The Unforgiven (1960)

The neighbors of a frontier family turn on them when it is suspected that their adopted daughter was stolen from the local Kiowa tribe.

Director:

John Huston

Writers:

Ben Maddow (screenplay), Alan Le May (based on a novel by) (as Alan LeMay)

Stars:

Burt Lancaster, Audrey Hepburn, Audie Murphy

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Burt Lancaster	...	Ben Zachary
Audrey Hepburn	...	Rachel Zachary
Audie Murphy	...	Cash Zachary
John Saxon	...	Johnny Portugal
Charles Bickford	...	Zeb Rawlins
Lillian Gish	...	Mattilda Zachary
Albert Salmi	...	Charlie Rawlins
Joseph Wiseman	...	Abe Kelsey
June Walker	...	Hagar Rawlins
Kipp Hamilton	...	Georgia Rawlins
Arnold Merritt	...	Jude Rawlins
Doug McClure	...	Andy Zachary
Carlos Rivas	...	Lost Bird

Storyline

Western about racial intolerance focuses around Kiowa claim that the Zachary daughter is one of their own, stolen in a raid. The dispute results in other whites turning their backs on the Zacharys when the truth is revealed by Mother. Cash, the hotheaded brother, reacts violently upon learning his "sister" is a "red-hide Indian." He leaves the family but returns to help them fight off an Indian raid.

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Plot Keywords:

family relationships | texas | indian attack | native american white relationships | repeating rifle | 

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Taglines:

A NEW TRIUMPH FROM ACADEMY AWARD WINNER JOHN HUSTON (original ad - all caps)

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Genres:

Drama | Romance | Western

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 April 1960 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Siege at Dancing Bird

Filming Locations:

Durango, Mexico

Box Office

Budget:

$5,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hill-Hecht-Lancaster Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

125 min 121 min (Turner library print)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to Burt Lancaster biographer Gary Fishgall, Lancaster and Audie Murphy were engaged in an invitational tournament at a new golf course near Durango. John Huston had an airplane filled with 2000 ping-pong balls with anti-Mexican and profane language and had them dropped all over the course, making it impossible to continue as none of the players could find their golf balls. Lancaster, who co-sponsored the event, was furious with Huston.

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Goofs

When Rachel goes riding bareback and first sees the old soldier, the cinch holding a saddle on is clearly visible as she sits on the horse talking.

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Quotes

[first lines]
[yelling at a cow eating grass growing on the Zachary family's roof]
Rachel Zachary: Shoo now! Shoo! Ain't you got no better manners than to eat at the top of a house?

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Connections

Referenced in Judging Amy: The Unforgiven (2001)

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Soundtracks

Turkey in the Straw
(uncredited)
Traditional
Played after the lunch of the Zacharys and the Rawlins families

User Reviews

nice western

The unforgiven is a nice movie, western. That is a good story which find in this movie a good adaptation for the cinema. This story is about a Indian woman who live since she was baby with a white farmer and cattle and horse breeder family. and naturally with the impulse and the coming of an old man who know the true, the Indian Kiowa want to rehabilitate the girl.

The story is the opposite (inverse), contrary of the searchers (1956) with John Wayne and Nathalie Wood.

In the unforgiven the girl make a different choice for the issue of the story. The story is good because the mystery and a little suspense appear, and it is on the top with the Indians.

One of assets in the unforgiven is the photography. We have beautiful pictures in this film.

And we find a great Audrey Hepburn, who give something magic and mysterious anytime she is on the screen.

A nice western to see.

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