More Dead than Alive (1969)

Lack of good storyline.

Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

Watching it is like watching the spectacle of a class clown at their best: you laugh at their jokes, instigate their defiance, and "ooooh" when they get in trouble.

"More Dead Than Alive" is a good, solid Western drama. It doesn't really do anything special, and this viewer wouldn't consider it to be that offbeat, if indeed that's what it was going for. It's actually pretty familiar altogether, utilizing classic themes like the criminal who wants to leave his bloody past behind him, but can't deny who he was, and the changing times for the American West. It's got a little romance, and some potent violence in the "Wild Bunch" tradition. Certainly, it *looks* gorgeous (as does its leading lady, Anne Francis), and it is nicely acted.It's largely a vehicle for jut jawed Clint Walker, as the aforementioned former outlaw who vows to serve out his 18 year sentence. He gets out in the winter of 1891, and really tries to live a normal life. But most people won't give him a break, with the exception of traveling sideshow proprietor Dan Ruffalo (Vincent Price), who's attracted by the fact of "Killer" Cains' notoriety and hires him as a sharpshooter. He ends up raking in the big bucks, to the consternation of whiny "kid" (32 year old Paul Hampton), who doesn't like his star status to be threatened in any way.Walker is an old school tough guy, but also is able to create a reasonably likable character. You do want this guy to catch a break, even though the odds are against him. Hampton is memorable at being annoying and pathetic; now this is a character whom you *don't* like. The beautiful Ms. Francis adds a real human element since she is able to judge Walker as the man he is now, without factoring in his reputation. Familiar faces like Mike Henry, Harry Lauter, and Emile Meyer turn up, but it's Price that provides the film with whatever panache it has. He's clearly enjoying himself, but isn't excessively hammy. It's a treat to see him in this sort of setting.As was said, there's nothing great about this one - although there is one decent action sequence early on - but it remains watchable for 102 minutes. Viewers will be struck by the violent, unexpected ending.Seven out of 10.

Add this one to the list of movies that could have/should have been better. No problems with the cast, Clint Walker and Vincent Price and Anne Francis are all as good as ever, but the concept of the story suffers from poor writing and direction and meanders all over the place. The movie opens with a failed prison break that feels and looks more like a spaghetti western and adds little to the slow, dramatic story of a gunfighter who wants to leave his past behind. This sort of story has been done before, most notably in The Gunfighter with Gregory Peck where we sympathized with the gunman and his friends and family. When the past finally catches up with Walker at the end, we're left to wonder who and why and where the past came from and not sure where our sympathies should be, it's just a means to an end.

More Dead Than Alive is a decent film that starts off with a lot of great action, but it gets slow at times, especially with Ann Francis, who just plays a minor role in this movie. Paul Hampton who stars as Billy carries the movie with hilarious acting, but excellent! I am a big Clint Walker-Vincent Price fan, and the reason I purchased the DVD is because I wanted to see Vincent Price in a Western. He did a good job as did Clint, but if it were not for Paul Hampton; this movie probably would not fly. After viewing this movie, I have become a Paul Hampton fan, great performance! For anybody who is a Clint Walker fan, I highly recommend the movie "Snow Beast". For those viewers who love Westerns, More Dead Than Alive should be included in your library, because of good acting, action, uniqueness, repressed humor, and it is enjoyable.

First off.. "More Dead Than Alive" is available on DVD. The movie is an interesting ,offbeat Western .Perhaps Clint Walker's most accomplished performance(I know, not saying much) as a paroled gunfighter(Killer Kane), not allowed a fair shake by the good citizens of the Arizona Territory. He goes into business with a stovepipe-hatted Vincent Price(subdued) as a side-show trick-shot, but his past still travels with his present.Paul Hampton is a standout as the young fast gun dead-eye(though he's never drawn on a live person).He's like a hopped-up Owen Wilson.The locations are authentic and the situations believable.The score ..kinda goofy.Well worth a look.