Welcome to Hard Times

Director: Burt Kennedy Burt Kennedy

Overview

The mayor and residents of the frontier town of Hard Times are repeatedly terrorized by the actions of "The Man from Bodie," a sadistic and deadly outlaw. Eventually, however, a hero arrives to save the day. This unusual, symbolic western was adapted from a story by E.L. Doctorow.

Product Details

Release Date:	02/09/2012
UPC:	0883316448113
Original Release:	1967
Rating:	NR
Source:	Warner Archives
Region Code:	A
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Language:	English
Time:	1:43:00
Sales rank:	6,208

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Aldo Ray	Man From Bodie
Henry Fonda	Mayor Will Blue
Janice Rule	Molly Riordan
Keenan Wynn	Zar
Janis Paige	Adah
John Anderson	Ezra/Isaac Maple
Warren Oates	Jenks
Fay Spain	Jessie
Edgar Buchanan	Brown
Denver Pyle	Alfie
Michael Shea	Jimmy Fee
Arlene Golonka	Mae
Lon Chaney Jr.	Avery
Creighton Chaney	Avery
Royal Dano	John Bear
Alan Baxter	Jack Millay
Paul Birch	Mr. Fee
Dan Ferrone	Bert Albany
Paul Fix	Major Munn
Elisha Cook Jr.	Hanson
Kalen Liu	China
Ann McCrea	Flo
Bob Terhune	1st Drinker
Ron Burke	Young Miner
George Bruggeman	Miner
Michael Jeffers	Miner
Chuck Roberson	Miner Fighting Bert
Earl Spainard	Miner

Technical Credits

Burt Kennedy

Burt Kennedy	Director,Screenwriter
Max E. Youngstein	Producer
David Karr	Producer

Editorial Reviews

Welcome to Hard Times is a film that tends to divide audiences. There are some who view it as a minor masterpiece of a Western. Like many other "oaters" of the 1960s, it's revisionist, looking at the Old West with a jaundiced eye and turning many of its formulas on their head for an examination of their inner workings, and putting them back together in a way that may be unexpected. Those who object to this treatment are unlikely to "get into" Welcome, especially because it's a "downer" that focuses so much attention on its message and method that many will feel it has left out entertainment value. Indeed, the film spends a lot of time setting up a villain so vile that viewers surely long for his comeuppance; yet when that comeuppance occurs, it's unsatisfying, leaving many viewers uncomfortable for wanting it so badly. This, of course, is intentional, but it's also understandable why some audience members will object to it. That said, for those who appreciate this style, there's a great deal to ponder and to study in Welcome. The cast generally pleases, with Henry Fonda an excellent choice to portray the morally ambiguous mayor and Aldo Ray an excellent sadist. Janice Rule's accent is annoying, but Keenan Wynn does quite well as the man whose brothel rejuvenates the town. There's also fine work from Warren Oates, Edgar Buchanan, Janis Paige and Denver Pyle.