A Time for Dying (1969)

If you know that this is the last western from one of genre's most beloved directors, Budd Boetticher, and also the last screen-appearance by war-hero-turned-actor Audie Murphy, it might come as a surprise that it is so little known. Two big names, but the film wasn't born under a lucky star: Murphy, who also produced, had troubles financing it (he actually had serious financial problems himself) and Boetticher only accepted to do the film because Murphy was a personal friend (*1). When it was finished, it was several minutes shorter than projected.  Murphy tried to collect funds to complete the film in post-production, but the project was aborted when he died, on May 28, 1971 in a plane crash. The whole thing was entirely forgotten until 1982, when it got a brief theatrical release (*2). 

Most heroes from Boetticher's more famous westerns (usually played by Randolph Scott) were desillusioned middle-aged men who continued their self-imposed mission, even if they knew their efforts were futile. The hero from this movie, Cas Bunning, is too young to be desillusioned, but he's a real Boetticher hero in the sense that he won't remain passive when he stumbles upon a sitiution in which an innocent and vulnerable person needs help. In a small Texas boomtown he saves a young woman from a life of shame and this decision will turn his young life upside down. 

The two are married by the permanently inebriated Judge Roy Bean and since they like each other, they seemed destined to lead a happy life, but Cas is mighty quick on the draw and his skills with the six-shooter attrack the attention of the notorious bandit Jesse James (played by Murphy) as well as a young man called Billy Pimple, who - like they say - ain't Billy the Kid, but sure wants to be. 

A Time for Dying is rather playful, with Victor Jory playing the historic judge Roy Bean in the style of Jerry Lewis. But in the end it's a deeply pessimistic film: even the cheerful judge is a tragic figure who dreams of the most beautiful girl in the world - the actress Lilly Langtry - but can only dance with the chair she once sat on. Cass seems to have no real aim in his life and since guns are the only things he knows he dreams of becoming a bounty hunter. His fate is a bit similar to the fate of B.J. Thomas's character Jocko in the film Jory (1973) who holds himself for a formidable gunslinger, but has actually never aimed his gun at a man. Like Jocko, Cass is mighty quick on the draw, but has never faced anyone in a duel and when he finally does, he is betrayed by his sweaty hands. 

The film is uneven and often looks like a TV movie. The sets look very cheap and if Lapp isn't too bad as Cas, he isn't very good either (Murphy originally wanted Peter Fonda for the part). But if you can overlook its obvious flaws, it's a thoughtful and poignant tale. There are several good scenes and the dramatic finale sure packs a punch; it's well-prepared but still might surprise viewers by its uncompromising bleakness. This may not be among Boetticher's very best films but there's no reason for western fans to neglect it. Moreover it's available on You Tube in very decent image and sound quality, so please give it a try.

Notes:

* (1) Boetticher clearly had his mind on other things, notably his film project about Mexican bullfighter Carlos Arruzza. Like Murphy, Boetticher ran into money troubles and things went so bad that he ended up in a Mexican jail because he couldn't afford his hotel bill (C. Courtney Joyner & Henry Parke on the audio commentary of the Creterion disc).

* (2) It was shown throughout Texas in 1969 and apparently a rough cut was shown the same year at the National Film Theatre in London (!), but due to legal problems it did not get a regular release until 1982. 

Written & directed by Budd Boetticher - Produced by Audie Murphy - Cast: Richard Lapp (Cas), Anne Randall (Nellie), Victor Jory (Judge Roy Bean), Bob Random (Billy Pimple), Audie Murphy (Jesie James), Beatrice Kay (Mamie)

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