Rating: 
Summary: Will Penny
Review: I have the great privilege to know Mr. Heston, and Will Penny is one his favorites. It was particularly advantageous because he could home once in awhile! The intense character he portrayed is worth the price, and I would consider it a "sleeper" type of film. If you look at the cast, and the interaction you can see that the actors chosen for this film are right on. Let it grow on you. Yep, it's a little slow at times, but given the times (and some reflection on the reality of those times) it is a good flick...
Rating: 
Summary: Not just one of the best westerns, its one of the best films
Review: I think this is a good, solid Western with an excellent, low-key performance by Charlton Heston. The scenery is beautiful, and the filming is artfully done at times, especially of cowboys guiding their herd and otherwise riding the range. The parts with Charlton Heston and the young boy were touching. I agree with another reviewer that Donald Pleasance's performance is over-the-top, although his character, along with his sons, are pretty vivid villains at times. Joan Hackett and the actor playing her son do a good job, and so do Slim Pickens, Ben Johnson, G. D. Spradlin, Lee Majors and Anthony Zerbe in minor roles. There are one or two inconsistencies in the story but I didn't think they were a big deal. Unlike another reviewer, I liked the ending. (*warning, possible "spoiler" ahead*) I hope I'm not giving too much away by saying that I thought the end was realistic by not falling into a phony, typical, "love-conquers-all" trap, and it was touching.
Rating:
Summary: Good Performances & Beautifully Filmed
Review: I think this is a good, solid Western with an excellent, low-key performance by Charlton Heston. The scenery is beautiful, and the filming is artfully done at times, especially of cowboys guiding their herd and otherwise riding the range. The parts with Charlton Heston and the young boy were touching. I agree with another reviewer that Donald Pleasance's performance is over-the-top, although his character, along with his sons, are pretty vivid villains at times. Joan Hackett and the actor playing her son do a good job, and so do Slim Pickens, Ben Johnson, G. D. Spradlin, Lee Majors and Anthony Zerbe in minor roles. There are one or two inconsistencies in the story but I didn't think they were a big deal. Unlike another reviewer, I liked the ending. (*warning, possible "spoiler" ahead*) I hope I'm not giving too much away by saying that I thought the end was realistic by not falling into a phony, typical, "love-conquers-all" trap, and it was touching.
Rating:
Summary: Heston becomes Will Penny!
Review: I would have to start with saying that I think that movie in question, i.e., Will PennyVHS ~ Charlton Heston is definitely on par with The good the bad and the ugly and therefore should be considered on the great western movies ever made. Heston is very believable in his portrayal of the loner/ gunman I would have to say that his performance is academy award material. The story line is very well developed and I would have to concur with Mr. Heston that the script is probably one the best western scripts ever written. The dialogue is very well developed and none of the actors seems wooden or unnatural; which in itself is very rare and unique. Therefore, I would have to conclude with the following; if one is a fan of western movies, then it would indeed be a shame to miss this movie, since it is a classic that will be watched from until eternity.
Rating: 
Summary: another casuality for "realism"
Review: The big claim made for this movie is that it is realistic. That is the usual claim made for movies that have little else going for them. The definition of "realistic" relied on for such movies is: boring, dirty, and ends unhappily. (That there are other aspects of reality does not seem to occur to them.) So, all right, I give the movie a star for realism. I can't give it a star for "gripping" because it isn't. I can't give it a star for "moving" because it isn't. I can't give it stars for photography, music or acting because these are adequate but not outstanding.
Even the "realistic" claim won't stand scrutiny. Are we supposed to believe that a seriously wounded man could walk through snow with no clothes on all the way back to the cabin? Are we supposed to believe that these three stereotypical villains would wait two days for the lady to make up her mind? Nonsense! They'd rape her then and there. Are we to believe that a real down-and-dirty cowpoke would turn down a beautiful woman? This isn't realism. This is chivalry! This is a Romantic Hero!
The only reason to watch this film is to study it in contrast to Shane. After all, the movie strains to be another Shane. Why isn't it? Why is Shane all of the above and more and this movie isn't? Why do the characters in Shane stick in your mind the rest of your life and you can't remember most of the characters in this movie the next day and none of them the next year?
Rating:
Summary: One of the best movies ever.
Review: This is not only one of the best westerns ever, it is one of the best movies ever. The cinematography, cast, plot (rich taking advantage of the poor), sub-plot (harmonica man) and sub-sub-plot (a fractured love triangle <quadrilateral?> <pentagon?>) are all top-notch. The usual criticism of being too long is squashed by the interest the movie maintains from the railroad station to the shootout at the corral. Leone's usual face-drama is at its best. I can't wait for it to come out on DVD to hear the music in digital.
Rating:
Summary: Low-key, western, love story.
Review: This movie is a love story. A love story between an illiterate, ageing cowboy (Heston) with no future prospects and a farmer's young wife (Hackett) facing a future of hard work on a farm and a loveless marriage. Will they find happiness with each other? Well, it doesn't help having a lunatic, bible-thumper (Donald Pleasance) and his brood of sociopaths (the always menacing Bruce Dern among them) threatening to skin Heston alive.This is a very low-key film. Most of the performances are restrained (Donald Pleasance excepted) and quite good, especially Chuck Heston's. The scenes between Heston and Joan Hackett are very good. One of Heston's best performances during the period of the late 60's and early 70's.
Rating:
Summary: A Real Life Western with a Super Cast
Review: This movie was so real. It was like a camera coming down from the sky and focusing on "Will Penny" and following his life for a few months. Powerfull cast and heart wrenching story. The best western I have ever seen. Joan Hackett was superb!!
Rating: 
Summary: a going-nowhere, nothing told film
Review: what's the purpose of this pathetic film with pathetic small timers from the very beginning to the end? there's almost no story at all about this film. guy is just a good-for-nothing guy like all the other characters. he can kill but has no guts to settle down and to take care a woman and a kid? "i'm 50 years old now, i can't settle down (even she offered doing the farming)all i know is being a cowhand...." so just drift away with the other two cow punchers? what kind of logic is this? and what is the purpose of this whole movie? the only watchable thing in this totally clueless movie is the beautiful scenery.
Rating:
Summary: Understated and underrated western
Review: Will Penny is a gem of a western. Charleton Heston plays a quiet, ageing and illiterate cow-hand who's known only ranch work his whole life. Much of Will Penny is a realistic depiction of life in the West. The drifting, seasonal aspect of cowboy life and the work involved in ranching. Tom Gries does a great job with the script and Heston is excellent as Will Penny. This isn't an over the top action epic. While there is a shoot out it's not the center of the tale really. The center of the tale is instead the character of Will Penny. Donald Pleasance is great as the slightly psychotic preacher/thief. Lee Majors, Slim Pickens and Bruce Dern give great performances as well. Heston plays Will Penny with understated dignity and realism. This may be Heston's best performance and an undiscovered classic.
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