Daniel Baldwin plays Ned Blessing, a man awaiting a date with a hangman’s noose, hoping for a chance at vengeance before he dies and sharing his life story in the meantime.
As a youngster, Ned is California-bound with his father Anthony (Chris Cooper) when bandits under a vicious leader named Bruto show up looking for trouble.
Anthony Blessing is stabbed and left for dead; young Ned is kidnapped by Bruto to serve as an assistant to the gang’s cook/witch doctor, an older man named Crecencio (Luis Avalos).
Crecencio takes the young boy under his wing, serving as his tutor, preparing him for the day when he’ll have to fend for himself.
Then, one day, he sees a vision of the young boy’s father, ill, near death and living in the rear of a saloon somewhere in the West.
Crencencio helps young Ned escape. He eventually finds his father being cared for by a spunky, golden-voice young girl named Jilly Blue. Together, they nurse Anthony Blessing back to health.
Flash forward several years, and Ned is sheriff in the town of Plum Creek. His father is a teacher; Jilly has become a world-famous entertainer.
Ned rides off to see her only show out West. But Crenencio shows up too. He’s had another vision. Trouble is headed toward Plum Creek.
Daniel Blessing as Ned Blessing, the captive turned lawman turned condemned man in Ned Blessing, The True Story of My Life (1992)
Luis Avalos as Crecencio, the cook and witch doctor who takes care of Ned in Ned Blessing, The True Story of My Life (1992)
Review:
The little-resolved ending gives this telefilm away as the pilot for a short-lived TV series that wound up being turned into three more films.
If you don’t mind lots of offbeat in your Westerns, there’s plenty to be had here.
In addition to the witch doctor, Bruto winds up biting off half his tongue in a fit of fury. And Ned has a deputy who’s always trying to lasso a chicken.
Unfortunately, there’s lots of over-the-top melodrama as well. Ned and Jilly haven’t seen one another for more than a decade, but recognize each other in an instant.
And Jilly has a manager who speaks only French and has no interest in women, so she trusts him completely.
Of course, he really speaks English, pines for the young beauty and certainly can’t be trusted, especially when it comes to passing along messages to Julie from another admirer.
Julia Campbell as Jilly Blue, the famed entertainer in Ned Blessing, The True Story of My Life (1992)
Rene Auberjonois as The Marquis, Jilly’s manager in Ned Blessing, The True Story of My Life (1992)
Directed by:
Peter Werner
Cast:
Daniel Baldwin … Ned Blessing
Luis Avalos … Crecencio
Chris Cooper … Anthony Blessing
Sean Baca … Young Ned Blessing
Julia Campbell … Jilly Blue
Taylor Fry … Young Jilly Blue
Rene Auberjonois … Marquis
Timothy Scott … Deputy Sticks
Miquel Sandoval … Bruto Half-Tongue
Jeff Kober … Tors Buckner
Tony Frank … Raby
Jimmie F. Skaggs … Ignacio
M.C. Gainey … One-Armed Jack Sample
Michael Harris … Cornelius Bryan
Sonny Carl Davis … Pie Wentworth
Julius Tennon … Tug McFall
Bill Bolender … Twister Taylor
Runtime: 97 min.
aka: Lone Justice
Sean Baca as Ned Blessing as a youngster in Ned Blessing, The True Story of My Life (1992)
Miguel Sandoval as Bruto, the outlaw leader who takes Ned captive in Ned Blessing, The True Story of My Life (1992)
Memorable lines:
Ned Blessing: “Bruto stabbed my father and left him out to die on the plains.”
Crecencio: “Yes, I know. But you are alive. And you’ve got a hell of a lot to learn in a hurry if you are to stay that way.”
Crecencio: “When one pees into the wind, he’s going to get his feet wet. But remember this: Just as evil brings evil back on the doer so does kindness bring kindness. That is the place to put your heart. Not on revenge.”
Ned Blessing, narrating his escape from Bruto: “I learned later that Bruto got so mad, he shot the guard and bit half his own tongue off. He talked funny after that and became known everywhere as Bruto Half-Tongue.”
Taylor Fry as young Jilly Blue, taking care of Ned’s dad in Ned Blessing, The True Story of My Life (1992)
Chris Cooper as Anthony Blessing, Ned’s father, in Ned Blessing, The True Story of My Life (1992)
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