It’s easy to imagine this guy giving speeches; he could probably convince a coyote to give up a chicken. There Was a Crooked Man... was directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz and written by David Newman and Robert Benton. The film features Kirk Douglas, Henry Fonda, Hume Cronyn, Warren Oates, Burgess Meredith, John Randolph, and Michael Blodgett. Charles Strouse composed the music, and Harry Stradling Jr. handled the cinematography. The story centers on Douglas as Paris Pitman Jr., a dishonest thief who hides half a million dollars inside a rattlesnake nest before being caught and sent to an Arizona prison for ten years. While there, his plan is simple: make friends with fellow prisoners so they can help him escape. Offering them a share of his money as incentive, Pitman’s scheme might be derailed by the arrival of new Warden Woodward Lopeman (Fonda)? Joseph L. Mankiewicz's single attempt at making a Western film is peculiar in several ways, though not necessarily negatively so. It arrived early in the 1970s, when the Western genre was nearing its end, and combines humor with cynicism and violence alongside memorable characters. By deliberately avoiding a standard genre approach, it’s no surprise that Warner Brothers became uneasy and trimmed forty minutes from the original version—footage that remains unreleased. This is unfortunate because, while the film isn't flawed, those missing scenes would have allowed it to be more daring than it currently is. The cast list is impressive, with a compelling dynamic between Douglas and Fonda driving the story forward; essentially, nobody in this film is entirely honest. One of the narrative’s strengths lies in setting up unexpected turns—you're never quite sure how things will unfold. As the violence, clever schemes, and general dishonesty within the prison build, it creates anticipation for the eventual resolution, a conclusion that has proven to be polarizing (I found it very effective). At times, the film feels like a slapstick comedy, but this is just a deceptive element; those involved aimed for shocking twists while also embracing moral corruption. It’s hard to wholeheartedly recommend because it's an unusual experience, but it’s interesting as a look at a time when Westerns were struggling, and there are rewards for viewers who appreciate its strange qualities. 7.5/10

Source on TMDB