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I really enjoyed Red Headed Stranger, which is a great movie project for Willie Nelson. The film has some similarities to Clint Eastwood's Pale Rider. Obviously, both films have preacher characters that stand up for justice (and deliver, Old Testament style). Willie Nelson's Shay shows more vulnerability and is not as hard ( invincible) as Clint. Well, nobody did westerns quite like Clint. The film here is pretty solid and showed how violent and corrupt the untamed land could be. The movie looks great and is paced well with a mix of Willie Nelson's music to go alongside the story. Western icon RG Armstrong gives one of his best performances as Sheriff Scoby. Morgan Fairchild is some serious eye candy as The Preacher's ill fated wife. Everything here was done well in my opinion and I really enjoyed watching this.

Based on the album by the same title, Willie Nelson stars as a preacher who goes by the name of "Julian Shay" who has recently married and subsequently sent out west to the small town of Driscoll, Montana. Unfortunately, when they get to their destination both he and his bride, "Raysha" (Morgan Fairchild) soon realize that their new hometown is extremely cold and inhospitable. This prompts Julian to roll up his sleeves and get to work. Raysha, on the other hand, wants nothing to do with it and leaves at the first opportunity. This is when the trouble really begins. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this was a strange but interesting movie primarily due to the acting of R. G. Armstrong (as "Sheriff Reese Scoby"), Royal Dano ("Larn Claver"), the aforementioned Willie Nelson and the presence of two beautiful actresses like Katherine Ross ("Laurie") and Morgan Fairchild. On the flip side, the story itself could have used a bit more substance and character development which might have helped it to seem less raw and to flow more smoothly from one scene to the next. In any case, it was still entertaining for the most part and I rate it as slightly above average.

When one thinks of singers trying to act, the first culprits that come to mind are Frank Sinatra in "From Here to Eternity" and "The Manchurian Candidate", or Elvis Presley in anything. Usually, the crossover does not work because a particular kind of singer may just have too much personality (or "baggage") to fit himself into a particular role.

Here, though, the transfer works, and it is a result of the kind of singer Willie Nelson was, and always has been. His style of delivery as a musician is all understatement, quiet nuance, and behind-the-beat phrasing. There is a sort of conversational verisimilitude in his singing that crosses over into acting (screen acting, at least). His style of singing is almost the equivalent of the "method" school of acting -- it is all psychological and physiological recall.

So, Nelson is nearly perfect as Parson Shays, for that reason, and for another; the character was already fully-realized in the musical album version of "The Red-Headed Stranger." The screenplay is largely just a fleshing-out of Nelson's narrative vision. If you doubt that, give the album another listen; it has a surprisingly coherent, and direct storyline that connects all of the songs (even several not penned by Nelson himself, most particularly Hank Williams's "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain").

Now, of course, the question still remains: how good is the story itself, and how well has it been rendered on-screen? This is not a Western on par with Leone's, Ford's, or Eastwood's. Nor it is meant to be. It is, however, remarkably well-crafted bit of movie-making. For those who object to the seemingly amoral content (the murdering of women), the only response is that a piece of narrative fiction is not a sermon, and artistic judgment is not the same as moral judgment. Furthermore,the old-school, "white hat/black hat" type of Western was already on its way out around the time of "Shane."

Not much dialog for a movie that I enjoyed. The music was excellent, I guess because I like Willie Nelson. Sad and reflective. It shows how a person can change not just from good to bad but back again. Willies expressions were always sad and for the most part the movie was to.

It must have been an absolute delight for Willie Nelson to be in a position to turn his classic Red Headed Stranger album into a movie. The greatest country album of all-time serves as the soundtrack and, like the record, the film moves at a steady pace through a story saturated with heartache, revenge and redemption. Nelson's acting has certainly improved since his earlier efforts, while the still-beautiful Katharine Ross turns in a charming performance. The production values are a little lacking, but the story more than makes up for it. Add a half-star to the rating.

