Three Violent People (1956)

In THREE VIOLENT PEOPLE, Charlton Heston plays straight-laced rancher Colt Saunders, an ex-Confederate cavalryman coping with the land-grabbing tax policies of a greedy Reconstruction leader. Unbeknownst to him, he’s married to a former dance hall girl named Lorna (Anne Baxter) who's determined to hide her shady past and keep him thinking she’s a lady.

A GREAT MOVIE WITH THE WRONG TITLE

I'm a big classic movie buff, and this rates among my top favorites. Westerns, as a rule, aren't my style, but this one has enough romance to keep me interested. I have no idea why they named it 'Three Violent People'. If anything, this movie lacks the shoot-em-up scenes so common in westerns. None of the three main stars live up to the violent part, but they do fill their classic character parts well. The chemistry between Heston and Baxter is superb. September 1, 2008

Entertaining character Western in the tradition of "Duel in the Sun."

When Cault Saunders (Charlton Heston) proposed marriage to the 'flower of the Old South,' Lorna Hunter (Anne Baxter) was completely surprised...

'I'm looking for a wife, Miss Hunter. Do you want to get married?' But Lorna's answer was interrupted by Cault's long kiss...

When they arrived to his ranch - already married - Lorna is introduced to Innocencio (Gilbert Roland) his Mexican right arm...

When Lorna begins to familiarize with the place, Cault's brother, Cinch (Tom Tryon) appears on the scene, demanding his brother to sell portion of the ranch to any Northerner and to pay him his part in gold...

Lorna was curious why Cinch is 'one-armed.' Her husband, impressed, narrated: 'We were just kids when it happened. We were horsing around on the windmill platform on the south ranch. Cinch got his arm caught in the gears of the windmill. I had to amputate his arm.'

Soon, leaving the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, a stranger named Massey comes in sight... He identifies Lorna as a former saloon hostess from St. Louis... He tries to address some courteous words to her, but Lorna pretended ignorance...

Cable (Forrest Tucker) insisted in pushing Massey to acknowledge Saunders about the past of his wife...

Lorna admits her sin to Saunders, who was astonished... 'I'd get down on my knees if I thought it would help,' said Lorna, revealing then that she is going to have his baby...

In the meantime, the government soldiers were planning for possession of the ranch, and Cinch invites his brother to a showdown...

Heston is convincing as the untouchable in ethics, straight attitude toward upright conduct and honesty...

Anne Baxter is excellent in her role as the tarnished woman, offended in her dignity... I remember her when preparing to leave her husband, she warns him with this great truth: 'When you're raising the boy, try to remember something. That people aren't perfect. They make mistakes. And when they do, they suffer, they pay. So when he makes his mistakes, try to find it in you to forgive him.'

Tom Tryon seems reasonable, but avaricious and deceitful...

Gilbert Roland will be always remembered as the Great Mexican Latin Lover of the silent and sound screen...

Filmed in VistaVision and Technicolor, and directed by Rudolph Maté "Three Violent People" is an entertaining character Western in the tradition of "Duel in the Sun."

November 10, 2006

One of the best

This has to be one of my all-time favorite westerns.Mr.Heston is superior as the arrogant,want-his-way ranch owner and Ms.Baxter portrays a dancehall-turned-wife with such finesse when something happens that neither of them expected.Great movie June 22, 2006

Anna Christie in Reconstruction Texas

This is the story of an exConfederate officer, (Charlton Heston) who meets and impulsively marries a former dance hall lady, (Anne Baxter). He knows nothing of her past, but through the schemings of corrupt carpetbaggers who want his ranch, he soon learns all. He is furious and sends her away. His humor is not improved when she and his resentful younger brother try to make off with his prize herd of horses. But all ends well, when love and true character triumph.

This is a classic B western, made at the height of the "adult western" era. Ms Baxter's costumes are 50's cocktail dresses with long skirts. One wonders why this cast of heavy hitters, (Heston, Baxter, Gilbert Roland, Forrest Tucker, Tom Tryon) were featured in such a routine film. Although everyone does a professional job, the scenes have a stagey quality. Perhaps as "A viewer" suggested, Baxter and Heston were exhausted from their recent efforts in "The Ten Commandments."

Nonetheless, there are some interesting plot turns and great location photograpy. It is certainly one of the better movies of this type. The bottom line is go ahead and see it. November 26, 2005

Three Violent People Applause

One of my favorite movies of all times! Looked everywhere for it, and finally found it! Absolutly one of a kind, and very creative in the way of westerns. October 20, 2003

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