Santee (1973)

Glenn Ford is Santee, a lawman who turned bounty hunter after an outlaw gang killed his 10-year-old son and left him for dead with five bullet wounds.

He runs a ranch with a loving wife named Valerie (Dana Wynter) and an able foreman (Jay Silverheels).

But when the old feelings of guilt over his son’s death return — he knew the Banner gang was in town that day and did nothing about it — the only way to quell them is to bring in a couple more outlaws.

During one of those trips, he orphans young Jody Deaks (Michael Burns).

The teenager promises to get his own vengeance on Santee. But eight months on Santee’s ranch change his way of thinking.

He, too, wants to become a bounty hunter.

And he’s right by Santee’s side when the Banner gang returns, promising to wreak more havoc, the way they did the night they killed Santee’s son.

Glenn Ford as Santee, trying to make a point with Jody Deaks in Santee (1973)

Michael Burns as Jody Deaks, vowing vengeance against the man who killed his father in Santee (1973)

Review:

This followed “Molly and Lawless John” (1972) as the second feature film from TV director Gary Nelson. Like that film, it’s crudely done in spots, imaginative in others.

Burns is the effective as the young man who comes to look up to Santee as the father he never had. Ford’s familiar as the aging former lawman who comes to view Burns as a replacement for the son he lost.

Most effective is the final showdown with the Banner gang, complete with a pair of horses stomping through a crowded saloon in which bystanders are as likely to become victims as outlaws.

Dana Wynter as Valerie, watching her husband ride out outlaws again in Santee (1973)

Jay Silverheels as John Crow, longtime assistant on the Santee ranch in Santee (1973)

Nice ending too.

Directed by:
Gary Nelson

Cast:
Glenn Ford … Santee
Michael Burns … Jody Deaks
Dana Wynter … Valerie
Jay Silverheels … John Crow
Harry Townes … Sheriff Carter
John Larch … Banner
Robert J. Wilke … Deaks
Robert Donner … J.C.
Taylor Lacher … Lance
X Brands … Hook
Chuck Courtney … Grayson
Lindsay Crosby … Horn
John Hart … Cobbles
Russ McCubbin … Rafe
Robert Mellard … Jonesy
Brad Merhege … Santee’s son

Runtime: 93 min.

Song:
“Jody” by The Raiders

Robert J. Wilke as Deaks, Jody’s gang and leader of an outlaw gang in Santee (1973)

Robet Donner as J.C., a member of the Deaks gang watching for a bounty hunter in Santee (1973)

Memorable lines:

J.C.: “You know, I never rightly figured how much we’re worth.”
Deaks: “Three thousand for you; five thousand for me.”
J.C.: “Kind of makes us a success, don’t it?”
Deaks: “Not yet. We’re not dead.”

Sheriff Carter to Santee, about young Jody Deaks: “A six-inch rattler is just as deadly as a six-footer, and he sure don’t like you.”

Santee: “Walk in front of me, boy.”
Jody Deaks: “What’s the matter? You afraid?”
Santee: “Just careful.”

Harry Townes as Sheriff Carter, trying to reason with the Banner gang in Santee (1973)

John Larch as Banner, leader of a gang of outlaws in Santee (1973)

Michael Burns as Jody Deaks, holding getaway horses for a dad he just met in Santee (1973)

Glenn Ford as Santee and Michael Burns as Jody Deaks prepare to move against the Banner gang in Santee (1973)