I love this movie because I like the music and feel it is probably the best one Willie ever did. Willie Nelson is as good an actor as he is a singer and this movie made me appreciate that all the more. The songs are ones you can sing along to and that is a real bonus. The plot, the scenery is all real. R.G. Armstrong, who is noted for strong performances as a bad guy is exceptional, especially in the bar scene where he wants the young man to kill him. Look into those eyes!!!! Morgan Fairchild and Katharine Ross don't hurt anything either. I have seen this movie several times, never get tired of it. Maybe because beyond the music I feel Willie's pain and can relate to the frustrations of the preacher.

Average western drama highlighted by the always welcome presence of charismatic Willie Nelson in the lead role. The story is simple but effective for western style: a preacher (Nelson) became a furious and violent gunman after his wife (Fairchild)leaves him for another man. As a gunman, he must fight against cruel landowner (Dano) and his violent sons for the right of use of a water fountain in a distant and poor town.

Good scenes of fight and a decent photography made this one really watchable. A bit too predictable and slow at same points. But the good cast (R.G. Armstrong, as Nelson' old friend is terrific)is another great background.

Along with Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson has been making films as well as albums for years. _Red Headed Stranger_, an idea based on the album of the same name, is pretty much spaghetti-western fare. Nelson plays a preacher, his band plays the bad guys, Morgan Fairchild plays the wife and the carnage begins.

While certainly not Oscar-worthy, it is a must see for any true Nelson fan. I recommend getting some friends, a Willie-style "cigarette", a bottle of whiskey and this movie. Featuring tracks from the album _Red Headed Stranger_, the soundtrack is better than the film. Another notable film is _Honeysuckle Rose_, where Nelson plays basically himself.

All in all, cheesy fun. And, the film was shot in Texas, behind Nelson's Perdenales recording studio and golf club.

Moves slowly as some have pointed out and Willie ain't exactly Gary Cooper, but the general plot line too many bitch about is hardly as off the wall as most of Eastwood's or Peckinpah's stuff. Royal Dano plays a great villain, and some of the lines are priceless. I particularly like the one where Katherine Ross asks (paraphrase) if a horse is worth a man's life and Willy answers "can't say- didn't know him." Now THAT is a moral tale.

The closing gun fight scene is realistic and the old town looks like many did. Costuming is fine and the armorer did a good job. Willy's character is too complex for Willy to play completely well and Morgan Fairchild seems out of place, but that's probably why she ran away.

Better than many and worth a two hour viewing.

Emil Franzi, Tucson

This independent western has generally been dismissed by critics. It certainly has some big faults - some terrible direction (some key scenes are shot *at a distance*), and yes, Morgan Fairchild is indeed awful in her role.

I would say that one of the biggest faults of the movie, however, is with its pacing - this is a *very* slow-moving movie, and with a total running time of about 110 minutes, this slowness becomes even more deadly. The other big fault I had with the movie is that we never know what's going on in the head of Willie Nelson's character. His preacher character doesn't have that much dialogue, and what he says doesn't really give us that much insight into him. The explanations to the big decisions the character therefore decides upon remain a mystery.

Nelson isn't a great actor, but he manages to be watchable here by keeping his performance low-key. And even though the movie has its deadly slow pace and all those other problems, I did find it watchable - though in the sense of something being watchable during a boring weekend. Plus, there is occasionally some good stuff to see. For instance, the production values are dead on - all the weathered and rickety buildings look like they were indeed built in the middle of nowhere over a century ago. The cinematography is pleasing as well.

Verdict: Will do the job... but only for those who love westerns, have a high patience level, and have nothing else to do.

I was surprised this was released in 1986 as watching it the film felt much more like a western from the early 70's in both tone and filming style. I don't know if this was planned or due to the limited budget but either way it perhaps helps and gives the film some more charm.

It opens, and indeed the first hour, is very mild mannered and quite a family friendly western story... I won't go beyond that but I did find the change of pace and tone jarring initially. However by the end of the film it all actually all works well.

There is a great performance by R. G. Armstrong given more room to act here than his normal roles often gave him. Other than perhaps Barbarosa, I've never been 100% convinced by Willie as an actor, that said his charm shines through every scene and he's always very watchable.

I very much enjoyed this film, it is flawed and a tiny bit dated, watching it you do wonder quite how the marriage at the beginning of the film ever came to be. But while the pace is perhaps leisurely as it opens the story does keep moving and there are a lot of great original scenes and great performances. And there is the music too of course.

