The story of an outlaw named Pitman and who hides the bullion of his robbery into a snake pit. So the word game is very easy to find, isn't it? I have always appreciated this western very cleverly done by one of the most brilliant, intellectual US film maker ever: Joe Mankiewicz. But his last film: SLEUTH, remains the highlight. So back to this western, the only one from this director, it is very typical in the style of the early seventies, or even late sixties. See for instance Burt Kenendy's ones of this period. same look, same style, a mix-up between comedy and violence. I don't think John Wayne would have accepted to play Kirk Douglas' character. Maybe Hank Fonda's though.
Review of There Was a Crooked Man...
