Black Patch

source: Black Patch

Moviecut—Black Patch

Black Patch

This felt like the studio got a pretty good first draft of a script in their hands and decided to make a low budget western out of it without much thinking. There were a lot of factors about this film that showed it could have worked great but the direction was lacking throughout the movie to build up any of the aspects that were actually working. Even though it is from the late 50s Hollywood it feels early 40s at best. There are a lot of backstories established but the characters are not given time to show the effect of it. Other characters are suddenly thrust upon without proper development. The acting feels somewhat restricted. Even with all of these problems, there was some genuineness in the writing that could have saved the film. But the film ends abruptly just before the anti-climax that was being built up throughout the second half of the film. It felt almost like they ran out of the given budget and decided to wrap it up at that point.

In a small western town, a one eyed marshal (George Montgomery) keeps the peace. When his old friend (Leo Gordon) runs into trouble he rides into town. They both once loved the same woman (Diane Brewster) and when the friend is found murdered, the marshal is suspected of being the murderer. A somewhat offbeat western tightly directed by Allen H. Miner and from a script by Gordon who play's Montgomery's friend. A western that is quite dark in tone and mood and is worth a viewing.

Black Patch is a routine western notable for being the first film scored by Jerry Goldsmith, a composer who would go on to some very great things indeed: Planet Of The Apes, Papillon, Chinatown, The Omen, Alien, Total Recall, Basic Instinct, L.A. Confidential and hundreds more. Naturally, Black Patch doesn't sound anything like those works, but Goldsmith's characteristic voice is unmistakable, if not yet fully formed. Despite only being in his late twenties, Goldsmith wrote music that indicated a fledgling dramatic sensitivity and intelligence that would blossom into the hallmarks of his career. So, for the composer at least, it was a good start musically even if the film itself was modest.

An offbeat Western. Scripted by Gordon, who also takes the role of the friend turned bankrobber that marshal Montgomery is accused of murdering for the Money, Black Patch is directed with verve by Miner, a protégé of Robert Aldrich. Pittman contributes a distinctly modern interpretation of his role as the distraught teenager who faces up to Montgomery at the climax. Phil Hardy

Star George Montgomery produced this film from a script by cast member Leo Gordon. This is one grim western abut a one eyed marshal whose name is not Rooster Cogburn. Montgomery who used to be on the other side of the law and is now a strict law and order marshal not popular with all the elements in the town. He gets a visit from Leo Gordon and Diane Brewster husband and wife who eahc have history with Montgomery. Our villain is Sebastian Cabot with cheesy cajun French accent who has Gordon killed with a bad gun during a jailbreak because he's hoping to find Gordon's stolen loot Montgomery's reputation suffers as public opinion sours on him. The final piece is young Tom Pittman, ne'er do well orphan kid who is the one you'll remember from Black Patch. Pittman gives a truly sensitive performance as a mixed up kid being used for nefarious purposes. A western with some most adult themes.

In the 1950s and 60s, Leo Gordon was a very busy actor...mostly playing villains. What I didn't know until I saw "Black Patch" was that in addition to acting, Gordon wrote screenplays...and so he not only appears in the film but wrote it! When the film begins, Hank (Gordon) and Helen Danner arrive in town. Soon, he and the marshall, Clay Morgan (George Montgomery), meet up to talk about old times. Morgan is also surprised to see that Hank married Helen...a woman who once loved Clay. Soon after this meeting, a sheriff and his deputy arrive in town....looking for a bank robber. Well, the robber ends up being Hank...and Clay is loathe to get involved. Soon Hank is jailed...and he apparently DID rob the bank. What's next? Well, a LOT! While I generally liked the film, the end of the story left me a bit let down. It just felt abrupt and hard to believe...which is a shame, considering the movie is rather original and worth seeing otherwise.

George Montgomery starred in several interesting westerns in a career that spanned several decades. This film, scripted by co-star Leo Gordon, was a very interesting change of pace for both. Montgomery plays a one-eyed lawman, who once loved the woman now married to the character played by Leo Gordon. Gordon and Montgomery interact with great chemistry, varying between friendship and jealousy. Leo Gordon was one of the great western villains and a pretty decent writer of scripts. In this film, he steals the show ---- playing a more sympathetic and well-rounded sort of cowpoke. Not a great film, but western fans will like this one.