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:

The Heroic Story That Stands Tall and Proud Among the Screen Giants!

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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

Audrey Hepburn was seriously injured when she was thrown by a horse between scenes. Hepburn, who was several months pregnant, spent six weeks in the hospital healing from a broken back, and when she returned to the set, was able to complete her role wearing a back brace, which her wardrobe had to be redesigned to hide. Sadly, she suffered a miscarriage a few months later, which some blamed on her injury from this movie. John Huston blamed himself for the mishap and hated this movie. Hepburn, however, bore no ill will towards the director. While Hepburn was in hospital, Huston filmed scenes using a double.

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Goofs

In the copyright notice on "The End' screen, the year is given as MCMLVIX (it should be MCMLIX).

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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 The John Larroquette Show: The Unforgiven (1993)

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Soundtracks

Down in the Valley
(uncredited)
Traditional
Sung by Georgia Rawlins and Hagar Rawlins

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.

jelios [e-mail]