Kampf ohne Gnade

I won't say the worst, because this is not that junk, garbage film, but it is easily forgettable, run of the mill western. It is outrageous to compare it with NO NAME ON THE BULLET, also with Audie Murphy, for instance. Only John Dehner, more than Murphy, brings some thing in this tepid film. It is only a bit touching because of the atmosphere and little music. I hardly watched it till the end of those eighty minutes. Yes, if you want to find something nearly worth the watch, search in the smooth, I would say oater, side of this film directed by a western maker. Don't lose you time with this one if you want to discover Audie Murphy in a good role.

An Audie Murphy Western from 1959. Murphy is drunk, playing cards in a saloon when a man, played by John Dehner, comes a-calling. It turns out Murphy's father has passed & left his ranch to him but Murphy left home a while ago on the outs w/his father so Dehner proposes to purchase the estate from him (he's cobbled together a collection from all the other ranch hands), all Murphy has to do is come back, sign over the deed & go his merry way but once he's among the people he left behind, specifically the girl, now a young woman, who jilted him at the altar, all his past transgressions melt away emboldening him to propose marriage, which she accepts. The fearlessness continues when he announces he's not going to sell & herd 3000 head of cattle to New Mexico (to pay off the debt his father had saddled the farm with). At first his workers/investors aren't too pleased but his determination to get the job done does impress even though there are those among them who would be willing to bump him off if a stampede could happen at the right time. Offbeat to be sure, Murphy rises to the challenge in a role not unlike John Wayne's in Red River (where a megalomaniac pushes his men to their limits) but Dehner is his equal as an old herder who's too stubborn to admit his past regrets must now swallow his pride for the good of the ranch. Also starring a couple of Dukes of Hazzard vets, Denver Pyle & James Best, as Murphy's reluctant workmen.

Murphy was a hero in World War 2, being the most decorated soldier of the war, but as an actor he left much to be desired. Black and white should have gone the way of the arc projector lamp by the 1950's! The film does have a good cast of character actors doing they're best to pull this film out of it doldrums. Ms. Moore seems out of place in this film, lacking her usual sensuality. John Dehner is his usual best as the stern character of the film, outdoing Murphy who's supposed to be the lead. James Best is in his heyday period and shows good acting. One wonders if Murphy being a co-producer has any bearing on the quality of this flick? I would recommend it to people who like typical westerns of the B class.

Back in those days of the 19th century the polite phrase in describing Audie Murphy's illegitimate birth was to say he was born on the left side of the blanket. I think this story came from the left side of the blanket.

Cast A Long Shadow has Murphy as the illegitimate son of the owner of the local Ponderosa who lives a wastrel life. As the film opens the foreman of said Ponderosa John Dehner pulls a drunk Murphy out of the saloon and tells him his father died and as he had no other family the whole thing is left to him.

Dehner was hoping it be left to him, but since it wasn't and Murphy just wants to keep on with his wastrel life, Dehner has built up a syndicate of sorts from the locals to purchase the place and keep Murphy in booze for a very long time.

What happens afterward, the way Murphy is treated by the townspeople no matter how their 19th century blue noses felt for a man who was to be their benefactor is just ridiculous. Only Terry Moore who Murphy once courted treats him well.

All Dehner's and the rest's plans go up in smoke for the unbridled contempt they hold him in and for another little joker in the deck that gets sprung on everyone. How it all is resolved is for you to see Cast A Long Shadow.

Try as I may I really could not accept people acting against their own rational self interest the way these people do when it comes to Murphy. Cast A Long Shadow will not be rated as one of Audie's better westerns.

At this Point in His Career Audie Murphy began to Show Personal Problems and Uneasiness with Films and Productions Available.

The Off-Screen Personal Problems, such as Gambling Debts and a Disgruntled Attitude Started to Manifest On-Set and On-Screen.

In this "Red River" (1948) Retread He seems Miscast as a Bully.

The Movie even Cribbed Scenes from the Aforementioned Cattle-Drive and Murph Thought the Script was Sub-Par.

Filmed in B&W, another Irritation that Didn't Sit Well.

Co-Star Terry Moore Encouraged Him to "Bite the Bullet" and Give it His All when Murph didn't even want to Rehearse.

That Helped a Little, but His Performance came Across as Below His Usual Standard.

John Dehner does a Good Job and the Rest of the Cast are OK.

But Thomas Carr's Lackluster Direction Didn't Help the Movie to Rise Above Average.

Overall, it's Not a Bad Movie, but Audie Murphy Fans may be Disappointed.

The 60's were Not Kind to the Former Super-Star and this one could be Seen as the Start of the Decline.

The Western Movie was also Suffering from Over-Exposure on the Big and Small Screen and would Soon be Out of Favor.

The End of the Decade Long Run was around 1962.

But After All this Being Said, its Still...

Worth a Watch.