Waco (1966)

A lawless town asks the state governor to pardon an imprisoned gunfighter in order to hire him as sheriff but various factions plan to kill the new sheriff and take over the town.

Director:

R.G. Springsteen

Writers:

Harry Sanford (novel), Max Lamb (novel)

Stars:

Howard Keel, Jane Russell, Brian Donlevy

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Howard Keel	...	Waco
Jane Russell	...	Jill Stone
Brian Donlevy	...	Ace Ross
Wendell Corey	...	Preacher Sam Stone
Terry Moore	...	Dolly
John Smith	...	Joe Gore
John Agar	...	George Gates
Gene Evans	...	Deputy Sheriff Jim O'Neill
Richard Arlen	...	Sheriff Billy Kelly
Ben Cooper	...	Scotty Moore
Tracy Olsen	...	Patricia West
DeForest Kelley	...	Bill Rile
Anne Seymour	...	Ma Jenner
Robert Lowery	...	Mayor Ned West
Willard Parker	...	Pete Jenner

Storyline

Preacher Sam Stone and his new beautiful wife Jill stand by the grave of Sheriff Billy Kelly, who died trying to bring law-and-order to Emporia, Wyoming. Among the mourners are businessman George Gates, mayor Ned West and his daughter Patricia. The mayor rejects Gates' suggestion that he release gunfighter Waco from jail to clean up the town. When Patricia is attacked by a cowboy after leaving her boyfriend Scotty Moore, the mayor finally decides it is time accept the governor;s offer of amnesty for Waco. Jill Stone's first reaction, when learning that Waco has been released, is to leave town before Waco finds out that she, his former fiancée, has married the town preacher while Waco was in jail. Town boss Joe Gore is not overjoyed, either, but Ike and Pete Jenner eagerly await the chance to shoot Waco for the death of their brother.

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Plot Keywords:

shoulder holster | shoulder | holster | character name as title | one word title | 

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Taglines:

Wasn't a man between here and hell wanted to face him...gun to gun! (original poster)

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Genres:

Western

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

Final film of Jeff Richards.

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Quotes

Waco: [he sniffs the air] Ain't much wind to speak of - so the stink can't be blowing in from the stables!

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Connections

Featured in Farewell: DeForest Kelley--A Tribute (2003)

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Soundtracks

Waco
Lyrics by Hal Blair
Music by Jimmie Haskell
Sung by Lorne Greene

User Reviews

Pretty horrid waste of big names

WACO is the name of the character who is the stereotypical Western hero in Hollywood Westerns. He's fast on the draw, tough, and an outlaw in the beginning, which is standard for Western heroes.of that would be okay, except we never really care for this Waco guy played by Howard Keel. Don't expect the joy ride of THE WAR WAGON. This is strictly Hollywood hate formula. Waco has absolutely no credible motivation. Keel comes across a bit like Joe Don playing Buford, but without the incentive. Absolutely none. Motivation has to be a key, but in the sixties, Hollywood would have none of that. For about three decades, they threw characters who were spoiled brats with unrelenting and unprovoked hatred at us, expecting us to empathize with them. Well, only the sickest and most demon possessed were able to do that, and they were generally the control freaks who decided what the rest of us had to watch. This is a perfect example of what was wrong with the Hollywood era of mid sixties to mid eighties All of that is made worse by the big names being wasted here. As in the hero, motivation is suspect, although Waco is the worst written character perhaps in any Western. That takes away any thrills, and makes this all ho hum, no matter how many horses you see, no matter how many gunshots are fired.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 September 1966 (USA)

Also Known As:

Waco

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

A.C. Lyles Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1