Martin Ritt’s The Outrage is a remake of the 1950 Akira Kurosawa film Rashomon, which itself was inspired by stories from Ryūnosuke Akutagawa, though Ritt relocated the narrative to a Western setting. It features Edward G. Robinson, Paul Newman, Laurence Harvey, Claire Bloom, Howard Da Silva and William Shatner. The plot centers on four differing accounts of a rape and murder during the trial of Mexican bandit Juan Carrasco, portrayed by Newman. These stories unfold within a framing device—three men waiting for a train at a rain-soaked Southwestern station: a prospector (Da Silva), a con man (Robinson) and a preacher questioning his faith (Shatner). As each story is presented, doubts arise about the accuracy of the testimonies; could there have been an injustice during the trial? It’s not surprising that this remake of a respected classic failed to find a wide audience, as many critics were notably harsh in their assessments. While it doesn't capture the style or tone of Kurosawa's original film, it isn’t terrible either. Ritt’s direction is well-crafted and James Wong Howe’s black and white cinematography is powerful, although expansive views are scarce. The core story is strong enough to make for a thought-provoking Western. There’s some awkward humor in the final section, and criticism of the cast's performances—particularly Bloom’s—is justified, but perhaps Ritt and his team should be given some consideration for attempting something different. It isn’t a direct copy anyway. Newman has never been one to shy away from challenging or unconventional roles; his Western filmography alone demonstrates that. Consider his work with Ritt: Hud (1963), The Outrage (1964) and Hombre (1967), each portraying very different characters of varying ethnicities. Add in his intense portrayal of Billy the Kid in Arthur Penn’s The Left Handed Gun, and it becomes clear that claims about Newman's limited acting range are unfounded. Is he a questionable choice for Bandido Carrasco? Not really; he commits fully to the role, and without knowing who is playing him, it isn’t immediately obvious that it’s the familiar blue-eyed actor. A Mexican performer would have been ideal, and Rashomon didn't necessarily need another version. However, Western enthusiasts—and especially those who appreciate Newman’s work—will find enough to enjoy The Outrage and justify the cost of a snack and a drink while watching. It’s not exceptional, but it’s also not awful. 6.5/10

Source on TMDB