The Revengers ** (1972, William Holden, Ernest Borgnine, Woody Strode, Susan Hayward) – Classic Movie Review 8937

Director Daniel Mann’s 1972 Western movie The Revengers stars William Holden and Ernest Borgnine, who reassemble from the 1969 The Wild Bunch for another in the long line of Westerns that tries to cash in on its success — largely in vain, as it turns out, as Wendell Mayes’s poor screenplay is full of clichés, hand-me-downs and stereotypes.

Holden stars as rancher John Benedict, who convenes a wild bunch of desperadoes to ride to Mexico to avenge his family’s killing at the hands of Indians led by white folks. Holden and Borgnine are always a pleasure to watch, but it is Susan Hayward who provides a real bright spot as Elizabeth Reilly, an Irish nurse ministering to the wounded Benedict (Holden) in her last cinema film before her death from cancer in 1975, aged 57. She replaced Mary Ure, who was doing a London stage play.

As unhinged villain Hoop, Borgnine replaced the late Van Heflin, who died on 23 July 1971, aged 62. Borgnine, Woody Strode (as Job) and Arthur Hunnicutt (as Free State) are also welcome presences along with Holden and Hayward. Mann gives his film a smart professionalism, and Gabriel Torres’s Mexican location cinematography gives it a glistening surface sheen. It was shot in Parral, Mexico, the same location as The Wild Bunch.

Also in the cast are Roger Hanin, Larry Pennell, John Kelly, Scott Holden, Reinhard Kolldehoff, Jorge Luke, Jorge Martínez de Hoyos, James Daughton, Lorraine Chanel, Raúl Pérez Prieto, Sergio Calderón, Roger Cudney, Enrique Lucero and Eduardo Noriega.

The Revengers is directed by Daniel Mann, runs 110 minutes, is made by Cinema Center Films, Estudios Churubusco Azteca, is released by National General, is written by Wendell Mayes, based on a story by Steven W. Carabatsos, is shot in colour and widescreen by Gabriel Torres, is produced by Martin Rackin, is scored by Pino Calvi, is designed by Jorge Fernandez.

It cost $4,000,000 and was a flop at the box office, which may help explain why it was Holden’s final Western.

Borgnine was in the middle of a divorce and used his acrimonious feelings to his fourth wife for his villainous performance.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8937

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