The Hallelujah Trail (1965)

VHS CASE/SIDE

Length of film:  165 Minutes (Edited: 155 Minutes)

Rated:  Approved

Genre: Western, Comedy

Director: John Sturges

Starring: Burt Lancaster, Lee Remick, Jim Hutton, Pamela Tiffin, Donald Pleasence, Brain Keith, Matin Landau, John Anderson

IMDB Rank: 6.5/10

Part 1 Time:  N/A Minutes   (Edited: 79 Minutes)

Part 2 Time:  N/A Minutes (Edited: 76 Minutes)

Where does the first part end?  It is the Battle of Whisky Hills, all the groups attempt to gain control of the 40 wagon liquor shipment due for Denver.

Final line of dialogue on the first part: Narrator speaks “But which was nothing compared to the subsequent disaster at Quicksand Bottom.”

First line of dialogue on the second part: ” It’s a miracle!” Col. Thaddeus Gearhart (Burt Lancaster) states following the aftermath of the Battle of Whisky Hills.

How jarring is it when the first part ends?  Jarring, the intermission point happens in the middle of the battle. The battle itself is chaotic as it takes place during a sandstorm. All the groups involved are disorientated and confused. Which group will come out as the victors of this battle?

Which part is better? This is a very tough to determine, both parts include comical and action sequences. Part one focuses on the events prior to and during Battle of Whisky Hills. Part two focuses on the aftermath of the Battle of Whisky Hills and the subsequent Battle at Quick Sand Lake. A slight edge goes to part two as we are presented with the conclusion to the story and the ultimate fate of the 40 wagon liquor shipment.

Academy Awards: None