Decent tale of revenge elevated by Eatwood's presence and some more thoughtful than expected questions about where justice ends and revenge begins, and the weight of maintaining law and order.

Pretty straight forward and how you imagine it to be, is probably exactly how it is. Eastwood is cool, but doesn't quite have the same swagger he has in Leonne's films. There's not enough humour in it. Nobody has their hat shot off (boo!) and it ends kind of abruptly.

But it delivers what you want from a straight western, and has your typical good guys vs bad guys plot, but with a little bit more ambiguity involved. It just kind of rolled through the plot without ever stopping to breathe.

Not the best. Strong first half, bad middle and boring climax. It seems like the star was Eastwood's crazy eye stare and the way the lit it.

Interesting relationship between the lawman, law and judge. But it feels like this isn't one coherent film. I would have watched an entire movie of crazy Bruce Dern and Clint Eastwood wandering in the desert. Too bad.

It sort of just ends at an odd place. Now I know why I only ever remember the first half.

A strong first half was somewhat ruined by a boring, anticlimactic second act. Clint Eastwood gave a strong performance and the directing by Ted Post was sufficient, but the script ran thin. However, it still had a great score and isn't a complete waste of time.

Unconvincing American attempt to do a spaghetti western. On paper it's all very good, with a good cast (with a nice pre-much fame Dennis Hopper bit part), decent plot and top form Eastwood, but it just lacks conviction and flair.

I'm a sucker for epic hymnal musical shots on & around a gallows.

Decent tale of revenge elevated by Eatwood's presence and some more thoughtful than expected questions about where justice ends and revenge begins, and the weight of maintaining law and order.

Quite a good attempt at making an American spaghetti western at first, but it quickly loses steam and never quite recovers.

B+

Opening is kind of laid-back and prolonged for a near fatal hanging (imagine watching The Good, the Bad and the Ugly in reverse......not quite the same positive built-up effect, is it?); the picture gets a bit obsessed itself with male cowpokes facing the noose of justice as far as screen time, and the presence of Hingle as a superior in law enforcement called most unflattering comparisons to Eastwood's The Gauntlet (1977) dud a little too much for complete comfort, imo.........but the performances are sharp (Bruce Dern has an entertaining bit part as a nasty, kamikazeish rustler), Inger Stevens is quite decent at minimum as Rachel the female lead and so much of it thrives with the younger righteous Eastwood spirit he showcased so unforgettably in his films with Leone, with a nice helping of tasteful romance worked in. It's too bad Post became something of a wastrel, going on to direct such lifeless dreck like Magnum Force...... (76%)

more of a john ford style of a movie than sergio leone's one... i prefer dirty and gritty westerns therefore i didnt enjoy clints first movie after the dollar trilogy... only his charisma and a good soundtrack keeps it watchable....