A Kinder, Gentler, Man With No Name

It's interesting to note that Clint Eastwood's career in big screen westerns was marked by a style that mocked and turned around the archetypes (or cliches if you will) of the traditional western, yet when he returned to the western after an absence of nine years, he not only made a very traditional western, but a
uncredited remake of "Shane." The result is a very watchable, if somewhat by the numbers oater.

The Plot: A small mining settlement is being harrassed by the hired muscle of local tycoon Coy La Hood(Richard Dysart). During one raid, 14 year old Megan Wheeler (Sidney Penny) sees her dog shot to death. When she goes off to bury it, she makes an emotional prayer. An evocative montage follows that suggests that the Lord has heard Megan's prayer, and is about to say "Yes!" in a loud clear voice.

After the raid, Megan's almost stepfather, Hull Barret (Michael Moriarty) goes to town to buy supplies, where we learn that the settlement is on it's last legs. Hull is accosted by La Hood's bully boys. The boyish high spirits are
soon broken up by the appearance of a (all together now) Mysterious Stranger (guess who). Well, Hull is grateful and invites the stranger to his cabin for "three hots and a cot." This decision does not sit well with Megan's mother, Sarah (Carrie Snodgrass) who thinks he's a gunfighter, until the stranger comes into dinner with a clerical collar.

As expected, Preacher (the only name he is known by the entire picture), unites and inspires the miners in their struggle. La Hood responds with temptation, blustering, and finally the threat bring a "marshal" (hired killer, really) named Stockburn (John Russell). From Preacher's reaction it's obvious that he and Stockburn have met before.

From here we move on to the inevitable confrontation. And I think you all know how it's going to end.

On the down side, the movie is predictable, and often borrows whole scenes from Shane, without any mention that this is a remake. However, what balances it out is a beautiful mis en scene, with excellent use of the mountains as backgound, a strong, litertate, script, and good performances. The result is a movie that says a lot for Eastwood's ability as a director.

Eastwood's performance as an actor is pretty solid as well. This is not his usual "Man With No Name" movie. Preacher is a a softer, less cynical character, gentle and soft spoken, yet strong enough to wield a divided community of frightened people into action to preserve their rights. Yet, their are hints throughout the move that this is a man with a violent past. And when the final battle comes, Preacher shows that he has one thing in common with the Man With No Name, absolutely lethal combat and survival skills.

Sidney Penny pulls in a good performance as Megan, although creduality is somewhat strained by having her fall in love with a man over three times her age. But the scenes between her and Preacher are handled tastefully and gently, as Preacher tries to teach her the difference between love and gratitude, and she responds with anger and hurt feelings. Moriarty is also good as a little man forced to fight for his dignity, and delivers an eloquent speech in the middle of the picture. Carrie Snodgrass as Sarah is a little too screechy for my taste, but she manages to keep it under control, most of the time.

Richard Dysart's La Hood is by far the worst performance. His voice is a little too high pitched, and is otherwise unconvincing as a ruthless self-made frontier millionaire. It might have been better to cast him as a weaselly Easterner, but we're pretty much stuck with him as he is.

There is strong religious theme running through the movie (the title itself is taken from Revelations) , from the scene where Megan envokes the Lord, to the final battle, where Preacher proves that he is the avenging sword of the Lord. There is a sense of Himself moving in all things. To an extent Preacher is an angel, and not the nicey nice greeting card kind either. He is an Archangel, a warrior of God,out to smite the heathen. And smite he does with a mighty and pitiless hand.

So, in the end, this a good addition to the collection of any true western fan. It's not Eastwood's best, but it's not his worst either. It's a good, solid,
oater with a heart, and an action packed climax. And that's a lot to say for a movie.