This movie is an outrage because it is the cheap American remake of a fine film. Seeing it on its own make it an odd little movie. Seeing it in contrast with Rashomon makes it seem like the high school production of a Shakespearean play. The acting i... (read more) This movie is an outrage because it is the cheap American remake of a fine film. Seeing it on its own make it an odd little movie. Seeing it in contrast with Rashomon makes it seem like the high school production of a Shakespearean play. The acting is mediocre in comparison, and the backdrops are so bad I almost feared the actors might back up too much and fall into them. In trying to recast the story for an American audience, the omissions and changes resulted in the loss of all the power and integrity behind Rashomon.

It's a Western remake of Kurosawa's "Rashomon" (it might even be a nearly shot-by-shot remake), with several different versions of a rape and murder told by a Mexican bandit, a former Confederate soldier, and his wife. And against all odds, the movie... (read more) It's a Western remake of Kurosawa's "Rashomon" (it might even be a nearly shot-by-shot remake), with several different versions of a rape and murder told by a Mexican bandit, a former Confederate soldier, and his wife. And against all odds, the movie works, for many of the same reasons that "Rashomon" works. In fact, it might follow "Rashomon" a bit too closely, as you spend a lot of time picking out the similarities and differences between the two, and find it hard to consider the movie as anything but a remake. But the transition to the Western genre works, and although Newman seems to mimic Toshiro Mifune a bit too much, on the whole he and the rest of the cast do a good job. It doesn't surpass the genius of "Rashomon" (nothing could), but I think anyone who hasn't seen Kurosawa's movie would still find this enjoyable.

A faithful adaptation of Kurosawa's Rashomon, and only a little inferior to it. Paul Newman is absolutely wonderful in the leading role. Not your typical western - very thought provoking.