Mary Willingham Movies
- 1967
The directorial reins of 40 Guns to Apache Pass are in the expert hands of actionmeister William Witney, who helmed many of Audie Murphy's latter-day vehicles. Here Murphy plays a Cavalry captain who takes on the entire Apache nation virtually single-handedly. He is undermined by villainous Corporal Bodine (Kenneth Tobey), who runs a thriving business selling guns to the Indians. Michael Keep plays Apache leader Cochise, bringing a touch of humanity and dignity to his two-dimensional role. After wrapping up 40 Guns to Apache Pass, William Witney went into retirement, emerging every so often for "guest of honor" chores at the various western-movie conventions of the 1970s and 1980s. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Gunpoint stars Audie Murphy as a Colorado sheriff -- and never mind that the film was shot in Utah. Sheriff Lucas (Murphy) sets out to bring bad guy Drago (Morgan Woodward) to justice. If the sheriff doesn't succeed, that will be fine and dandy with deputy Hold (Denver Pyle), who's out to get Murphy's job. Edgar Buchanan took a break from Petticoat Junction to play the sort of comic relief he'd been doing in westerns for years. Gunpoint's well-photographed but economical highlights include a wild horse stampede and a shootout with disgruntled Apaches. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Audie Murphy, Joan Staley, (more)
- 1965
Action expert William Witney glosses over the inaccuracies and inconsistencies in Arizona Raiders. Audie Murphy and Ben Cooper play members of Quantrill's Raiders, hoping to avenge the fallen South after the Civil War. Murphy and Cooper are captured by a Union officer (Buster Crabbe) (effectively cast as a villain) and sentenced to a long prison term. They are offered amnesty by the Union officer, who, appointed head of the Arizona Raiders, hopes to use the ex-confederates within his jurisdiction to drive Quantrill's men out of the territory. The two heroes spend the rest of the film juggling loyalties between the Union leader and Quantrill (Fred Graham). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Audie Murphy, Michael Dante, (more)
- 1964
Audie Murphy continued to make 1950s-style westerns into the 1960s. In Bullet for a Badman, Logan Keliher (Murphy) is framed for murder by onetime friend Sam Ward (Darren McGavin). Keliher escapes to mete out justice and to reclaim his former wife (Ruta Lee), whom Ward has married. The escapee gradually comes to realize that the true villain of the piece is not his ex-friend but instead his ex-wife. A Bullet for a Badman was shipped out to the lower halves of Universal's drive-in double bills for the 1963-64 season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Audie Murphy, Darren McGavin, (more)
