More Dead Than Alive (1969)

A notorious gunfighter (Clint Walker) is released from prison after 18 years. He tries to make a new life for himself but he is stymied by his reputation which prevents him getting honest work. So he joins a traveling shooting show run by a showman (Vincent Price). Directed by Robert Sparr (ONCE YOU KISS A STRANGER), this has a good script that would have been better served by a stronger director. It's not only the direction that prevents the movie from fulfilling its potential. Two other things prevent the movie from being anything other than an interesting failure. The film has an awful underscore and worst of all, a hideous uncontrolled performance by Paul Hampton as a punk gunslinger that is downright laughable (and I did laugh at his death scene). It's a pity because Walker gives a nice low key performance and Price brings some panache to his hustling showman. I'll admit the film's ending was a shocker! With Anne Francis and Mike Henry.