Welcome To Hard Times (DVD)

E.L. Doctorow's nontraditional Western comes to life in this 1967 adaptation from director Burt Kennedy and Henry Fonda. Fonda stars as aging sheriff Will Blue who finds his resolve faltering in the face of unrepentant evil. A nameless drifter (Aldo Ray as the 'Man from Bodie') terrorizes the aptly named town of Hard Times, freely killing, and raping. Finally, he decides to burn the town down as a parting gift and a reminder of their sheriff's inability to protect it. Vowing to rebuild the town to atone for his cowardice, Will rallies the few remaining residents around when another stranger arrives, bringing a brothel full of new life to the town. And then the Man from Bodie decides it's time for another visit. Also starring a veritable who's who of Western (and non-Western!) greats including Warren Oates, John Anderson, Royal Dano, Edgar Buchanan, Denver Pyle, Paul Fix, Elisha Cook Jr., Keenan Wynn and Lon Chaney, Jr.

• western