The Unforgiven (1960)

Cover for 2003 DVD release

Somewhere between social commentary, and ill-advised love story, that is where The Unforgiven finds itself.  Which is a shame, because it starts out as a relatively strong classical Hollywood Golden Age western, but somewhere around two thirds through, it pushes strong to become a love story, between a man (Burt Lancaster) and his stepsister (Audrey Hepburn).

It fails to find its own identity, plain and simple.

Whether Hepburn's mid-shoot accident (she broke her back after falling from a horse) or her seemingly connected miscarriage, or the reported backstage bickering between the director and producers regarding the direction of the film are to blame for its failings, the truth is simply and plain, it fails.

The studio marketing machine seemingly attempted to save the production by framing it as a love story between Burt Lancaster and his Sister, but believe me when I say that apart from a couple of set-up dialogues along the way, this is more a western about broad racism and mob mentalities than about love stories.

It seems to come 10 years too early for it's subject matter, a subject which Hollywood, in its dying gasps could not handle.  It would take a complete meltdown, a la Clepatra (1963) [et al] and a complete redrawing of battle lines in Hollywood with Easy Rider (1969) and Bonnie and Clyde (1967) for these movies to seem less contrived.

Poster for Theatrical Release

Historic pragmatism aside, The Unforgiven ultimately falls short on delivery; not enough Audrey Hepburn screen time, not enough outward action (compared to another 1960 release, The Magnificent Seven) and most definitely not enough of a satisfying conclusion.

It is, after all. no wonder that John Houston (2 time Academy Award Winner) claimed this to be his bastard stepchild, and denounced the film to his dying breath.

Save yourself the time and watch The Magnificent Seven (1960) or skip forward and watch Dustin Hoffman in Little Big Man (1970).