While it's true that this is not a "typical western" in the sense that the good guy wins, kisses the girl and rides off into the sunset, I don't believe it's a remarkable movie.
Firstly, the typecasting of actresses such as Joan Blondell and Gloria Graham is obvious - they appear to be rehashing the roles they played in Other Men's Women and Human Desire, respectively. Claude Akins is a psychotic alcoholic. He's lucid enough to know there is money involved in the scheme against Chuck Connors, but impaired enough to be controlled by the others in the gang for most of the movie.
Bill Bixby's character is merely odd - a foppish, sadistic gigolo who develops some sort of conscience in the end. There is no rationale for his breakdown or his self-mutilation.
Paul Fix does well as a double-crossing scoundrel who receives justice at the hands of Claude Akins. His actions are out of character, as he has not shown much in the way of initiative up to this point. He, as well as the others, have taken their marching orders from Michael Renne.
The book and original story may have had more depth, but the movie version seems shallow and frankly, quite lazy, in its attempt to create a character-driven drama. It leans more toward Soap Opera (or Rope Opera, if you prefer) with heavy doses of gratuitous violence.
Firstly, the typecasting of actresses such as Joan Blondell and Gloria Graham is obvious - they appear to be rehashing the roles they played in Other Men's Women and Human Desire, respectively. Claude Akins is a psychotic alcoholic. He's lucid enough to know there is money involved in the scheme against Chuck Connors, but impaired enough to be controlled by the others in the gang for most of the movie.
Bill Bixby's character is merely odd - a foppish, sadistic gigolo who develops some sort of conscience in the end. There is no rationale for his breakdown or his self-mutilation.
Paul Fix does well as a double-crossing scoundrel who receives justice at the hands of Claude Akins. His actions are out of character, as he has not shown much in the way of initiative up to this point. He, as well as the others, have taken their marching orders from Michael Renne.
The book and original story may have had more depth, but the movie version seems shallow and frankly, quite lazy, in its attempt to create a character-driven drama. It leans more toward Soap Opera (or Rope Opera, if you prefer) with heavy doses of gratuitous violence.