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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
When you think director John Sturges and the western, you probably think of THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN or GUNFIGHT AT THE O.K. CORRAL or possibly even HOUR OF THE GUN but this strong effort is seldom mentioned which is unfortunate as it's quite good. A man (Richard Widmark) is searching for the murderer of the father he never knew and a woman (Donna Reed) is searching for the gold left by the husband who abandoned her and they join up together when they suspect the man they're looking for may be the same person. The tight screenplay is by Borden Chase who wrote such western classics as RED RIVER and WINCHESTER 73. The film doesn't lack excitement what with gunfights, Apache attacks and cattle range wars but it's the personal stories and the relationship between Widmark and Reed that form the basis of the film's core. It's nice to see Reed in a strong, integral part rather than the "girl" that populates so many westerns. The wide screen SuperScope cinematography is handled well by Irving Glassberg (TARNISHED ANGELS) but the pedestrian score by Herman Stein adds little to the proceedings. With John McIntire, William Campbell, Barton MacLane, Harry Morgan and Roy Roberts.
The British Optimum release boasts an excellent 2.00:1 transfer.
The British Optimum release boasts an excellent 2.00:1 transfer.
19 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
If you are a western fan you will love this movie. Richard Widmark gives his usual strong performance. John McIntire is great in his role. McIntire is an underrated actor. He always seems to add something extra to every western I seen him in and he makes a great baddie here. The storyline for the movie is good and will keep your interest till the end.
The outdoor locations for the movie are stunning.
A great DVD transfer.
The outdoor locations for the movie are stunning.
A great DVD transfer.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
A very unusual and interesting film that is elevated above the average western by Borden Chase's unconventional script, which contains some crisp knowing dialogue, and manages to use a whole kaleidoscope of characters. Chase scripted that superb series of psychological westerns directed by Anthony Mann in the fifties, to which this film bears comparison. He also scripted Howard Hawk's magisterial "Red River". John Sturges directs a strong cast with a sure hand. The film is set in Arizona in 1870 and certainly appears from the landscape to have been filmed in that area. Richard Widmark plays the part of Jim Slater a man trying to solve the mystery surrounding his father's death. In an Indian massacre one man survived by abandoning his friends to their fate. Slater becomes a sort of detective akin to Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe in his efforts to track down the sixth man. This brings him into contact with the Apache, a whole host of killers, and a beautiful femme fatale. There is an unusual twist to the story, and the resolve of the unflappable Slater is given a stern testing.
A special mention should be given to the strong cast. Widmark is excellent as our hard bitten hero, bringing in his own unique brand of snarling cynicism which nobody did better. 1956 was a good year for him as he also made the excellent "The Last Wagon" with the under rated director Delmer Daves. He and Sturges also went on to make the very good "The Law and Jake Wade". William Campbell plays a cocky young gunfighter with the interesting handle of Johnny Cool. With a name like that you just know he's gonna be fast on the draw! Donna Reed whose career was on the wane, was still very beautiful in her role as a rose of the prickly variety. Then we have a whole rogues gallery of character actors that seem to have been shipped in off the set of "The Far Country" made by Anthony Mann the year before. John Mcintire, Robert J Wilke, Harry Morgan and Jack Lambert all appeared in that film as heavies. Harry Morgan it has to be said was about as scary as Kermit the frog, and was a rather unlikely brother to the physically imposing Wilke. Reed admittedly does look a bit too immaculately manicured for frontier Arizona circa 1870, and why oh why didn't that Apache Indian just shout for his mates when engaging in mortal combat with Widmark??? But hey, it's only a film right! The film was made in vibrant technicolor that showcases the desert scenery to good effect. This is a strong western that runs against the normal conventions of the genre and is all the more refreshing for that. I can only heartily endorse the other positive reviews. Well worth watching.
A special mention should be given to the strong cast. Widmark is excellent as our hard bitten hero, bringing in his own unique brand of snarling cynicism which nobody did better. 1956 was a good year for him as he also made the excellent "The Last Wagon" with the under rated director Delmer Daves. He and Sturges also went on to make the very good "The Law and Jake Wade". William Campbell plays a cocky young gunfighter with the interesting handle of Johnny Cool. With a name like that you just know he's gonna be fast on the draw! Donna Reed whose career was on the wane, was still very beautiful in her role as a rose of the prickly variety. Then we have a whole rogues gallery of character actors that seem to have been shipped in off the set of "The Far Country" made by Anthony Mann the year before. John Mcintire, Robert J Wilke, Harry Morgan and Jack Lambert all appeared in that film as heavies. Harry Morgan it has to be said was about as scary as Kermit the frog, and was a rather unlikely brother to the physically imposing Wilke. Reed admittedly does look a bit too immaculately manicured for frontier Arizona circa 1870, and why oh why didn't that Apache Indian just shout for his mates when engaging in mortal combat with Widmark??? But hey, it's only a film right! The film was made in vibrant technicolor that showcases the desert scenery to good effect. This is a strong western that runs against the normal conventions of the genre and is all the more refreshing for that. I can only heartily endorse the other positive reviews. Well worth watching.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Above average Western!
This Western was above expectation! 'Backlash' is certainly among the best: there is more plot, a lot of action scenes, drama, good acting, and realistic dealing with the plot's... Read more
Published 8 months ago by R. Alberts
unusual western but great.
only watched this western for the first time a few weeks ago, richard widmark is great as usual i really loved it.
Published 9 months ago by ernie
BACKLASH
THIS IS A VERY GOOD WESTERN, AND RICHARD WIDMARK PLAYS THE PART VERY WELL, I GIVE THIS 5 STARS AND FOR ANYBODY WHO LIKES WESTERNS THIS IS AN EXCELENT MOVIE, THE SOUND IS VERY... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Mr. W. ROGERS
There's things a man has to know and has to do, and it's best that he...
Backlash (1956) is directed by John Sturges and adapted by Borden Chase from the novel written by Frank Gruber. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Spike Owen
A good western
Unusually, this is not only a good western, but is one with a good story line too. This is well worth adding to your western collection especially as this is rarely available and... Read more
Published 23 months ago by Aremess
Sturges codswollop
A typical load of nonsense from the very overrated Sturges who only directed one good film 'Bad day at black rock. Read more
Published on 24 May 2010 by MrViewer
YOU CAN COUNT ON WIDMARK.
i have yet to see richard widmark in a bad or even average western , if he plays a good guy or bad guy he always doe's a superb job. Read more
Published on 9 Oct 2009 by BUBS.
Near-perfect Western
This film has all the ingredients a good western should have,shootouts, marauding apaches,and a plot that contains intrigue and a twist that is not usually present in this type of... Read more
Published on 9 Oct 2009 by Stephen James
BACKLASH--A GREAT WESTERN CLASSIC
The 1956 colour Western-BACKLASH-is a great action-packed classic. It co-stars film legends-RICHARD WIDMARK-and the beautiful-DONNA REED-with an excellent supporting cast... Read more
Published on 2 Sep 2009 by Mr. W. J. Wright
Widmark
I was shocked as I have never seen R Widmark in a wester like this he was excellant as the good guy and there were plenty of old faces in it to keep you engrossed. Read more
Published on 27 May 2009 by K. Bruce
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