The Hellions (1961)

the audience applauded

i must have seen a different film!!

Absolutely the worst movie.

Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

The Hellions according to some might well be considered Great Britain's first western although I think The Sheriff Of Fractured Jaw has a better claim. Ken Annakin better known for such Disney films with star Richard Todd like Robin Hood, The Sword And The Rose, and Rob Roy the Highland Rogue team together again for this film set in and shot in South Africa. It's the post Boer War era in the Union Of South Africa and the place still has a frontier feel to it. A family of real bottom feeders, the Billings clan headed by Lionel Jeffries is coming to town to settle a score with the local constable Richard Todd. They're a lot like the Clantons from My Darling Clementine and the Cleggs from Wagonmaster from those John Ford classics.In any event Todd who patrols the place unarmed gets his gun and wants some backup, but the town hesitates. Now he knows how Gary Cooper felt with those citizens of Hadleyville.In the end however Todd gets some help from a most unlikely source a man just sick and tired of kowtowing to these killers who collectively are known as The Hellions.Lionel Jeffries who usually plays comic village shows a savage side to him in The Hellions. Not something normally associated with him, but very good. Plaudits should also go to James Usys and Anne Aubrey as a husband and wife pair of storekeepers The Hellions intimidate.Note the harmonica parts of the music score are from the blacklisted Larry Adler who was probably the only American associated with The Hellions. They were a nice touch.As for the ending, think about the Frank Sinatra western Johnny Concho.

I disagree with the commentator who opined that "The Hellions" resembles "Firecreek" in action and themes more closely than it resembles "High Noon". Points of similarity: 1. The Outlaw father is seeking revenge against the local lawman for a past injury. 2. It's a thriving frontier community, not a backwater full of "losers" like the town of Firecreek. 3. The departure-by-train that doesn't happen: Just as the Marshal'wife gets off the train to go back and help him fight, another character in "Hellions" makes a similar decision. But the townspeople in "Hellions" go only so far in leaving everything up to the Constible. When the chips are down, it's a very different ending.I first saw this movie about 1962, and again on TV in the late 80's. (Beware of the edited-for-TV print.--Ugh! But I still remember scraps of the lilting theme song: Here they come and may they soon be gone/ Matthew, Jubal, Mark and Luke and John/ ...Live by the gun and sure as the sunrise/ Die by the gun you must,/ Just as the Hellions one by one/ Died in the Trans Vaal dust! (Chorus: They died in the Trans Vaal dust!)

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.

My sister took me to see this film years ago and I loved it. We often reminisce about it. Our favourite character was Jubal. I wish it would be shown on TV or released on DVD. I'd love to see it again. I can't remember very much of the story line so it was nice to read about it on your website. I must have seen loads of films throughout my life so it says something about the film that I can remember this one.It had an excellent cast and the filming was superb. I can't think why it hasn't been shown on British television, unless it's because it is a South African story, though why that should matter I don't know. Anyway, It is a brilliant film and if anyone ever gets the chance to watch it, They should!