Main Cast: Kirk Douglas, Henry Fonda, Hume Cronyn, Warren Oates, Burgess Meredith
Release Year: 1970
Country: US
Run Time: 123 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
An offbeat 1970s black-comic Western with an all-star cast, this Joseph L. Mankiewicz film is set in 1883 in Arizona. Paris Pitman, Jr. (Kirk Douglas) is the leader of a band of outlaws that steals $500,000 from a wealthy businessman named Lomax (Arthur O'Connell). The other gang members die in a shootout, but Pitman escapes and hides the loot in women's underwear and drops it into a snake pit. After Lomax recognizes Pitman in a brothel, he is arrested by Sheriff Woodward Lopeman (Henry Fonda). At the territorial prison, Pitman bribes Warden Le Goff (Martin Gabel), offering him a share of the hidden money if he lets him escape. But before the scheme is carried through, the warden is killed by a prisoner. Lopeman becomes the new warden, and he is bent on ridding the prison of corruption. Pitman convinces Lopeman that he will cooperate with the reforms, then he uses the new freedoms given to him to plan an elaborate escape with several other men. The escape is to take place during an inspection by the governor. The screenwriting team for this film was Robert Benton and David Newman, who had penned the brilliant Bonnie and Clyde. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide
Review
Dripping with cynicism, There Was a Crooked Man is not to everyone's taste, but its black comedy has an ample share of rewards for those for whom "bitter" is not a bad word. David Newman and Robert Benton's screenplay is unrelenting, but its unflinching determination to go its own way gives it a flavor and flair that are unique. Unfortunately, allegedly due to cuts made to bring down the length of the film, the crucial character of Warden Lopeman is not fleshed out properly; rather than gradually changing over the course of the film, he undergoes an unacceptable about face that damages the story's credibility and dilutes its power. Henry Fonda does extremely well given this major flaw in the writing, but even an actor as gifted as he cannot make the change credible. Kirk Douglas is in excellent form, with evil and power exuding from every pore, and the supporting cast is equally good. Special praise is due Burgess Meredith, whose Missouri Kid is amazingly complex, but Hume Cronyn, John Randolph, and Warren Oates are all top notch as well. Imperfect it may be, but Crooked delivers a powerful punch. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Edward Carrere - Art Director, Anna Hill Johnstone - Costume Designer, Joseph L. Mankiewicz - Director, Gene Milford - Editor, C.O. Erickson - Executive Producer, Charles Strouse - Composer (Music Score), Charles Strouse - Songwriter, Lee Adams - Songwriter, Perc Westmore - Makeup, Harry Stradling, Jr. - Cinematographer, Joseph L. Mankiewicz - Producer, Keogh Gleason - Set Designer, Joan Barton - Special Effects, Al Overton - Sound/Sound Designer, Roger Creed - Stunts, David Newman - Screen Story, Robert Benton - Screen Story, David Newman - Screenwriter, Robert Benton - Screenwriter
