Les diables du Sud

As with previous posts I agree that Lionel Jeffries was superb in this role playing a part far removed from what we are used to from him. James Booth also good, These were two of the 'baddies' and as such had strong roles. Richard Todd gave a good restrained performance in the leading role. Directed by Ken Annakin, one of my all time favourite directors, or at least partly directed by him. In his autobiography he reveals that well into the filming he was taken quite seriously ill and the remainder of the film was directed by Harold Huth and Clive Reed. Ken had given the cast 'carte blanche' to play the film as a tongue in cheek spoof and most were up to it but the rest of the film was directed with everyone playing straight. The critics panned the film for being 'uneven' - they knew nothing of Ken's illness. Ken also states that 'Irwin Allen's(the producer)girlfriend played the female lead - the less said about her the better' He doesn't elaborate Fortunately he recovered fully after his long illness and is still alive well into his 90s. I have just received a DVD of the film and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The Hellions according to some might well be considered Great Britain's first western although I think The Sheriff Of Fractured Jaw has a better claim. Ken Annakin better known for such Disney films with star Richard Todd like Robin Hood, The Sword And The Rose, and Rob Roy the Highland Rogue team together again for this film set in and shot in South Africa.

It's the post Boer War era in the Union Of South Africa and the place still has a frontier feel to it. A family of real bottom feeders, the Billings clan headed by Lionel Jeffries is coming to town to settle a score with the local constable Richard Todd. They're a lot like the Clantons from My Darling Clementine and the Cleggs from Wagonmaster from those John Ford classics.

In any event Todd who patrols the place unarmed gets his gun and wants some backup, but the town hesitates. Now he knows how Gary Cooper felt with those citizens of Hadleyville.

In the end however Todd gets some help from a most unlikely source a man just sick and tired of kowtowing to these killers who collectively are known as The Hellions.

Lionel Jeffries who usually plays comic village shows a savage side to him in The Hellions. Not something normally associated with him, but very good. Plaudits should also go to James Usys and Anne Aubrey as a husband and wife pair of storekeepers The Hellions intimidate.

Note the harmonica parts of the music score are from the blacklisted Larry Adler who was probably the only American associated with The Hellions. They were a nice touch.

As for the ending, think about the Frank Sinatra western Johnny Concho.

First saw it on screen 1963-64. Then later on ITV/BBC mid 70s. Enjoyed it more than High Noon - obviously has a similar plot. I remember the names of the sons Matthew, Jubo ?, Mark, Luke and John I think. Although I was 11 when I saw it it certainly stood apart from any other film I saw at that time. I think it was the combination of fine acting by Jeffreys and James Booth and to a lesser extent by Richard Todd. The entire score song sung by Marty Wilde remains registered on my memory. It deserves to go on DVD and to be viewed by younger audiences again on TV. I am not sure if other people share this view but 1960s vintage films were superior on average to what has been produced since - particularly compared to the past 20 years. One further comment - why are there no black artists in this film. The fact that it was based in South Africa was not disguised yet we only see white faces on screen. Is this possibly a reason why the film was not more widely distributed. Aparthid applied to a western film ?.

It is strange that most of the reviewers of this film who have given this a high score haven't seen it for over 30 years.If they get to watch it now they will be in for a shock.If it is a comedy western Richard Todd is in the wrong film.For some reason he allows the Hellions to humiliate him then disappears from the film till near the climax.Lionel Jeffrey's goes a bit over the top whilst James Booth seems to be rehearsing for his part in On The Double.Carry On Cowboy is a more authentic western and funnier.

I can't remember where I saw "The Hellions" but I know I was an early teenager back then. I also know I thought it was a great sort of western settled in small town in South Africa where a mean old men and his nasty four sons arrive and start abusing the locals. The place's lawman searchs for help among the town's men to deal with the menace (in a sort of "High Noon" style) but he was left alone.

Lionel Jeffries played the old man and he was very good as a villain in an uncommon role for him (he was usually casted in comedies or serious characters but rarely as a villain). James Booth played his older son Jubal (as mean and devilish as his father) and Richard Todd was the lawman in a blue uniform jacket.

I haven't seen this film ever since (not on theatres, TV, VHS or DVD) and people I usually talk about movies with don't even heard of it except for a cousin of mine that agrees it was a very good one.

As for me, I'll keep looking for it because I enjoyed it very much but also because I would like to have an adult view on it. One thing is for sure: if "The Hellions" is half as good as I can remember it will still be a little classic.