DVD Review: Tell Them Willie Boy is Here (1969)
After having been blacklisted for 20 years, his last film being “Force of Evil” (1948), filmmaker Abraham Polonsky wrote and directed “Tell Them Willie Boy is Here” which has been released on blu ray by KINO. Featuring Robert Blake in the title role and Robert Redford as a determined lawman out to capture him, Polonsky's direction and screenplay (from the book by Harry Lawton, which was based on true events) are what makes this movie stand out.
Willie Boy is a Paiute Indian who kills the father of his lover in self defense, then runs off with her. Redford is Deputy Sheriff Cooper, who sets out after Willie Boy to charge him with murder. Much of the 1969 advertising played up the fact that Redford and Katherine Ross (as the lover) were reunited after their success in “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” which had been released a couple of months earlier. However, it is Blake’s performance that is more central to the narrative and the axis of the film.
The narrative explains that Willie Boy had been living comfortably in a white man’s world before returning to the reservation to reclaim his lover. The killing of her father, according to tribal rules, allows Willie Boy to claim the daughter, so they flee together. Polansky’s screenplay helps us to understand Willie Boy and the pursuing Cooper both as decent men caught within their circumstances. Cooper is surrounded by bloodthirsty vigilantes who are not merely following the law, but are more interested in seeking vengeance.
Polonsky makes great use of the location photography, offering long shots that surround the characters with beautiful landscapes as the negative space, framing each scene with a colorful vastness that is offset by the darkness through which Willie and the woman are traveling. Conrad Hall’s sharp cinematography responds beautifully to Polansky’s vision.
Set in 1909, but made in 1969, its story offers us a good example of the perspectives from both eras. For the time the movie was made, it explored areas of racism, persecution, and desperation that resonated with period moviegoers. Because of its lasting star power, the film holds up very well in the 21st century.
The cast is rounded out by Susan Clark, Barry Sullivan, and John Vernon.
Reportedly, Robert Redford was annoyed that Robert Blake’s performance was so outstanding, even though it was he who suggested Blake after being told that an actual Native American would not be cast (Blake’s background is Italian). By contrast, Robert Blake was bothered that subsequent reviews gave new superstar Redford all the attention and overlooked his performance. However, “Tell Them Willie Boy is Here” helped to further solidify the stardom Redford was enjoying due to the success of “Downhill Racer” and “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.” Robert Blake had been acting since childhood (he was once Mickey in the Our Gang comedies, and had worked with the likes of Humphrey Bogart, Jack Benny, and Tyrone Power). The film grossed less than 3 million dollars at the box office.
KINO’s blu ray offers very sharp visuals and good sound. As this film was shot in Technicolor, its visual presentation is especially impressive. Extras include good, interesting commentary by actor Pat Healy (The Post) and film historian Jim Healy.
The blu ray can be ordered at this link: Tell Them Willie Boy is Here.