This summary is influenced somewhat because this reviewer has been a Robert Lansing fan as long as can be remembered. Every single time Lansing has acted in a production (TV, play, or movie), his performance has made me forget about the actor practicing a craft and to become engrossed in the role and the particular story. That is what makes a truly fine actor, in my opinion, and it is sad that Lansing had been unrecognized by the entertainment industry in general and not given more roles to portray during his career.The story of Talion (aka An Eye For An Eye) is offbeat from the average western story, as it focuses on personal relationships between humans more than the shoot-'em-up aspects of the Old West. There is action in the gunfighting, a bit of history in Ben's background, the creativity used to surmount physical shortcomings in order to achieve a set goal, a view of family life in the hardscrabble wilderness of the 1800s, the dignity with which an aging ranch owner strives to raise his children to be honest, confidant,and respectable adults, and even some romance in the longing the early settlers must have experienced when living in a relatively lawless location and era, often far away from neighbors, family, and the diversions of city or even town life. And, it contains a lesson in morality and conscience in that the story shows even a mature adult can learn to see life from a different perspective, regardless of the events of the past.The general production values were appropriate if not lavish, but with what appeared to be the use of genuine antiques for household props. The cinematography was outstanding, lending a real feel to what life on an isolated ranch must have been like. The ending was unusual as well, and not predictable. This is not a large production or epic western (such as THE BIG COUNTRY which was peppered with big name stars), but a lonely and tender but still a little gritty family-appropriate production.Serve a batch of buttered popcorn, a bowl of chocolate and nuts to munch on, and your favorite beverage over ice. Curl up on the couch and turn the lights down low to enjoy this simple story of the Old West.

The gimmick in "The Fastest Guitar Alive" director Michael D. Moore's western "An Eye for an Eye" is that the two protagonists must adapt to the tragic misfortunes that crippled them after they attempted to kill a notorious outlaw. The older protagonist is injured by gunfire and cannot use his gun hand to draw his revolver, while the younger protagonist has blinded and cannot see where to shoot. The combine their talents to thwart the villain. This off-beat tale of vengeance turns on the fact that the hero is searching for the villain who raped and murdered his wife as well as his son in retaliation for the hero who killed the outlaw's brother. American westerns were experiencing changes during the middle of the 1960s as a consequence of the Spaghetti western. Although this morality yarn about two bounty hunters competing for the same outlaw is a traditional western, the problems that they encounter and the way that they resolve their problem makes for a predictable but interesting sagebrusher. Undoubtedly, freshman scenarists Bing Russell and Sumner Williams must have either seen or heard of the crippled Japanese swordsman "Zatôichi" (1962) when they sat down to pin this melodrama. Actually, a fluke of fate pulls the rug out from under our two heroes and the villain emerges as even more antagonistic before this 92 minute oater concludes with an equally unfortunate ending. Lucien Ballard's color cinematography and the backdrop of the rugged Sierras as well as the dusty terrain make this frontier western look rather authentic. Indeed, this is a down-to-earth western about men who are given a second chance to achieve their objective under the worst circumstances.Veteran second-unit helmer Moore puts a solid cast headlined by "12 O'Clock High" television actor Robert Lansing and John Wayne's son Patrick through the paces and "An Eye for an Eye" doesn't wear out its welcome. Nevertheless, the ending remains pretty downbeat. Not even the use of a young boy (can we say "Shane") to appeal to the hero's sense of responsibility can change his decision to ride clear of relationships. Slim Pickens has been ideally cast as a no-account, low-down, dastard. Typically, Pickens appears as comic relief in most westerns, but after "One-Eyed Jacks" the former rodeo clown received some straight-up villain roles that differed entirely from his comedic roles. Later, American actor Tony Anthony adapted the "Zatôichi" narrative for a western entitled "Blindman." This Spanish-lensed Spaghetti western is a man without sight who decimates the bad guys after have stolen the mail-order brides that the workers paid him to deliver. Before this western came out, nobody had made a dust-raiser like "An Eye for an Eye." "An Eye for an Eye" opens with desperado Ike Slant (Slim Pickens of "One-Eyed Jacks") tucking in his shirt as he leaves a room where a couple of people are screaming. Basically, Ike has just raped a married woman and he is annoyed by their crying. He smashes a lamp on the wooden floorboards and sets the house ablaze as Jonas (one-time only actor Jerry Gatling) and Charley Beetson (Henry Wills of "The Sons of Katie Elder") scramble outside. Before he leaves, Ike shoots the woman once and the little boy second. Retired bounty hunter Talion (Robert Lansing of "A Gathering of Eagles") rides home to find his shack wreathed in flames. He can do nothing to either stop the blaze or save his wife and son. Trumbull (Strother Martin of "Slap Shot") sneaks up behind Talion and informs him that he knows who burned down his house. When he begs for money in exchange for his information, Talion disarms him and holds him at bay with his own revolver. Afterward, Talion wanders into a camp on the trail. He meets another bounty hunter Benny Wallace (Patrick Wayne of "The Alamo"), and they strike up an uneasy friendship that suffers from the strain put on it because they both are searching for the same dastard, Ike Slant. Our heroes begin their search for Slant, and they descend into an area where an older man, Brian Quince (Paul Fix of "Nevada Smith"), mistakes them for lawman and allows them to sample the food that his daughter, Bri Quince (Gloria Talbott of "Daughter of Dr. Jekyll"), serves them. Bri's little boy, Jo-Hi (Clint Howard of "The Courtship of Eddie's Father"), takes a shine to Talion and they become friends. Meanwhile, Brian labors under the impression that Talion and Benny are lawmen, not bounty hunters. Later, after he learns that our heroes are bounty hunters, Brian forbids them to enter their property. Moreover, Brian sets out to discourage his daughter, Bri Quince, from having anything to do with him. Talion and Benny ride out and catch the Beetson brothers and Ike in the open. A brief gunfight erupts. Talion loses the use of his right hand when Ike knocks the six-gun out of his fist. Benny blasts the two Beetson brothers as they try to escape on horseback.Some days pass before Talion admits to himself that he can no longer wield his revolver in his right hand. Ironically, Benny observes that Talion, who struggled to take care of him, cannot take care of himself. Meantime, Benny's head gash has affected his vision so that he is practically blind. Talion breaks down and explains to Benny that their only hope for survival is to challenge Ike to a duel but they will stand alongside each other. Talion has established a system for Benny. They set up a target practice range, and Talion calls out a number that indicates where Benny will shoot. While all of this is transpiring, Talion and Bri become romantically linked. Unfortunately, neither is allowed to wed each other. Ike Slant meets Talion and Benny in the street and Benny drops him. The treacherous Turnball makes an unscheduled appearance again and he guns down Benny moments after Benny drops Ike."An Eye for an Eye" qualifies an entertaining, off-beat, violent western.

