Charlton Heston portrays Will Penny, an aging cowboy who finds seasonal employment riding fence on a large ranch. While working, he encounters a family of violent rawhiders and unexpectedly discovers affection and belonging later in life, nearing his fiftieth year. "Will Penny" (1967) offers viewers insight into what it was likely like to be a cowboy out West during the late 1800s; the lifestyle is far from glamorous. Much of the film succeeds: the settings, actors, narrative, and script are all well-executed. However, there are three issues that stand out: the musical score feels bland and dated. While many Western soundtracks have endured over time ("Duel at Diablo," "Bandolero!," "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly," "MacKenna's Gold" and "The Magnificent Seven," for example), the music in "Penny" hasn’t aged well; still, it does align with the film’s central themes. Additionally, the antagonists feel somewhat artificial. Donald Pleasence is memorable as the exaggeratedly disturbed head of the rawhiding family, and Bruce Dern consistently delivers solid villainous performances, but this particular plot thread feels like an addition meant to inject action and threat into a story that might have been better without it. The core of the narrative revolves around Penny’s discovery of love and connection. The film suggests he was orphaned as a child and simply adopted a solitary cowboy existence for survival; he has never experienced genuine affection or a sense of family. Prior to meeting Joan Hackett's character, his interactions with women were superficial encounters. Penny finds that he enjoys being a father figure, and the boy clearly admires and cares for him. It’s as if an external force recognizes Penny’s inherent goodness beneath his rough exterior and provides him with happiness in the form of Catherine and her son. Will he embrace this chance at contentment despite potential dangers? Will he even realize it's an opportunity? The conclusion, unfortunately, leaves a disappointing impression. I have to mark down points for the uninspired score, the contrived villain storyline, and the unsatisfactory ending. Otherwise, this is a worthwhile Western, comparable to "Monte Walsh" starring Lee Marvin and Jack Palance that appeared some years afterward. The film’s running time is 1 hour and 50 minutes, and it was filmed in Bishop & Inyo County, California. GRADE: B

Source on TMDB