Count Three and Pray (1955)

Count Three and Pray: Directed by George Sherman. With Van Heflin, Joanne Woodward, Philip Carey, Raymond Burr. A pastor with a shady past moves into a rural town just after the Civil War.

“Post-Civil War southerner–who left his small town for battle with the reputation of a brawler and a womanizer–returns home a changed man; he has heard Godu0026#39;s calling, and intends to build a church from scratch and be its self-appointed parson. Rather offbeat, entertaining, if modest western drama from screenwriter Herb Meadow (adapting his short story, u0026quot;Calico Ponyu0026quot;) offers a strong starring role for Van Heflin. Focused and determined, but not above a little unorthodox behavior, Heflinu0026#39;s Luke Fargo is a charming, thoroughly-realized creation: a man who wants to preach but isnu0026#39;t even sure how to begin a prayer. The film has lightly humorous character bits, also a ready-made villain in Raymond Burr (whose determination to trip Fargo up at every juncture is never made quite clear). Joanne Woodward debuts as a scruffy, orphaned tomboy; sheu0026#39;s miscast, and is used mostly for comic relief, but she manages to make a connection with the audience–and with Heflin, although their final walk together (however subtly presented) is a bit tough to swallow. Not a big, rousing western, though completely unpretentious and engaging on a minor level. **1/2 from ****”