The Rounders *** (1965, Glenn Ford, Henry Fonda, Sue Ane Langdon, Chill Wills, Edgar Buchanan) – Classic Movie Review 7627

Director Burt Kennedy’s 1965 The Rounders is an appealingly relaxed, humorous-toned Western with Glenn Ford and Henry Fonda both on excellent form as Ben and Howdy, a fairly dim-seeming pair of aging present-day bronco busters who seem incapable of taking it easy as they are challenged by a horse they cannot break in and drift from job to job.

The friendly cast, bright cinematography in widescreeen and Metrocolor by Paul C Vogel, and the lively atmosphere make up for the shortage of plot and occasional lack of oomph. But mostly it is very well done by capable writer-director Kennedy, and it is briskly handled, running only 85 minutes. Kennedy’s screenplay is based on Max Evans’s novel.

Notable names in the friendly cast are Sue Ann Langdon, Chill Wills, Edgar Buchanan, Hope Holiday, Kathleen Freeman, Joan Freeman, Denver Pyle, Barton MacLane, Doodles Weaver, Allegra Varron and Casey Tibbs. Henry Fonda’s son Peter Fonda appears unbilled and Warren Oates appears uncredited as Harley Williams. Also in the cast are Bill Hart, Charles Horvath, John Hudkins, Troy Melton, Ralph Moody, Chuck Roberson and Bill Catching.

The Rounders is directed by Burt Kennedy, runs 85 minutes, is made by MGM, is written by Burt Kennedy, based on Max Evans’s novel, is shot by Paul C Vogel, is produced by Richard E Lyons, is scored by Jeff Alexander and is designed by George W Davis.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7627 

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com