Let's get two things straight before we begin.

First - Willie Nelson is a great singer, writer, and composer of music. Second - Willie Nelson cannot act.

This inability to act can be seen throughout the movie as the director cuts away from Mr. Nelson's facial expressions during so many of the scenes. The director William D. Wittliff probably saw the expression on Willie's face as he waited for his next line and the look of confusion at the end of each take while going through the dailies. This would explain the camera cutting away from Willie's face so quickly after he says his lines. Any one who even bothers to write a detailed review on this movie's meaning or values, should get a reality check. There are none! Two words for this movie: "Don't Bother" It is without a doubt a waste of good film, makeup, costumes, and realistic looking sets. There is absolutely no legitimacy to this movie what so ever! Not even a comic book adventure is as far fetched as this debacle. Here we have a so-called preacher (Willie Nelson), come to a town and try to make right of the wrongs that he sees (the town needs water). He preaches and he is "holier than thou" at this point in the movie. Then he loses his mind and kills his wife. Thereupon, he becomes docile again and meets Laurie (Katherine Ross). Are we to believe after the preacher kills his wife and her boyfriend that the character of Laurie would just put that to the side and have anything to do with this schizophrenic. Let's get real here. Next, we have sheriff Reese Scoby (R.G.Armstrong) track Willie down and shoot him. After that, they become best friends. Now the preacher becomes violent again. He can now go back and can kill everyone who he did not kill in the beginning of the movie. DUH!!! William D. Wittliff tries to pass Mr. Nelson's character of Reverend Julian Shay as a hero, but in reality he is just a "psychopath". Anyway, you get the point. "What we've got here is... failure to communicate" (I apologize, I could not resist taking that line from "Cool Hand Luke") The failure is definitely on the part of William D. Wittliff and his inability to write and direct. I would suggest that the reason Mr. Wittliff had a success three years later with the magnificent epic, "Lonesome Dove" was due to the exquisite writing of Larry McMurtry and the masterful directing of Simon Wincer.

This is a decent Western, definitely not in the elite tier, but respectable. I was surprised that it plays out more like an Eastwood classic than the concept album it is named after. The events of the album are a little understated here, we get a visual representation of some of the lyrics with the actual songs overlaid as if narrating the scenes, but not much more development. In fact I would say that is the pain point of the film; character development. We never really learn much about Julian, "the stranger", and the film never really substantiates the relationship with his wife or the man she runs off with. Otherwise, a passable piece of entertainment.

This is a story about a preacher man who speaks what he understands to be the truth and willing to work hard to accomplish good. He sees trouble, understands it for what it is, and with courage meets it head on. With words or with action, he sticks to his beliefs. "I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves."

Unfortunately, he fails to see a truth too close to his heart until after it's too late, then the reality sets in and turns his heart to stone. He then goes about making payments where payments are due, hard and cold, in the only way his heart will let him. Along the way he comes across another kindred soul. The resulting reflection gives him pause. Katherine Ross later asks him, "What made you do that? Just show up here that one day and start plowing?" To that, Willie Nelson replies, "I guess I had already gone as far as I could go the other way."

After reverting to rightness he has what one could interpret as a final relapse. In working to help another man recover his pride, Nelson's character goes back to make one final payment and close all accounts.

This film didn't get high ratings but it can be riveting in its delivery. Haunting lyrics sung by Nelson himself parallel the film's drama. The single and slow guitar notes are genius. Danger is portrayed as much more than mere physical peril. Action is brutal and cold. The film's slow pace makes it a dramatic effort, with hard action for good measure. Location properties look genuine. It must have taken good work and attention to details to get them to look so real. Camera shots are good enough. Interestingly, the overall film's style resembles Sam Peckinpah in "The Wild Bunch" (1969). Although "Red-Headed Stranger" is not the best Western, it's pretty good. I consider this Nelson's best film, the ratings notwithstanding.

A mystery remained unexplained. Looking at life from his perspective with equivalent responses, how did he become a preacher? What did he do before choosing the life of a preacher?

