High stakes for Dean Martin and Robert Mitchum in Five Card Stud (1968)

More of a mystery than a western but it does take place in the Old west times. When a card cheat is caught in a high stakes poker game, he is hanged by a lynch mob of the other card players. Dean Martin is the one player who tries to stop it but to no avail. Weeks past by when those same men are mysteriously killed one by one and Dean has to try and solve who's the killer before it's too late. Robert Mitchum comes in as a wandering preacher hoping to save the lost souls of this small town. Him and Dean have great chemistry together. Roddy McDowall is perfect as a weasel and card player who hates Dean for trying to date his sister. McDowall, even with that stiff British accent is quite good in a western. He plays a low down sniveling weasel pretty good. Inger Stevens is on hand as owner of a barber shop. Said barber shop also gives more than shaves and haircuts, if you know what I mean. I liked Five Card Stud, since it was more than just a western. Dean is super cool as usual as the gambler with a conscience. And also Yaphet Kotto in one of his first roles as a bartender and friend to Dean. Look out for a good performance by Katherine Justice as McDowall's love lorn sister.

Robert Mitchum as The Reverend Jonathan Rudd


Dean Martin as gambler Van Morgan and Inger Stevens as Lily Langford


Yaphet Kotto as Little George and Dean Martin


Katherine Justice as Nora Evers and Dean Martin


Robert Mitchum

HANG EM' HIGH (1968)

Hang 'Em High (1968). Western. Director: Ted Post. Produced and co-written by Leonard Freeman. Cast: Clint Eastwood, Inger Stevens, Ed Begley, and Pat Hingle .

Jed Cooper is caught by 9 men and accused of killing one of their neighbors and stealing his cattle. Unfortunately, he does not convince them of his innocence and they hang him. Close by there is a U.S. Marshal on the trail and he saves Cooper, who is then brought to Fort Grant to stand trial. Soon it is discovered that the man Cooper bought the cattle from was the killer. Cooper is released, but wants to bring in the 9 men who hung him. The judge warns Cooper about taking the law into his own hands, Cooper says that he knows the law, being a former lawman. The judge then offers Cooper a job as a Marshal. Will he finish the job?

One of my favorite Clint Eastwood Westerns. This film will have you sitting on the edge of your seat. Eastwood gives a good performance as Marshall Jed Cooper. The story of having to work within the law in conflict with his own personal views is played out very well by Eastwood. Also, Pat Hingle and Ed Begley both give excellent performances.



Scene from the western movie "Hang 'em High" where the Marshall Jed Cooper (Clint Eastwood) has a confrontation with Reno (played by Joseph Sirola), one of the guys who hanged him.