MBunge
The Lonely Man is a decent little tale about manhood highlighted by the presence of the orc-like Jack Palance as one of the most frightening looking heroes any Western's ever seen.Jacob Wade (Jack Palance) is a gunfighter with a long and murderous reputation. 14 years after abandoning his wife and child, Wade returns home to teach his hateful son how to be a man. Riley (Anthony Perkins) has nothing but contempt for his father and since his mother's death has become a bum, living in a hovel and hanging around the local saloon. Things are further complicated by the fact that Wade's villainous past is well known in the area, making him and his son decidedly unwelcome in any law abiding town. When Riley falls ill, Wade is forced to return to the horse ranch and the woman he left on his quest to redeem his child. Aida (Elaine Aiken) is desperately in love with Wade and only wants him to stay with her. She's even willing to put up with his pain-in-the-butt son if it keeps Wade near her.As Wade tries to make a man of Riley in the pursuit of a wild stallion, he's helped by one member of his old gang and menaced by another, while a threat grows in the unseen distance. A man named King was nearly killed by Wade in a fight over Aida, but they fished the bullet out of him and he's determined to end Wade's life with it. There's also another problem Wade has kept secret from everyone and it's the real reason he's so desperate to turn Riley from a whining child to a grown man.At its heart, The Lonely Man is about the 1950s definition of masculinity, or at least the 1950s fantasy about the masculinity of the Old West. Jacob Wade may be a terrible killer, but he's a man because he takes control of his life and makes no excuses for the decisions he's made. His old friend Ben (Robert Middleton) is an intemperate loudmouth, but he's a man because he's true to his friend. Even Aida fits into the concept of manhood through a feminine lens, being willing to sacrifice everything she is to protect the people the man she loves. Riley, though showing some strength of character, isn't a man because of his wallowing in self-pity and adolescent sloth. Even King is the bad guy of the story not because he seeks to kill Wade, but because of the unmanly way he plans to do it.Acting-wise, Anthony Perkins does a good job playing the emotionally wounded and callow Riley, though he seems a bit too old for the role. Elaine Aiken as Aida fits beautifully as a woman in this manly world and she looks right for the part, as well. Put most attractive women next to the terrifyingly striking Palance and they'll look like two different species, but Aiken has a tough, somewhat worn edge to her appearance. She's the sort of hard woman that could love a hard man. Palance almost perfectly embodies the pre-1960s image of American masculinity. He's stoic and taciturn and haunted and strong. He's the hero from a time when heroes weren't supposed to say funny one-liners after they killed someone. It was sidekicks, women, children and even villains who used to get the humorous or poignant dialog while the men were plain and without affectation.The Lonely Man was one truly "EWWWWW!" producing moment and ends in a fairly clichéd gunfight after promising something more interesting, but it's a fast-paced and relatively adult story that only seems dated in contrast to modern standards of manhood (or the lack thereof). I'd definitely recommend watching it.
jamesgavin1
This film has got merit not least the photography. It is beautifully shot and the location has much to admire. There is a touch of John Ford in parts. Its main strength is the performance by Jack Palance. Anthony Perkins is ok but he has not a lot to do. Small parts by familiar actors adds to the attractions of the film which is well worth a viewing. One of my childhood best loved films which I was not disappointed with when I watched it recently.
movie-buff
This isn't the cowboys vs. indians or "saved by the Cavalry" formulaic western. There is characterization! Jack Palance delivers a great performance. He can act when the script and director allowed him. Tony Perkins seems to be the same character as he was in Tin Star. Great outdoor scenery; the studio should have paid the extra cost to film this in Technicolor.
Colin R. Glassey
It is not clear just what the creators of this film had in mind. It does have some worthwhile sequences of the actors riding on horse back chasing wild horses. What that had to do with the rest of the film is not at all clear.The relation between the son (played oddly by Tony Perkins (Psycho)) and the former lover of his father (the father is decently acted by Jack Palance) was a film disaster. Obviously the creators wanted to go in the direction of a romantic triangle (younger woman falls for older man's son) but the attraction is completely nonsensical because the son is sullen, rude, and distinctly un-heroic throughout the whole film. No woman tough enough to live on her own in an isolated mountain ranch would fall for such a useless man.The end scene is also absurd as the son helps his dying father shoot the bad guy dead in what has to be the stupidest possible fashion. This is NOT one of the better westerns filmed in the 1950s.I will say one thing for it, those actors sure could ride horses. I wonder where it was filmed? Wyoming?
