cast off his previous sins. His efforts are further complicated when he locates himself to the derelict - ramshackle - church and parsonage, to find living there is a feisty orphan girl called Lissy (Woodward), a sharpshooting tomboy with fire in her belly.

Right from the off we find Fargo having to reach back to his hellfire club days, forced to brawl when confronted with outright hostility that's being instigated by self appointed town leader Yancey Huggins (Burr on splendidly nasty form). Oh there is plenty of God fearing folk in the town who desperately want to have the church up and running again, they want to give Luke a chance, but there's the constant feeling that a leopard never changes its spots, something that is further compounded by the attention Luke receives from the town "madam" (Jean Willes). While the fact that Luke is living under the same roof as young Lissy sets tongues a wagging, unhealthily so. Luke valiantly ploughs on, but his unorthodox methods are sure to be used against him...

As the relationship between Lissy and himself develops, you sense quite early on how things are going to pan out, but the by-play between Heflin and Woodward is great viewing. Initially you would be forgiven for thinking that Woodward's character is going to be greatly annoying, but Woodward quickly dispels those fears to deliver a quite wonderful portrayal of a wastrel who is unaware she herself needs guidance. Heflin also is great value, a real mixed bag of emotions, lurching from tough to vulnerable with consummate ease. We could have done with a bit more of Burr's villainy up front and center, while Hayes' (yummy!) treacherous femme comes off as under written, but the main characterisations are strong enough to support the thematics.

Nicely photographed around the Agoura Hills area of California by ace lensman Guffey, it's a pleasing production visually. Aurally the musical score provided by Duning has the requisite sedate and bluster moments, though fans of the original Star Trek TV show may find themselves suddenly whisked off on the Enterprise, Duning would clearly rework his score here for Kirk and Spock's adventures. Woodward playing a gal 7 years younger than she actually was asks us for some leeway, while the ending is to my mind a stretch too far, but this is an enjoyable experience for Heflin and Woodward fans. There's good action with knuckles (on a Sunday no less!) and horse racing, and plenty of breezy humour as well, making this a picture that's not quite a hidden gem, but definitely worthy of consideration by the Oater loving crowd. 7/10

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

October 1955 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Calico Pony

Filming Locations:

North Ranch, Lindero Canyon Road at Kanan Road, Agoura Hills, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Copa Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.55 : 1