Plus mort que vif

Clint Walker is just out of prison after 18. He murdered a man and paid the price. Actually, he murdered a dozen, and so his hopes of getting a job, buying a ranch and never strapping on a gun again are futile. Instead, he becomes an attraction in Vincent Price's traveling shooting gallery. Because he hasn't handled a gun in almost two decades, he's slow and has poor aim; Price's assistant, Paul Hampton, is much faster and more accurate, but he has no reputation, and it eats at him.

The closing of the west was a frequent theme of the more ambitious American westerns of the 1960s, and ths is an examle of one; it's not just the west that's closing down, but its myth, of two-fisted fighters who face each other in the street, with only one walking away. This is a lesser example of the subgenre, but it's still good to watch, especially the scenes with Anne Francis as the woman Walker is sweet on, and who returns the feeling.

Despite its eccentric cast, MORE DEAD THAN ALIVE seems to be forgotten - for one thing, it's not even listed in the Leonard Maltin movie guide, and has never been released on video or DVD. Forgotten or not, it's one strange western! It starts off with a grisly (and lengthy) action sequence where the blood flies, then becomes sedate until near the end, where it suddenly turns grisly and bloody again! Inbetween it's a somewhat meandering but occasionally interesting western, with some bizarre directorial touches (like how many times a cut to another scene is done by someone or something walking straight up to the camera), but all the same has you wondering how this sympathetic ex-gunfighter will end up. You probably won't guess it, considering how the final scene had my jaw slack right open! Probably still worth seeing just for the chance of viewing Vincent Price in a western.

I saw this film many years ago on TV and have never found it in any video store but would be well worth the rental fee for an evenings entertainment, if I could ever find it. Such is the impression it left me with. Around this time period, the Hollywood western had reached its nadir, what with Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid et al, and was on its way out. I can think of a couple other offbeat westerns that appeared around this time, but nothing quite like this. For one thing, you have Vincent Price in it! Vincent Price in a western?! This is not a horror film, but it does have an interesting story line with good pacing, tight direction and an unexpected ending. Clint Walker, a much under-appreciated actor, plays a former gunfighter trying to live in peace apart from his past. Price heads a traveling quick draw show that comes into town and this is where the fun begins. Anne Francis is the love interest, Paul Hampton (whatever became of him?) is very effective as the young gunfighter wannabe. Do not miss this if you get the chance.

More Dead Than Alive might not do much for a lot of western fans, and the reason for that is that it's so different from the rest of the genre. The western hero is meant to be big, strong, uncaring and a real sharp shooter; and in this film, that is everything that our central character used to be, and now he's going straight. For that reason, it might be more advisable to go into this film expecting more of a drama than a western as that's essentially what it is; a drama set in the once-wild west. Our central character is a man named Cain, who earned the nickname 'Killer Cain' thanks to the twelve notches on his revolver. After eighteen years behind bars, the killer is released but while he's no longer on the run from the law; he faces a different challenge as the West that put him behind bars is not the West that he's being released back into, and he quickly discovers that getting a job with his reputation is not the easiest thing to do. The only man who wants to employ him is circus ringmaster Ruffalo; but Cain lacks practise and the young assistant Billy is a better shot.

Aside from provide a different sort of western, the film also tries to do a few other things and unfortunately there just isn't time for it all. There's a romance angle which stems off the main plot and that doesn't get nearly enough time spent on it, while the action sequences we do get feel more like an afterthought. My main reason for seeing this film is undoubtedly the presence of the great Vincent Price, who gives a memorable performance in a supporting role. Clint Walker takes the lead role and while it's not a standout performance and he looks a little young and clean to have been behind bars for eighteen years; he does make for a likable lead. Paul Hampton is a real standout, however, as the cocky young villain of the piece. The film provides good entertainment for the duration and it's not exactly taxing stuff, which ensures that the film is always enjoyable enough. The ending was a bit of a disappointment to me as certain characters were killed by the wrong people; but all in all, this is a memorable film and is recommended if you want a decent hour and a half of entertainment.

More Dead Than Alive turns out to be a surprisingly entertaining and fairly well-acted B movie.

Clint Walker gives his typical "gentle giant" performance as Killer Cain, a convicted murderer who is released after 18 years in prison. After a senseless prison shootout in the beginning of the movie, you expert this film to be nothing more that a "shootem-up". However, once Walker's character is released from prison, the movie becomes a well-acted drama about such topics as prison reform, parole, murder, hero worship, forgiveness and the desire for fame.

More Dead Than Alive's best performance is from Horror King, Vincent Price as Dan Ruffallo, a carnival barker with a traveling gun show. It's one of Price's best latter career performances.

The kicker in More Dead Than Alive is the shocking surprise ending. So, if you're a fan of Clint Walker or Vincent Price, More Dead Than Alive is the film to see.