Young Fury

This film focus on the life of young Tige McCoy, his mother Sara and father Clint McCoy. Clint left Sara when Tige was a very young boy. Sara was the "town flirt" and sent her son to live with her brother, he died and Tige found himself in a gang of young gun-slinging hoodlums that tries to take over the town. Clint comes back to town with the Dawson gang after him - two day ride away. This gives Clint time to talk to Sara and his son Tige before the Dawson gang arrives. What Tige doesn't know is that Sara is his mother - he thinks his father simply abandoned them and she passed away. In the climatic end, there is one heck of a shoot out but will the young gang help Clint? There is a great cameo by Lon Chaney who plays the bartender, Ace.

Really a good film - I found the story quite interesting and heartwarming. Really a good cast.

8/10

This routine outing from Lyles attempts to deal with social issues-troubled teens. The script is stiff and the action comes slowly, however, as in most A.C. Lyles pictures we have to watch to see who he drug out of the retirement home for one last cameo performance. In spite of the tension it trys to build, this one becomes a yawn.

A.C. Lyles made a huge number of 'geezer westerns' in the 1960s. These were low-budget films featuring many older actors--actors that had long passed their prime. It gave these actors work and saved Lyles on his budget. Interestingly, Lyles tended to use the same actors again and again, as he seemed loyal to these folks--particularly the supporting actors. This film stars Rory Calhoun (43) and Virginia Mayo (45) but also had the VERY familiar Lyles actors, Lon Chaney Jr. (59), Richard Arlen (66) and John Agar (45). BUT, unlike the other geezer westerns, there was an unusual injection of youth in the film, as a gang of very young and hot-headed play a prominent part in the film.

The film begins with a gang of young western punks coming into a town and acting like fools. They pick up another member and learn that the leader's father is in a nearby town. And, since this young man had MAJOR daddy issues, he takes the gang to this town in search of revenge against the father that abandoned him. When they get to town, the gang run about acting tough--chasing away the sheriff and running roughshod over everyone. Eventually, they find the father (Rory Calhoun) but he quickly whips these young pups and shows them who's boss. However, a gang of much, much tougher hombres is coming. What's next? See the film and find out for yourself.

My biggest complaint about the film is the character Biff. Again and again and again, he goes off half-cocked and tries to kill their young leader. And, time and again, Biff gets beaten and the problems with Biff continue. Why didn't he just shoot Biff?! Who would be dumb enough to let Biff live AFTER he tries to stab you with a sword?! Huh?! However, despite this silly character, the film is actually pretty good. I liked the complexity of the characters (other than Biff) and the ending was enjoyable. A bit better than a time-passer.

A group of young thugs rides into the town of Dawson and take it over. When the cowardly sheriff is unable to restore control, the parents of the leader must take action. The leader's father is an infamous ex-gunfighter, and he straps his guns on one more time.

Rory Calhoun might be the leading star in this A. C Lyles western, but it's his wayward son -Preston Pierce- and his motley crew who take more of the film time with their anti-social shenanigans, which can get tedious. Preston Pierce can be annoying. There's a good story in here, but I didn't connect with it and found it merely watchable, at least once. There's a saloon fight that is fairly violent for it's time, and the finale is action packed. Calhoun and Virginia act well.

I believe this was William Bendex's (TV's "The Life of Riley") last film role. He had lost weight as he was dying of cancer. Virginia Mayo and Rory Calhoun were the parents of a son (Preston Pierce in his first film role) who is estranged from his dad, and the leader of a teenage bunch of want-a-be "Manificent Seven" characters.

Like the Manificent Seven, each has a skill. Knife thrower, etc. Ryan O'Neill's younger brother is one of the gang members. By today's standards, these kids really aren't all that wild. The script might be more to blame than the cast. (All those guest stars that pop up are a distraction.)

I've taped parts of "Young Fury" off of broadcast TV, but haven't been able to find a decent copy by searching the internet. The movie poster is available in different sizes, and a friend was able to buy a 35mm version of the "Young Fury" trailer. This is almost as exciting as the movie, except the sound was poor.

I'd be interested in buying a DVD, just for "Young Fury's" diverse cast.