The Revengers (1972)

William Holden plays John Benedict, a decorated Civil War hero who has settled into a quiet life on a horse ranch out West with his wife and four children.

Then one day, Indians attack while he’s away. He returns to find his family massacred. But ranch hand Free State provides a clue about who was responsible: A one-eyed comanchero led the Indians.

Turns out the man is named Tharp and he’s holed up in a hideout known as Pueblo Plata. Knowing he has no chance to mete out revenge without help, Benedict recruits six convicts from a Mexican prison

They include a bastard gunman named Chamaco (Jorge Luke), who thinks Benedict might be his dad, an ex-slave named Job (Woody Strode) and a man who knows a bit about that hideout (Ernest Borgnine as Bill Hoop).

A falling out among the gang leaves Benedict near death and, eventually, back in the same Mexican prison.

But he’s nursed back to health by Elizabeth Reilly (Susan Hayward), then rescued from the prison by those six ex-convicts.

And in spite of Elizabeth’s warnings about the danger of filling his heart with hate and revenge and leaving room for nothing else, Benedict sets out to avenge his family once again.

Review:

The film offers a well-done climatic Indian attack on a cavalry encampment and a chance to see Susan Hayward in her final film, but little else.

There’s a dash of “Dirty Dozen,” a bit of comedy, lots of tough talk and a nearly invincible seven, but it never really gels into anything above an average Western revenge flick.

There are lots of implausibilities too. When Benedict is shot, all six assume he is dead and just ride off, not even caring enough to see he’s properly buried.

But months later, after he’s regained his health, those no-goods all find one another again and help him break out of prison, barely breaking a sweat in the process.

Yep, that sounds likely.

The part of the cavalry lieutenant at the end of the film is played by Scott Holden, son of William and actress Brenda Marshal. He appeared in just four films.

Directed by:
Daniel Mann

Cast:
William Holden … John Benedict
Ernest Borgnine … Bill Hoop
Woody Strode … Job
Roger Hanin … Quiberon
Reinhard Kolldehoff .. Zwieg
Jorge Luke … Chamaco
Jorge Martinez de Hoyos … Cholo
Arthur Honnicutt … Free State
Scott Holden … Lt. Mercer
Susan Hayward … Elizabeth Reilly
Warren Vanders … Tarp
Larry Pennell … Arny
John Kelly … Whitcomb
James Daughton … Morgan
Lorraine Chanel … Mrs. Benedict
Raul Perez Prieto … Warden

Runtime: 106 min.

Score: Pino Calvi

Memorable lines:

Cholo: “I wouldn’t be any good as a peon. I’m a scholar, a philosopher, and a man filled with integrity.”
Hoop: “I can tell you what he’s filled of, and it ain’t that.”

Hoop: “I bet Mr. Benedict can sling that .45 faster than a whore’s ass on payday.”

Quiberon: “Mr. Benedit, you have appealed to the honor of men who have no honor.”

Deputy Marshal Whitcomb, after Benedict and his bunch have gunned down several men: “If your boy Morgan could see you now, he’d run from you. That’s what I intend to do.”

Cholo: “I have followed this man without asking why. Now I ask myself, and I have no answer.”

Elizabeth Reilly to Benedict: “I learned a long time ago not to worry about the foolishness of other people.”

Benedict to Chamaco: “You missed my heart by one inch. Any son of mine can learn to shoot better than that.”

Quiberon, when Benedict backs down from killing a comanchero: “Mr. Benedict, I think maybe you are a little crazy.”
Benedict: “I can understand you thinking that, Mr. Quiberon.”

Bill Hopp: “Come on, Mr. Benedict. Blow that good eye out of that ugly god-damned head. Shoot him!”

Bill Hopp, questioning a decision Benedict makes: “Cause he’s got squiggly worms in his head, that’s why.”
Benedict: “I’ve had worms in my heart, Mr. Hopp. That’s been my trouble.”