Harry Tracy (1982)

Bruce Dern is Harry Tracy, the last remaining member of the Wild Bunch, on the run from the law and especially Marshal Morrie Nathan.

He’s a charmer who manages to turn the head of Catherine Tuttle (Helen Shaver), daughter of a late judge.

And he’s a man with a code of honor learned from his days with the gang. He won’t shoot anyone if they’re defenseless.

Harry finds a new partner in David Merrill (Michael C. Gwynne), a painter who traveled West at the turn of the century to do portraits of outlaws, only to discover there aren’t many left.

Merrill cajoles and nags Harry until he agrees to take him along on his exploits.

After a botched train job and a couple of successful bank robberies, they head to Portland where Harry hopes to reunite with Catherine.

But first he demands a meeting with a lawyer and aspiring politician (Fred Diehl as Millhouse) because the area newspapers keep blaming him for crimes he didn’t commit.

When Millhouse’s fee turns out to be more than Harry can afford, he decides to rob a bank to make up the difference.

The bank job, with Merrill along, goes off without a hitch. Until Harry runs outside with the loot and spies Katherine on a passing trolley.

Pretty soon he’s behind bars again, with a partner planning another breakout, and a judge’s daughter who visits because she’s fallen for a rascal of an outlaw.

Bruce Dern as Harry Tracy, in prison and warning Catherine not to get involved with an outlaw in Harry Tracy (1982)

Michael C. Gwynne as David Merrill, finding himself in a showdown against his partner in crime in Harry Tracy (1982)

Review:

So often cast as a villain or in secondary parts in Westerns, Dern gets the starring role here and shines as an outlaw with cunning that matches his charm.

And while his character was surely whitewashed to some degree to increase the appeal of his character — and the film — major points in the story are historically accurate.

The Portland scene in which Harry is captured while trying to chase down Katherine is especially well done, as is the film’s climax.

And, yep, that’s musician Gordon Lightfoot playing the role of the marshal on Harry Tracy’s trail. He also sings the film’s theme song.

It wound up being the only film in which Lightfoot would appear, though he had roles in a few TV shows.

Helen Shaver, the female lead, has enjoyed a long career as a TV actress and eventually began directing TV shows as well, beginning with a 1998 episode of the Western series, “Dead Man’s Gun” and including an episode of HBO’s “Westworld.”

Helen Shaver as Catherine Tuttle, attending Harry Tracy’s trial in Harry Tracy (1982)

Gordon Lightfoot as U.S. Marshal Morrie Nathan with Jacques Hubert as his Indian tracker in Harry Tracy (1982)

Directed by:
William A. Graham

Cast:
Bruce Dern … Harry Tracy
Helen Shaver … Catherine Tuttle
Michael C. Gwynne … David Merrill
Gordon Lightfoot … U.S. Marshal Morrie Nathan
Jacques Hubert … Indian
Daphne Goldrick … Mrs. Tuttle
Lynne Kolbert … Judy Tuttle
Alec Willows … Aspen Times Reporter
Frank C. Turner … Eddie Hoyt
Fred Diehl … Gov. Raymond Millhouse
Charles Siegel … Prison warden
Jack Ackroyd … Ely Porter
Suzie Payne … Helen Porter
Richard MacBride … Matt Porter
Kerry Salisbury … Glendoline Porter
Jim Roberts … Aspen sheriff
Dennis Robertson … Hellsgate sheriff

Runtime: 107 min.

aka:
Harry Tracy, Desperado
Harry Tracy: The Last of the Wild Bunch
Harry Tracy: Dead or Alive
The Last Desperado

Songs:
“Edmund on the Hill” by Under the Moss
“My Love for You” by Gordon Lightfoot

Fred Diehl as Gov. Raymond Millhouse, the politician who makes capturing Harry Tracy a priority in Harry Tracy (1982)

Frank C. Turner as Eddie Hoyt, the farmer who gives Harry Tracy (Bruce Dern) and Catherine refuge in Harry Tracy (1982)

Memorable lines:

Judy Tuttle, warning her sister about the outlaw she just met: “Kate, the man’s a primitive. I heard he eats babies.”
Harry Tracy: “That’s only cause they’re so tender, ma’am. And don’t fret none. They were only Injun babies.”

Harry Tracy to David Merrill, after a botched train holdup: “There’s one good thing about banks. They ain’t movin’ when you’re robbin’ ’em.”

Bank manager: “For goodness sake, you can’t rob my bank. This is the 20th century … we haven’t been robbed since ’87.”
Harry Tracy: “Well, don’t you think it’s time you were? Make a few headlines?”

Harry Tracy to Katherine: “I’m wanted in six states, dead or alive. This time it’s going to be dead, Katherine. They’ll never put me in another cage. And they’re never gonna hang me.”

Harry Tracy, remembering his childhood: “I dreamed of being an outlaw. Yes, sir, I dream of being an outlaw.”

Alec Willows as the Aspen Times Reporter who tracks the exploits of Harry Tracy in Harry Tracy (1982)

Bruce Dern as Harry Tracy, determined not to kill unless it’s necessary in Harry Tracy (1982)

Helen Shaver as Catherine Tuttle, meeting the scoundrel Harry Tracy for the first time in Harry Tracy (1982)

Bruce Dern as Harry Tracy, cunning even when caught by the law in Harry Tracy (1982)