The Silent Stranger (1968)

This third instalment in the Tony Anthony "Stranger" film series was barely released to theaters by Metro Goldwyn Mayer after the legal trouble caused the movie to be shelved for several years after being completed. It's pretty easy to see why MGM wasn't very enthusiastic about giving it a better push. Certainly, the western genre was all but dead when the movie was released, but reports I read revealed that the movie was severely tinkered with in the editing room. As a result, there are plot details that are extremely murky or simply not revealed at all. Plus, completely unnecessary narration was apparently added, which is annoying and distracting. But there are signs that the original intended version wasn't much better. The movie as it is plays out pretty slow, and has a plot line ripped off from "A Fistful of Dollars". And Tony Anthony isn't exactly a charismatic actor, still looking like he's about to burst into tears. The movie LOOKS a lot better than the previous two "Stranger" movies, with some solid production values, and the Japan angle does add some freshness. But the movie for the most part is tired and uninspired, so it's not a surprise that it was hard to see for many years even after its brief theatrical release.

I originally saw this movie at the weekend double feature drive-in (remember those). Most of the movies they showed were completely forgettable fodder. But when this movie was shown I was blown away. An interesting and unusual story line that I couldn't completely figure out before it happened. I think it was the best movie I ever saw at that drive-in in Andalusia, Al. At any rate when the Internet came along I looked for it so I could watch it again, and share it with my family. It turned out it had been shown on Turner a few times, but wasn't available anywhere for purchase. I just looked on Amazon and its available on DVD and instant view. Its now retitled "The Stranger in Japan", apparently released in 2011. I'm getting it.

Ever see "Miller's Crossing"? How 'bout "Last Man Standing" with Bruce Willis? Well, before either of these movies there was "The Silent Stranger". The story leaves a few questions unanswered but for the most part it is intriguing and worth watching. I recommend it if you like either Westerns or Samurai flix. The combination is not as peculiar as you might think.

I saw this movie for the first time today. THE GOOD, BAD AND THE UGLY it isn't....neither was it as bad as PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE or the incredibly boring ISHTAR. Instead STRANGER was somehow strangely appealing in that quirky 'spaghetti western' style so well-known in films like TRINITY and ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST. The lead actor was nearly silent throughout, the Japanese ran around waving samurai swords and behaving unintelligibly, but I found the bizarre juxtaposition of a gunfighter in Shogunate Japan truly interesting.I'd watch it again.....