The Devil’s Mistress (1965)

Four outlaws flee for the Mexican border and safe haven through rugged Apache country.

Running low on food, they come upon a desolate cabin.

Will (Oren Williams) is reluctant to stop. Charlie, Joe and young Frank (Robert Gregory) insist they do, hoping for a warm meal and a soft bed, at least for one night.

Though the cabin looks deserted, they find it inhabited by an old man and his much younger and very pretty mute wife (Joan Stapleton as Athaliah).

Joe’s convinced the old man’s hiding something, perhaps gold. So he kills him, then he and Charlie rape the wife and take her prisoner.

That’s when the strange problems begin for the four men.

Review:

Crudely and cheaply made little horror Western, that seems slow paced in spite of his short running time.

Owen Williams turns in a solid performance as the wisest of the four cowboys. And Robert Gregory is convincing as the naive young cowboy.

As for Joan Stapleton, she’s given little to do except lick her lips at the sweet taste of revenge.

The film does serve up a couple of mild surprises at the end, if you make it that far.

Directed by:
Orville Wanzer

Cast:
Joan Stapleton … Athaliah
Robert Gregory … Frank
Oren Williams … Will
Wes Moreland … Charlie
Douglas Warren … Joe
Arthur Resley … Jeroboam

Runtime: 76 min.

Memorable lines:

Frank, after Charlie’s asked if he’s ever had a squaw: “Think we’ll find some friendly Indians up there.”
Charlie: “Who cares if they’re friendly. Kinda fun if they ain’t. Fishin’ ain’t fun, less the fish bites.”
Joe: “Think you can handle a squaw, Frankie?”
Frank: “Guess so, but I’d rather have me a friendly girl.”
Joe: “Hell, we ain’t talkin’ ’bout no girls. We’re talkin’ ’bout squaws. Stinkin’ squaws. Girls you gotta marry or pay. Squaws, you have your fun and stick your knife in their belly.”

Charlie, upon learning that Liah is mute: “You mean she can’t taught none at all?”
Joe: “Now that’s a mighty nice thing in a woman.”
Charlie: “You mean she can’t make no sound at all, no even a grunt?”
Jeroboam: “Not a sound, my friend. Not in all these years she’s been mine.”

Jeroboam, on why they’re living alone in Apache country: “Liah and I came here to escape religious persecution. We traveled from Salem, many, many years. We found this haven a little over a year ago. Here we are free to practice our beliefs and deal with our God as we see fit.”
Joe: “What the devil’s he talkin’ about?”

Jeroboam: “Hell awaits you, my friends. All of you!”