This film was released in 1986. My short research revealed the soundtrack came from his vinyl album "Red-Headed Stranger" which came out in 1975 causing trepidation among Columbia Records management before its release. Recorded in Texas, it cost Willie $20,000 and he used his personal seven-piece touring band. All management fears disappeared after the album was released and it "launched Willie into the stratosphere," after years as a hit songwriter and modestly successful singer. [paraphrased and quoted from a review by Rich Kienzle]. So, the album came first, then the film 11 years later. Good match. Good film.

Watched> Friday, 8th August, 2025 @ Edge Water Studios. Rated 3.5 * * * Good to Very Good < Cert. 15 > Not Released in the UK. This Western was Part Produced, Soundtrack, and Acted by Country Music Legend Willie Nelson, who plays the lead role really well as a Reverend/Preacher Man. He his a good God fairing man, turned Killer. This is a really gritty style western, as you would expect back in the days of the wild west of America, during the 19th Century. The Outlaws working on the farm in their dirty ragged clothes, come across the Reverend, in this small dirty run down town, with just a saloon, supply store, and a number of shacks that the towns folk live in, and a stable for the horses. The clash of the bad guys and the Reverend brings big trouble between them. RECOMMENDED. (ps)

"Red Headed Stranger" ends up being a very good movie. It does suffer from a small budget but that's noticed less and less as the movie goes on. Another problem is the casting. Many of the cast are either miscast or seem to be non-actors (including Willie's drummer Paul English). That said, there are some very good performances in this movie as well, with stand-out work by Willie Nelson and R. G. Armstrong. "Red Headed Stranger" takes a little while to get into its groove but it all leads up to a terrific last twenty minutes or so. Honorable mentions: a wet Morgan Fairchild and a very dreamy Marinell Madden.

Minister Willie Nelson and bride Morgan Fairchild are sent out west to a town where Royal Dano and his sons ride roughshod over everyone. Nelson leads the town in cleaning out the well and erecting a windmill to bring the water up. This destroys Dano's monopoly, so he and his boys come in to destroy it. They fail, and a man dies. This leads to a hanging. When Miss Fairchild runs off with another man, Nelson follows and kills them both.

Sam Peckinpah had been in talks to direct this revisionist western. Had he done so, i expect the camera would have been closer to the bloody action than writer-director William Wittliff places it. Nelson is very good in the role; he has one long speech asking G*d to smite the people interrupting his first service. After that he follows the dictum of talking low, talking slow and not saying much. There's also a very good role for Katharine Ross towards the end.

I loved this movie. Of course, anything starring Willie Nelson is bound to be FANTASTIC!!! The times were hard, simple but, exciting back in the Old West. No boring days back then. Soon I will be touring the west and hope to be able to make a stop in Luck, Texas (the down Willie built to film this movie). I just wish Willie would make more movies.

I LOVE Willie Nelson but Willie was stoned most the time & constantly forgetting his lines which is why I presume they keep cutting away. Extremely time consuming on the set! Saying that, his performance is fine for a non actor. Not great but even likeable. The set was full of inexperienced young drug infused crew. Teamsters were supplying copious drugs. Everyone was coked up & full of themselves. Everyone sleeping with everyone. It shows in the end result of film. Morgan Fairchild is a cringeworthy. So many female actors could have done this part well & the film justice. But as she's a mate of Willy, she got the job. Money was a factor obviously too. But many other actresses would have pulled this off for the same fee I'm sure. A very nice person though! They chose such weak LEAD female actors EXCEPT Catherine Ross who was totally wasted! RG Armstrong stands out as the sheriff & everyone was raving about him at the time. No one appreciated the sanity of Catherine Ross. Women generally were meat on this set. The editor was infatuated with Maribel Madden (Cindy Logan). She visited the editor frequently so he wouldn't cut her out of the film because of her terrible performance, (that was the news in close circles anyway). Don't think she's had a part since. It was all a bit of a mess!!

But the Art Direction and set dressing & costumes are superb, not exactly what draws me to a film! Could have been made so much better if they picked people who could act.

Willie played a peaceable man who is singled out for harassment by a group of thugs and killers. His life becomes a mess because of these people, making him cynical and hard. A good woman attempts to bring him back from his hard hearted ways. Very good western with a good message.

I love this movie but cannot find it streaming anywhere. Would like to know why or where can I find it streaming?