Backlash main backdrop
Backlash main poster

6.4/10 • 47

1956-03-141h 24m

Western

Was The SIXTH MAN The Secret To The Five Empty Graves?...the Answer waited in a woman's lips and watched from the shadows of a frightened town!

Jim Slater's father (whom he never knew) died in the Apache ambush at Gila Valley, and Jim is searching for the one survivor, who supposedly went for help but disappeared with a lot of gold. In the process, he gets several people gunning for him, and he keeps meeting liberated woman Karyl Orton, who may be on a similar mission. Renewed Apache hostilities and an impending range war provide complications.

Directors
John Sturges
Editors
Sherman Todd

Top Billed Cast

View Credits
  1. Richard Widmark

    Richard Widmark

    Jim Slater

  2. Donna Reed

    Donna Reed

    Karyl Orton

  3. William Campbell

    William Campbell

    Johnny Cool

  4. John McIntire

    John McIntire

    Jim Bonniwell / William Slater

  5. Barton MacLane

    Barton MacLane

    Sergeant George Lake

  6. Harry Morgan

    Harry Morgan

    Tony Welker

  7. Robert J. Wilke

    Robert J. Wilke

    Jeff Welker

  8. Jack Lambert

    Jack Lambert

    Benton

  9. Roy Roberts

    Roy Roberts

    Major Carson

Reviews2

View Reviews
John Chard Avatar

John Chard

Feb 10, 2017

7/10

There's things a man has to know and has to do, and it's best that he does them alone. Backlash (1956) is directed by John Sturges and adapted by Borden Chase from the novel written by Frank Gruber. It stars Richard Widmark, Donna Reed, John McIntire & William Campbell. It's shot in Technicolor by Irving Glassberg on location in Tuscon, Arizona. 1870 Arizona, and Jim Slater (Widmark) is searching for the truth about what happened to his father during the Apache ambush at Gila Valley. This brings him into contact with strong willed Karyl Orton (Reed), who courtesy of her missing husband also has an interest in the events of that raid. Missing family members and missing gold, the can is now open and worms are pouring out every where. It's about the writing and the characters here. From the off it should be known that this is no high octane actioner. We are dealing in a mystery, with what amounts to a detective story played out in a Western theme. It's a touch unusual but never less than interesting as Chases' unconventional script gives birth to a myriad of characters, some complex, others just stock genre story fleshers. There's some clichés spliced within the piece, but they are off set by some nice twists in the story. And while this is no Anthony Mann/Borden Chase psychologically tinted production, it doesn't cop out with its big decisions. Glassberg's cinematography is first class, really vibrant and bursting out from the screen as they nicely film it on location of where the story is set. The cast is real strong. Widmark is excellent as the tough as nails hero and Reed looks stunning whilst neatly essaying a prickly femme fatale type. McIntire gives another classy supporting turn and Campbell is enjoyably OTT as hothead gunslinger Johnny Cool. The principals have all done far better work in the genre, but this is a nice change of pace for all of them. It's unlikely to raise the pulses of the action seeking fan, but for those of a more literary persuasion this should hit the spot. 7/10

Media

  • Backlash poster
  • Backlash poster
  • Backlash poster
  • Backlash poster
  • Backlash poster
  • Backlash poster
  • Backlash poster

Recommendations

  • The Hill main backdrop

    The Hill

    7.5

  • Frankenstein Created Woman main backdrop

    Frankenstein Created Woman

    6.5

  • Murders in the Zoo main backdrop

    Murders in the Zoo

    5.8

  • Two Rode Together main backdrop

    Two Rode Together

    6.4

  • Broken Lance main backdrop

    Broken Lance

    6.4

  • Heavy Trip main backdrop

    Heavy Trip

    6.9

  • Hard Ground main backdrop

    Hard Ground

    4.1

  • Sway main backdrop

    Sway

    6.0

  • No Backdrop

    Revolution

    0.50

  • White Paws main backdrop

    White Paws

    5.4

  • Crawl main backdrop

    Crawl

    6.3

  • Darkland: The Return main backdrop

    Darkland: The Return

    6.4

  • 10 Days of a Bad Man main backdrop

    10 Days of a Bad Man

    6.5

  • Beethoven's 4th main backdrop

    Beethoven's 4th

    5.2

  • Force of Nature: The Dry 2 main backdrop

    Force of Nature: The Dry 2

    6.5

  • No Backdrop

    Ret

    6.3

  • Sex and Zen main backdrop

    Sex and Zen

    6.1

  • Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse main backdrop

    Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

    8.3

  • Gli onorevoli main backdrop

    Gli onorevoli

    6.8

  • One Magic Christmas main backdrop

    One Magic Christmas

    5.8

Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
$1,025,000.00
Revenue
--
Keywords
based on novel or booksearchapache nationnative americangunfight