The Scalphunters ***½ (1968, Burt Lancaster, Shelley Winters, Telly Savalas, Ossie Davis, Dabney Coleman, Dan Vadis, Nick Cravat, Paul Picerni ) – Classic Movie Review 5041

Director Sydney Pollack’s enjoyable 1968 Western stars Burt Lancaster, who is in his element as rugged, dogged fur trapper Joe Bass, who ends up with well-educated runaway slave Joseph Lee (Ossie Davis) after a group of Indians take all of his hides.

Joe plans to set off after the Indians, but they are raided by greedy bad guy Jim Howie (Telly Savalas) and his scalphunter gang who are killing the Native Americans for their scalps. The scalphunters end up with both the hides and Joseph. Alone, Joe hunts down Howie and his gang and get his hides.

Pollack’s rollicking comedy Western is bright and lively all round, especially the acting (Shelley Winters as oversexed Kate, baddie Savalas and Nick Cravat as Yancy).

There is a notable Elmer Bernstein score – indeed there is good work all round, from the screenplay by William Norton, to the cinematography by Duke Callaghan and Richard Moore, to the production designs by Frank Arrigo.

Also in the cast are Paul Picerni as Frank, Armando Silvestre as Two Crows, Dabney Coleman as Jed, Dan Vadis as Yuma, and John Epper, Chuck Roberson, Tony Epper and Jack Williams as the Scalphunters.

Dan Vadis (1938–1987).

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 5041

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