Cat Ballou (1965)

Cat Ballou: Directed by Elliot Silverstein. With Jane Fonda, Lee Marvin, Michael Callan, Dwayne Hickman. A young schoolteacher turns into an outlaw to avenge her murdered father.

“Letu0026#39;s face facts — Fonda was OK in this movie, but Lee Marvin was in his glory as over-the-hill gunslinger Kid Shelleen. Add to that his second role as as the noseless Tim Strawn. Toss in the matter-of-fact way the Kid reveals that he and Tim had been brothers.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAnd leave us not forget my favorite scene — the u0026quot;suiting upu0026quot; of the Kid prior to the ultimate showdown. Itu0026#39;s almost like the investiture of an ancient high priest, down to the acolyte-like functioning of Jackson Two-Bears (played to perfection by Tom Nardini). Absolutely no dialogue, and set, as I recall, to music reminiscent of the Spanish corridas.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIf anyone draws up a list of Lee Marvinu0026#39;s best films, theyu0026#39;d have to be nuts to not put this in the top three. His u0026quot;Best Actoru0026quot; Oscar for this film was well-deserved.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAnd equally high marks to whomever did the stunt work for Marvin. The antics on horseback during the last scenes, with a u0026quot;drunkenu0026quot; Kid Shelleen in the saddle, have to be seen to be believed.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eBy all means, see this movie. Be ready to cheer for the u0026quot;bad guysu0026quot; as they seek revenge against the u0026quot;badder guysu0026quot;. But do NOT, under any circumstances, think for a minute that the movie as shown on TNT is complete. The last time they aired it, they actually CUT part of the above-mentioned dressing scene — an unforgivable sin of omission, in my book. Rent (or buy) the video or DVD instead.”