Rugged veteran bounty hunter Talian (a fine and credible performance by Robert Lansing) and amiable eager beaver novice Benny Wallace (a likable portrayal by Patrick Wayne) join forces to nab vicious no-count cowboy Ike Slant (robustly played to the deliciously despicable hilt by Slim Pickens). Both are left crippled after a confrontation with Slant: Talian's gun hand gets maimed while Benny is blinded. The duo concoct a unique method to get revenge on Slant. Director Michael Moore, working from a compact script by Bing Russell and Sumner Williams, relates the absorbing story at a steady pace, maintains a serious tone throughout, and stages the stirring shoot-outs with real skill. This film further benefits from capable acting from the sound cast: Lansing and Wayner display a nice and natural chemistry as the engaging protagonists, Pickens makes for a pleasingly mean and detestable villain, the always terrific Strother Martin almost steals the whole show with his marvelously wormy turn as slimy and sniveling rat Trumball the Fink, plus there are sturdy contributions by Paul Fix as folksy storekeeper Brian Quince, fetching Gloria Talbott as the sweet Bri Quince, and a very young Clint Howard as cute little squirt kid Jo-Hi. Lucien Ballard's sharp cinematography gives the film a strikingly lovely picturesque look. Raoul Kraushaar's twangy score hits the harmonic spot. The climactic showdown between our two disabled heroes and Slant is quite tense and exciting. A solid and satisfying Grade B oater.

Embassy Pictures was the RKO Pictures of its day - making "major studio" productions on lower budgets. In this case, VERY low - it's pretty obvious that it didn't take a lot of money (or time) to shoot this western! It starts off as a typical vengeance saga, though takes a twist when the two gunfighters are injured and must work more like a team than ever. Lansing (who greatly resembles Steve McQueen here) is okay, though a little subdued. Pat Wayne is pretty decent, and shows he could have had a bigger film career if he'd been given a chance. Slim Pickens is pretty hammy, though his character is written in a very simple-minded way, like you would expect a cowboy villain to be a few decades earlier. In fact, aside from the musical score (which has the flavor of those found in spaghetti westerns starting to come out around this time), the movie in its writing and directing greatly resembles many westerns filmed in the late '40s to early '50. Only really recommended for die-hard fans of westerns.