One More Time Before I Die (2023) - Once Upon a Time in a Western

Brian Lutes is Percy Harris, who defies his wife’s wishes and marches off to fight for the Confederacy when the Civil War breaks out.

He promises to return home to wife Laurel and their two children — Sam and Abigail — and is indeed on his way once the war finally comes to an end.

But his sergeant (Hawley Ron Trempe) spots horses in a corral and decides they might make the trip home much easier.

When an African American family balks at having their horses stolen, Primrose orders his men to fire. Two men, a young woman and her baby are murdered.

Percy Harris balks at the savagery. That earns him a bullet from his sergeant. And he’s left behind to take the blame for killings he didn’t commit.

That lands Percy in a hangman’s noose. But he hasn’t given up hope of fulfilling that pledge to his wife, setting the stage for a long, desperate journey.

And who is sent to track him down?

Former Sgt. Primrose, of course.

Brian Lutes as Percy Harris, with a noose around his neck and the realization that he might not fulfill that promise to his wife in One More Time Before I Die (2023)

Hawley Ron Trempe as former Sgt. Primrose, on the trail of Percy Harris in One More Time Before I Die (2023)

Review:

The film features some touching scenes, absolutely fabulous locations and a gritty performance from star and director Brian Lutes.

Unfortunately, it’s nearly undone by lackluster production values and the ill-advised use of poor quality re-enactment footing just as the film reaches its climax.

It’s also a film with a seriously bloated runtime. Minutes pass with nothing but footage of Percy Herbert tromping through the wilderness — shirt nice bright and white — with Primrose on his trail and nary a word of dialogue.

Granted, it was important to stress the long, arduous journey Percy would need to take for a reunion with his family.

But if you fast forward through some of those segments, you’re more likely to still be around to watch a pretty well-done ending.

Robynne Easton as Laurel Harris, pleading with husband Percy not to march off to war in One More Time Before I Die (2023)

Caitie Peterson as the sometimes deadly squaw who travels with former Sgt. Primrose in One More Time Before I Die (2023)

Directed by:
Brian Lutes

Cast:
Brian Lutes … Percy Harris
Robynne Easton … Laurel Harris
Hawley Ron Trempe … Sgt. Primrose
Ella-Rose Swinimer … Rose McGuinty
M. Sean Dowd … Executioner
Caitie Peterson … The Squaw
Sebastian Lovisa … Samuel Harris
Tagan Walker … Abigail Harris
Morgan Blackbyrne … The marshal

Runtime: 113 min.

Tagan Walker as Abigail ‘Sweet Pea’ Harris, spotting something unusual on a trip to the chicken cooper in One More Time Before I Die (2023)

Sebastian Lovisa as Samuel Harris, upset because his father is leaving home to fight for the Confederacy in One More Time Before I Die (2023)

Memorable lines:

Percy Harris, with a knife to his adversary’s throat: “I could end this right now.”
Primrose: “Go ahead.”
Percy takes the knife from Primrose’s throat.
Primrose: “Percy.”
Percy, fleeing: “What?”
Primrose: “Big mistake.”

Percy Harris, during his arduous journey: “I’m already dead. I just haven’t been buried yet.”

Primrose when the hangman offers food to his squaw: “No need to waste good people food on her, padre. She’s got berries and roots and such she’s gathered along the trail.”

M. Sean Dowd as the hangman, trying to reason with former Sgt. Primrose in One More Time Before I Die (2023)

Ella-Rose Swinimer as Rose McGuinty, coming upon a badly wounded escapee in the woods in One More Time Before I Die (2023)

Laurel Harris, arguing against her husband marching off to war: “Has the Confederacy made life any easier? Do you think Jefferson Davis is going to come here and plow our fields if you lose an arm or a leg?”
Percy Harris: “That’s not gonna happen?”
Laurel: “Is he gonna shed a tear if you get yourself killed? No he won’t.”
Percy: “Most don’t think this war’s gonna last but a week.”
Laurel: “Well, if that’s true, nobody’s gonna miss you if you don’t go.”

Percy Harris, looking at a photograph of his wife: “Promised her that I’d get back in one piece.”
Fellow Rebel: “Hell of a promise to make to a woman in a war like this.”