WARLOCK's fascination is in its psychological complexity, namely the relationship between Henry Fonda, as a celebrity marshal with gold-handled pistols, and Anthony Quinn as his constant companion, whose motives for ensuring Fonda's success are hardly cut-and-dried. Richard Widmark, as an outlaw who changes sides, more than holds his own, as does Dorothy Malone, whose own objectives are quite knotty. Edward Dmytryk's direction is a bit logy, but the acting and story are compelling throughout.

A classic Western no one talks about. It's got enough story for a mini-series and is delineated in shades of gray while saving room for mythical grandeur.

What persuaded me to watch it was the one in a million cast, the triumvirate of Fonda, Widmark and Quinn. I'm glad to report that it has even more than that going for it. It's an unusually complex and enticing western, very nice if ultimately very Hollywood too.

Literate, allegorical adult Western examines the lynch-mob mentality and the meaning of machismo. Forgotten, but worthy of rediscovery.

There's a lot of really interesting situations and character interactions going on in "Warlock". The relationship between Blaisdell and Morgan is especially unique and strange. Anthony Quinn is by far the stand out performer here, but everyone is good. It's certainly a different kind of western that says a lot about human nature. "I won Clay, I won." Worth a look.