Smartorhypo Highly Overrated But Still Good

Claysaba Excellent, Without a doubt!!

Erica Derrick By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Philippa All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Anthony Mantle "ragosaal's" review had it right with the outline of the movie. I too saw this movie at a theater in England when I was a youngster. And I too enjoyed the movie very much. I have from time to time checked to see if it has been made available to the public but it doesn't appear to have been. Some years back I had read that the ownership of this movie did not want to release it due to some political correctness issue. And it appeared they had no intent of re-releasing it ever. I have still continued to check just in case there had been a change of mind & in hope that at some new blood will think differently & release it as a DVD. The movie is a well acted movie by first class actors & the story is like High Noon with a solitary lawman fighting evil. It is a pity that such a well made movie is being withheld from an appreciative audience.

alkborough As with previous posts I agree that Lionel Jeffries was superb in this role playing a part far removed from what we are used to from him. James Booth also good, These were two of the 'baddies' and as such had strong roles. Richard Todd gave a good restrained performance in the leading role. Directed by Ken Annakin, one of my all time favourite directors, or at least partly directed by him. In his autobiography he reveals that well into the filming he was taken quite seriously ill and the remainder of the film was directed by Harold Huth and Clive Reed. Ken had given the cast 'carte blanche' to play the film as a tongue in cheek spoof and most were up to it but the rest of the film was directed with everyone playing straight. The critics panned the film for being 'uneven' - they knew nothing of Ken's illness. Ken also states that 'Irwin Allen's(the producer)girlfriend played the female lead - the less said about her the better' He doesn't elaborate Fortunately he recovered fully after his long illness and is still alive well into his 90s. I have just received a DVD of the film and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

gotron1997 The 'HELLIONS' was a great movie, a great cast, a perfect film ! The song i've never forgotten, though i haven't seen the movie since it last aired on NetWork TV in the late 60's if i recall. It is a great film, and i too keep hoping it will surface somewhere, hopefully on DVD. I often think about it, and some may remember the father of the Hellions was in TARZANS GREATEST ADVENTURE, with GORDON SCOTT in 1960. Another great movie ! And TARZAN THE MACNIFICENT with GORDEN SCOTT was another Classic ! The HELLIONS was and is one of the best movies ever made, definitely forever on the favorites list !!! If i recall the ending was a fight atop a roof between the hero and the outlaw father ! I recall moments here and there of the film, such as Jeffries saying to the guy who admitted killing his son he was looking for, ... " No, not you, not a little man"... !!! then he thrashed him if i recall with barbwire ! Indeed, a great movie ! Similer to another obscure western, and great movie, THE PLUNDERERS !

ragosaal I can't remember where I saw "The Hellions" but I know I was an early teenager back then. I also know I thought it was a great sort of western settled in small town in South Africa where a mean old men and his nasty four sons arrive and start abusing the locals. The place's lawman searchs for help among the town's men to deal with the menace (in a sort of "High Noon" style) but he was left alone.Lionel Jeffries played the old man and he was very good as a villain in an uncommon role for him (he was usually casted in comedies or serious characters but rarely as a villain). James Booth played his older son Jubal (as mean and devilish as his father) and Richard Todd was the lawman in a blue uniform jacket.I haven't seen this film ever since (not on theatres, TV, VHS or DVD) and people I usually talk about movies with don't even heard of it except for a cousin of mine that agrees it was a very good one.As for me, I'll keep looking for it because I enjoyed it very much but also because I would like to have an adult view on it. One thing is for sure: if "The Hellions" is half as good as I can remember it will still be a little classic.