''The Last Hard Men'' is a 1976 Western film directed by Andrew McLaglen, based on the 1971 novel ''Gundown'' by

Brian Garfield Brian Francis Wynne Garfield (January 26, 1939 – December 29, 2018) was an Edgar Award-winning American novelist, historian and screenwriter. A Pulitzer Prize finalist, he wrote his first published book at the age of eighteen. Garfield went on ...

. It stars

Charlton Heston Charlton Heston (born John Charles Carter; October 4, 1923April 5, 2008) was an American actor and political activist. As a Hollywood star, he appeared in almost 100 films over the course of 60 years. He played Moses in the epic film ''The Ten C ...

and

James Coburn James Harrison Coburn III (August 31, 1928 – November 18, 2002) was an American film and television actor who was featured in more than 70 films, largely action roles, and made 100 television appearances during a 45-year career.AllmoviBi ...

, with supporting roles by Barbara Hershey, Jorge Rivero, Michael Parks, and Larry Wilcox in his screen debut.

Plot

In 1909 Arizona, Captain Sam Burgade has retired from his law enforcement career with the Arizona Rangers. Hoping for peace and quiet, he suddenly learns that his old enemy, Zach Provo, has escaped from a Yuma prison with other convicts. Zach Provo is a half-Indian outlaw who dreams of exacting revenge on Burgade, not only for putting him away, but for the death of his Indian wife who was killed in a crossfire years before. Burgade was shot by Provo and barely survived, but he later sent Provo to prison. Now out for revenge, Provo does not go after a cash shipment as Burgade expects, but instead kidnaps Burgade's daughter, Susan. The six escaped men form an ambush. Provo allows two of them to rape Susan in full view of Burgade and Brickman, assuming Burgade will show himself in an attempt to rescue her. In order to prevent him from doing so, Brickman knocks Burgade unconscious, and he is unable to intervene. With Brickman's help, they set a fire to smoke out the fugitives, Burgade is able to dispose of them one by one until only Provo is left. But he finds himself at gunpoint, then is shot by Provo several times and Provo is about to cut out Burgade's heart when he is able to retaliate at last with a handgun shooting Provo through his chest. The film ends with Susan and Brickman tending to Burgade's injuries.

Cast

as Sam Burgade *

as Zach Provo * Barbara Hershey as Susan Burgade * Jorge Rivero as Cesar Menendez * Michael Parks as Sheriff Noel Nye * Larry Wilcox as Mike Shelby * Thalmus Rasulala as George Weed *

Morgan Paull Morgan Paull (December 15, 1944 – July 17, 2012) was an American actor most notable for playing Dave Holden in the Ridley Scott film '' Blade Runner''. Early life Morgan Paull was born to a wealthy family in Wheeling, West Virginia and ...

as Portugee Shiraz * John Quade as Will Gant * Robert Donner as Lee Roy Tucker * Christopher Mitchum as Hal Brickman * Riley Hill as Gus Stanton

Production

Coburn said "“It was very hard to justify my character’s vendetta with Charlton Heston. He had no redeeming qualities. He was just out for revenge. The director was Andrew V. McLaglen. He knows how to go out, shoot a film and get it done. That’s about all. He’s another director for hire.”

Reception

Critical response

'' New York Times'' film critic, Richard Eder gave the film a mostly positive review, writing, "'The Last Hard Men" is not just a horse opera; it's practically Tristan and Isolde. Only the love-death relation isn't between a man and a woman but between a retired lawman and a half-breed Navajo who is obsessed with the notion of killing him ... Some of the chases are well done, particularly a night scene when the daughter tries to escape the bandits and is hauled back. I liked the dry performance of Michael Parks as the young sheriff who has more faith in his telephone than in old-fashioned shoot-outs.' '' Variety'' magazine said of the film, "The Last Hard Men is a fairly good actioner with handsome production values and some thoughtful overtones...The details of life at a crucial transition point in American history are well captured in the script and in the art direction."''Variety''
magazine, June 1, 1976.

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Last Hard Men, The 1976 films 1976 Western (genre) films 20th Century Fox films American Western (genre) films 1970s English-language films Films based on Western (genre) novels Films based on works by Brian Garfield Films directed by Andrew McLaglen Films scored by Jerry Goldsmith Films set in 1909 Films set in Arizona American historical films 1970s historical films 1970s American films