Four Rode Out (1970)

Pernell Roberts is Marshal Ross, a lawman on one last mission, to bring in suspected bank robber Fernando Nunez.

He’s one of three men who stole $120,000 and killed a bank clerk in the process. One bandit is already dead; the other, a man named Krueger, has disappeared.

Ross figures Myra Polsen (Sue Lyon) might know where to find Nunez. After all, she’s the young Mexican’s lover. And she makes it clear she doesn’t want to see any harm come to him.

Also on Nunez’s trail is a Pinkerton agent named Brown (Leslie Nielson). And he’s a man who really isn’t interested in bringing anyone back alive.

Ross and Brown head out across the desert after Nunez in an uneasy alliance. There’s a blood lust in Brown’s manner that Ross doesn’t care for.

Before long, they’re joined by Myra. She’s followed to make sure Nunez isn’t killed, and to try to convince him to surrender to the marshal.

Brown offers not to harm the bandit in return for sexual favors. When Myra’s slow to agree, he takes what he wants. Myra soon learns he’s not a man of his word.

And when Nunez is captured, Ross is confronted with another surprise that’s going to make the trip back to town both more complicated and more challenging.

Review:

A somber, gritty, well-scripted Western that benefits from a couple of unexpected twists and a truly hateful performance from Leslie Nielson.

Pernell Roberts, formerly of Bonanza fame, is convincing as well. And film fans are likely to remember fetching Sue Lyon as the teen temptress from 1962’s “Lolita.”

That marked her film debut. She went on to marry five times and appear in about a dozen more films before retiring from acting in 1980.

Among its highlights, this film also features a bizarre wedding in the desert.

Shot in Almería, Spain, it was one of just three feature films from Peyser, who did most of his work directing TV shows.

Directed by:
John Peyser

Cast:
Pernell Roberts … Marshal Ross
Leslie Nielson … Brown/Krueger
Sue Lyon … Myra Polsen
Julian Mateos … Fernando Nunez
Maria Martin … Rosa Lopez
Leonard Bell … Hotel clerk
John Clark … Livery stable owner
Charles Drace … Mr. Polsen
Neil Wright … Priest
Janis Ian … The singer

Runtime: 94 min.

Title song: “You Can Fly”
by Janis Ian

Memorable lines:

Mr. Polsen, catching Myra with Fernando: “Whore! My daughter … Just like your mother. Just like your mother!”

Myra Polsen, admiring a dress in the dress maker’s shop: “It’s pretty enough to get married in.”
Dress maker Rosa Perez: “Only no one gets married. Just buried.”

Myra Polsen, of Fernando: “He was mine. And robbing a bank and running away doesn’t make me love him any less.”

Marshall Ross, about the third bank robber: “You shoot him, Mr. Brown?”
Mr. Brown: “Marshal, whatever gave you that idea?”
Ross: “I don’t know. I thought I detected a hint of pride in your voice.”
Brown: “Well, the way I see it, that’s one down, two more to look forward to.”

Marshall Ross to Myra: “So he made you a proposition: Your boy’s life for your boy’s girl. Nice upright citizen, that Mr. Brown.”

Marshall Ross to Myra: “Ms. Polsen, you smell very sweet and strong out here. But don’t bargain with me. I’m not Mr. Brown. I aim to keep my promise if it’s in my power.”
Myra Polsen: “Will you talk to him?”
Ross: “I’m afraid Mr. Brown and I don’t speak the same language. I can’t change his sickness.”

Marshall Ross to Mr. Brown: “I’ve reached the point in my life where exposing the back of my head to a fellow like you could make me nervous.”

Marshall Ross, after digging a bullet out of Fernando: “Souvenir, Mr. Brown. You might want to show it to your grandchildren one day.”