The Hellions
The Hellions is a 1961 British adventure film directed by Ken Annakin[1] starring Richard Todd, Anne Aubrey, Lionel Jeffries, Ronald Fraser and Colin Blakely that was set and filmed in South Africa.[2]
| The Hellions | |
|---|---|
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| Directed by | Ken Annakin |
| Produced by | Harold Huth executive Irving Allen |
| Written by | Harold Huth Patrick Kirwan Harold Swanton |
| Based on | story by Harold Swanton |
| Starring | Richard Todd |
| Music by | Larry Adler |
| Cinematography | Ted Moore |
| Edited by | Bert Rule |
Production company | Irving Allen Productions Jamie Uys Film Productions |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
Release date | 2 November 1961 (London) |
Running time | 86 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Plot
A lone law enforcement officer, Sam Hargis (Richard Todd), battles criminals in South Africa when the Billings family of Luke Billings (Lionel Jeffries) and his four sons ride into town to get revenge on Hargis for a previous clash, when he ran Luke Billings out of town. At first, the locals leave all of the fighting to Hargis, saying that it is his sole responsibility. However, after the Billings kill two innocent residents, some of them arm themselves and shoot dead all the Billings except Luke who, during a fist fight with Hargis, falls from a roof and is killed.
Cast
- Richard Todd as Sam Hargis
- Anne Aubrey as Priss Dobbs
- Jamie Uys as Ernie Dobbs
- Marty Wilde as John Billings
- Lionel Jeffries as Luke Billings
- James Booth as Jubal Billings
- Al Mulock as Mark Billings
- Colin Blakely as Matthew Billings
- Ronald Fraser as Frank
- Zena Walker as Julie Hargis
Reception
The New York Times called it "High Noon on the veldt... wide screen drivel."[3]
References
- The New York Times
- HELLIONS, The Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 28, Iss. 324, (Jan 1, 1961): 169.
- 'Hellions,' in British Western, Play 'High Noon' on the Veld New York Times 15 Mar 1962: 28.