Black Patch (1957)

A Montgomery Production, released through Warner Bros. (A Televista DVD).Copyright 1957 by Montgomery Productions. U.S. release: 14 September 1957. New York opening on a double bill with Stakeout on Dope Street at RKO neighborhood cinemas: 23 April 1958. U.K. release: 13 April 1958. Australian release: 1 May 1958. 85 minutes.SYNOPSIS: Montgomery plays a U.S. marshal, wrongly accused of shooting his best friend in the back in order to pinch his wife and his stolen loot. Facing the scorn of the town and the barrel of a gun-crazy avenger, Montgomery...COMMENT: Let me say at once that action fans should give this one a miss. The script - by actor Leo Gordon himself - eschews action. Not only has all the excitement at the beginning of the story occurred before the film commences, but the movie actually comes to a finish before the final showdown. This said, there is much in the picture to interest connoisseurs - not the least of which is Miner's clever direction. The movie's strongest quality, however, is its unusual atmosphere - a mood that is conveyed as much by its well-off-the-beaten-track storyline as by its ingenious music score, using a player piano and a spinet, plus skillfully attuned art direction (I love the marshal's squeaky chair). Acting is perfectly in accord with the mood of the script. Some wonderful character studies really impress, particularly from John O'Malley and Stanley Adams. The sparse black-and-white photography, the carefully judged film editing and excellent sound recording are also considerable assets. In all, a most striking and off-beat western.OTHER VIEWS: The trouble with this film is that it worships unusualness for its own sake. Why does the hero wear a black patch? Why do two out of three of the plot's dramatic climaxes take place off-screen? The answer seems to me that the film's producers just didn't know when to stop and take stock. Whilst it's commendable in principle to get well away from the familiar clichés and conventions of the standard "B" western yarn, this picture is allowed to run right off the rails. A pity, because there are many fascinating things in it - JHR writing as George Addison.

An offbeat Western. Scripted by Gordon, who also takes the role of the friend turned bankrobber that marshal Montgomery is accused of murdering for the Money, Black Patch is directed with verve by Miner, a protégé of Robert Aldrich. Pittman contributes a distinctly modern interpretation of his role as the distraught teenager who faces up to Montgomery at the climax.Phil Hardy

Black Patch is directed by Allen H. Miner and written by Leo Gordon. It stars George Montgomery, Diane Brewster, Tom Pittman, Leo Gordon, Strother Martin and Sebastian CabotA veteran of the Civil War, Clay Morgan (Montgomery), minus an eye, decided not to return to his home town and started afresh in Santa Rita, New Mexico. Working as the town marshal, and keeping very good order, his equilibrium is upset when an old friend and his wife arrive in town. When news comes about a bank robbery in a nearby town, it signals the start of events that will see Clay forced into dark corners…Sometimes a Western fan will stumble upon a movie and wonder why it isn't better known. Black Patch is one such Oater, which in the grand scheme of things is criminal. More so when you consider the cast list, the cinematographer and the musical scorer (it was Goldsmith's first movie score and his fans will spot the early strains of some future work).Beautifully photographed through a black and white film noir filter, Black Patch is big on mood. Be it oppressive as Miner works wonders within the confines of the Monogram Ranch locale, or psychologically pungent as the principal players battle their hang-ups and heartaches, there is not a single frame in the picture that isn't laced with adult Western textures.The characters are presented with emotional depth, not as some Western shoot-out roll call of cannon fodder. The romantic angle is nicely etched, never cloying the story but adding to the bubbling enigma of the human condition. Gordon writes himself a good part, but he isn't interested in writing a Yee-Haw Good Guys Vs Bad Guys genre piece, there's a lot of interesting characters here who are all damaged or hurting in one way or another.Having Montgomery in the lead helps, he was always a real good brooder, and he does it with considerable pathos here, and with Colman (Walk a Crooked Mile) and Miner (The Ride Back) favouring film noir techniques, Monty is often framed in classic noirish style. Brewster (The Young Philladelphians) blends both sultry with sincere regret, Cabot (Terror in a Texas Town) has a good old time of it as the town weasel, while young Pittman (The Proud Rebel) gives his young character the requisite pangs of confusion as he tries to make sense of everything around him.This is very much one for the psychological adult Western crowd, not one for those who prefer stunts and fights every ten minutes. It has a few faltering moments, such as a turn of events involving the Pittman and Brewster characters, but this particular black patch is actually gold for the like minded adult Western fan. 8/10

George Montgomery starred in several interesting westerns in a career that spanned several decades. This film, scripted by co-star Leo Gordon, was a very interesting change of pace for both.Montgomery plays a one-eyed lawman, who once loved the woman now married to the character played by Leo Gordon. Gordon and Montgomery interact with great chemistry, varying between friendship and jealousy.Leo Gordon was one of the great western villains and a pretty decent writer of scripts. In this film, he steals the show ---- playing a more sympathetic and well-rounded sort of cowpoke.Not a great film, but western fans will like this one.