Scott Brady is Justice Cain, former Confederate officer and leader of Cain’s Cutthroats. He has settled into a peaceful post-war life out West with his son. He’s taken his son’s former nanny, a part-black girl, as his wife.
All’s well until some of his former soldiers come calling. They’ve just robbed an Army payroll wagon and with that loot to bankroll the enterprise, they’re convinced Cain could help lead them back to glory, as outlaws in the name of the South if nothing else.
But Cain wants none of it. When he turns them down, they rape his wife, kill her and his son, burn his home and leave him for dead.
Along comes Simms (John Carradine), part-preacher, part-bounty hunter, to nurse Cain back to health. When he’s well, they set out to settle the score.
Review:
Brady starred in some low-budget films in the 1950s, but this turkey takes the Z-grade cake. A little nudity, lots of violence and about zero redeeming factors. Why was this made?
Carradine has the best role as Preacher Simms, who keeps a special preservative in his wagon barrels. They’re filled with heads of men on whom he plans to collect bounty. So he tells Cain to be careful not to mutilate the heads when he’s killing.
Robert Dix is Amison, the one-eyed leader of the gang Cain’s after; he somehow loses his eye patch during an ugly rape scene. Darwin Joston is young Billy Joe, the half-mad youngster responsible for most of the violence. At one point, he cuts off a man’s hand because he’s chained to a chest the bandits want. Adair Jameson plays Rita, the prostitute who tags along with Cain and Sims on their quest for vengeance.
This was apparently first released in 1969 as “Cain’s Way” with complete with more modern day footage of biker gangs terrorizing innocent folks. In the 1971 version, the title tune will give you a hint at what you’re in for.
Director:
Ken Osborne
Cast:
John Carradine … Preacher Simms
Scott Brady … Justice Cain
Robert Dix … Amison, Gang leader
Don Epperson … Farrettte
Adair Jameson … Rita
Darwin Joston … Billy Joe
Bruce Kimball … Tucker
Tereza Thaw … Cain’s wife
Valda Hansen … Zelda
aka:
Cain’s Way
Justice Cain
The Blood Seekers
Title song; “Times Were Hard When I Was Young”
sung by Junction
Memorable lines:
Amison, after one of his men is wounded in a shootout with Yankees: “Tucker, how’s Cauley?”
Tucker: “He’s still alive, but his guts look mighty sick.”
Preacher Sims, offering Cain food, which he rejects: “Now hold on, son. A body needs nourishment if it’s going to heal.”
Cain: “I don’t need any food. Killing’s the only thing that’s gonna heal me.”
Preacher Sims, as he grabs his hatchet to chop the heads off two men he and Cain killed: “A man’s work is never done.”
Preacher Sims, checking out a gang member Cain shot: “Brother Cain, I distinctly asked you not to mutilate the head.”
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