A Covenant With Death (1967)

Set in a small border town in the 1920s. After his promiscuous wife is found murdered, her husband (Earl Holliman) is arrested. He's a bad apple and unlikable and he's found guilty and sentenced to death. But on the day of his execution, he accidentally kills the hangman. When evidence comes forth that proves he didn't kill his wife, the young judge (George Maharis) must decide if he must stand trial for murder again ..... but this time for the death of the hangman. Based on the novel by Stephen Becker and directed by Lamont Johnson (CATTLE ANNIE AND LITTLE BRITCHES). A potentially gripping drama on institutionalized justice and the finite crevices that define law is shortchanged by a sloppy screenplay, ineffective direction and subpar casting. This should have been an A production with a top notch director, screenplay and cast along the lines of Preminger's ANATOMY OF A MURDER but what we get is a second rate film that belonged on a TV movie of the week episode. The time expended on the romantic issues with Maharis having to choose between Laura Devon and Wende Wagner only wastes our time. With Gene Hackman, Katy Jurado, Arthur O'Connell, Sidney Blackmer, Kent Smith, Lonny Chapman and Emilio Fernandez.