Will Penny (1967)

82% of critics liked it
(11 reviews)
61% of users liked it
(1,469 ratings)

Rambling along at its own measured pace, Will Penny is a vivid western character study, completely dominated by the rapport between stars (Charlton Heston) and (Joan Hackett). Heston plays Will Penny, an aging and impoverished cowboy. With his cohorts Blue (Lee Majors) and Dutchy (Anthony Zerbe),… More Rambling along at its own measured pace, Will Penny is a vivid western character study, completely dominated by the rapport between stars (Charlton Heston) and (Joan Hackett). Heston plays Will Penny, an aging and impoverished cowboy. With his cohorts Blue (Lee Majors) and Dutchy (Anthony Zerbe), the trio sets out to find employment before winter sets in. Their job search is interrupted by the sudden appearance of Preacher Quint, a vicious Bible-thumping bandit (Donald Pleasance) and his moronic, sadistic sons. Dutchy gets wounded in the fight and Blue stays with him in a small town nearby to nurse him back to health. Will gets a job on a ranch, and though he is supposed to keep squatters off the land, he can't kick out Catherine (Joan Hackett) and her little son (Jon Gries). She herself is en route to join her husband, an Oregon farmer. Despite her wedding vows, Catherine finds herself drawn to Penny -- who makes no unwarranted move towards the woman, but is equally attracted to her. Then the murderous Quint and his sons reappear to exact their revenge. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 49 min.
Directed By: Tom Gries
Genres: Western, Action & Adventure, Romance

In Theaters: Apr 10, 1968 Wide
On DVD: Jun 4, 2002
Studio: Paramount Pictures

Critic Reviews

Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan
Heston's best work...and not surprisingly his favorite role.
Leonard Klady, Movie City News
3.5
Dan Lybarger, Kansas City Star
Charlton Heston's solid turn in a more life-sized role is the centerpiece of this darkly haunting western.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
One of the most underrated Westerns ever made.

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Mister C

WILL PENNY-Released by Paramount Pictures. Running Time: 112 minutes. MPAA Rating: "M"-Mature Audiences-Parental Guidance Suggested.(For scenes of Western Violence and Strong Language). Released: 1968. -One of the best adult Westerns made to date and one of the more… More
WILL PENNY-Released by Paramount Pictures. Running Time: 112 minutes. MPAA Rating: "M"-Mature Audiences-Parental Guidance Suggested.(For scenes of Western Violence and Strong Language). Released: 1968. -One of the best adult Westerns made to date and one of the more mature Westerns to come out of the 1960's,comes writer-director Tom Gries(who was most known for his television work for TV shows like The Rat Patrol)casts Charlton Heston(in one of the greatest roles in his career,and also he quoted as one of his favorite films)in the title role of a cowboy who patrols for trespassers and rustlers on a huge ranch,who protects two uninvited visitors,a mother and her son from vicious outlaws in 1880's Montana. Gries' son Jon Gries,aka Jon Francis plays the boy while actress Joan Hackett portrays his mother who protects her son from the vicious outlaws(Donald Pleasence, Bruce Dern and Lee Majors). The film was very good in bring a more darker side of ranch life in the Old West. Excellent character study in one of Charlton Heston's best roles.