Darby Hinton is Malcolm Hunter, an aging veteran, haunted by memories of the Civil War, plagued by forgetfulness, betrayed by a mind that no longer works the way it should.
Knowing he’s becoming a burden to his niece and her husband, he rides off one night, only to lose the horse and wind up on foot.
Julie Kashmainian is Ginny, a teenage girl headed to California for a fresh start with her father Frank and younger brother Little Bit.
Then a small-time crook (John Carter Cash as Chance) and his gang show up, demanding the life savings Ginny’s father is using to finance the trip.
In the struggle that ensues, Frank is killed. Ginny and her brother flee on foot.
Caught by gang member intent on raping her, Ginny is forced to kill him her shotgun, leaving her splatted with his blood.
Soon after, Ginny and Little Bit cross paths with Malcom Hunter. He promises to guide them to the nearby town of Black … well, he forgets the rest of the name.
Once a major under Gen. Grant in the Union Army, Malcolm Hunter is happy to have two soldiers marching under his command again.
They aren’t soldiers, of course. And Ginny soon begins to wonder if a town named Black Ridge even exists anywhere but in the old man’s mind.
But she knows this. The outlaws are likely still after the gold and the money she made off with.
She’s right about that.
What she doesn’t know is that the man she killed was Chance’s brother. So he’s looking for a measure of revenge as well as the money.
Darby Hinton as Malcolm Hunter, an aging Civil War vet haunted by a failing mind in Was Once a Hero (2024)
Julie Kashmanian as Ginny Hayes, having killed once and ready to do so again in Was Once a Hero (2024)
Review:
If you’re looking for a very well-done, very original, at times downright touching low-budget Western, here it is.
Oh, there are a few false notes along the way. The budget constraints are occasionally glaring.
But by the time the credits roll after a well-crafted ending, my guess is Western fans will happily overlook all of that.
Darby Hinton turns in an outstanding performance as a man who knows all too well that his best days are behind him.
And he gets plenty of acting support from Kashmainian as the young girl under his care, and Eliza Kelley and Paige Smith as the middle-aged couple who’ve been caring for him.
John Carter Cash — the lone child of Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash — is also effective as the leader of the outlaw gang.
But the real tip of the cap here goes to Director Michael Tuthill for delivering a Western that seems fresh in just his second feature film. And doing it with a movie filmed in Frederick, Md., and Bedford, Pa., no less.
Noah Deavers as Billy Hayes, aka Lil Bit, listening to his dad talk about California in Was Once a Hero (2024)
John Carter Cash as Chance, an outlaw leader spying a potential victim in Was Once a Hero (2024)
Directed by:
Michael Tuthill
Cast:
Darby Hinton … Malcolm Hunter
Julie Kashmanian … Virginia, aka Ginny
John Carter Cash … Chance
Noah Deavers … Billy, aka Little Bit
Shane Hagedorn … Frank Hayes
Eliza Kelley … Lydia
Paige Smith … Ron Bell
Rebecca Holden … Millie
Jason Brown … Young Malcolm
Kristen Verlett … Nurse Emma
Mary Badham … Nurse Mary
Glenda Winters … Nurse Cora
Robert Carradine … Doc Jennings
Richie Acevedo … Ed
Barry Bratburd … Slick
Dan Searles … Jon Paul
Sam De La Cruz … Jim
Runtime: 113 min.
Songs:
“Darker Angels”, “Hide from the Devil”, “Always a Hero”, “Lord Help Me Be Strong”, “Dance with an Angel”, “Angel Waltz”
Eliza Kelley as Lydia, Malcolm’s niece, wary as strangers visit her home in Was Once a Hero (2024)
Paige Smith as Ron Bell, about to search for Malcolm on Lydia’s mule in Was Once a Hero (2024)
Memorable lines:
Ginny: “Pa was the most decent man I ever knew. But he never knew when he was in over his head.”
Ginny: “Why are you walking around in the woods without a horse?”
Malcolm Hunter: “Can’t tell ya.”
Ginny: “Can’t say.”
Malcolm: “Well, I would tell you. I just can’t remember. I had a horse. I’m pretty sure. I get the forgets sometimes.”
Ginny: “Well, ain’t we a strange pair.”
Malcolm: “I’d say we’re just that.”
Cash: “Don’t you move another inch. Don’t even shiver your hand. If you do, we’ll shoot it off.”
Shane Hagedorn as Frank Hayes, telling his children about the bright future that awaits them in California in Was Once a Hero (2024)
Rebecca Holden as Millie, the former saloon singer who arouses Malcolm Hunter’s memory in Was Once a Hero (2024)
Ginny: “Well, I hate you.”
Malcolm: “I hate me too.”
Millie Perkins: “You’ve outlived your mind, haven’t you?”
Malcolm Hunter: “I reckon so, miss.”
Malcolm Hunter, as Millie climbs atop him: “Why Miss Millie, I do believe you’ve aroused my memory.”
Lydia, each word punctuated by a gunshot: “You shot my mule!”
Ron Bell, her husband, when the gunfire ends: “You know he shot me too, right?”
Lydia: “Yeah. I was gonna say that next.”
Jason Brown as Maj. Malcolm Hunter, fresh off the battlefield and worried about his troops in Was Once a Hero (2024)
Kristen Verlett as Emma, the nurse young Malcolm falls for while recovering from his wounds in Was Once a Hero (2024)
Dan Searles, Sam de la Cruz and Barry Bratburd as gang members John Paul, Jim and Slick in Was Once a Hero (2024)
Robert Carradine as Doc Jennings, witnessing Malcolm Hunter’s confused state of mind in Was Once a Hero (2024)
Julie Kashmanian as Ginny Hayes, encouraging her younger brother Lil Bit (Noah Deavers) to flee in Was Once a Hero (2024)
Darby Hinton as Malcolm Hunter, meeting up with shotgun wielding Ginny (Julie Kashmanian) in Was Once a Hero (2024)
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