The Unforgiven | Rotten Tomatoes

The Unforgiven

Released Apr 6, 1960

2 hr. 5 min.

Drama

Romance

Western

List

60%

5 Reviews

Tomatometer

60%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

The Zachary family live quietly on a cattle ranch in post-Civil War Texas. A stranger (Joseph Wiseman) appears and disturbs their bucolic existence by spreading a malicious rumor that their adopted daughter, Rachel (Audrey Hepburn), is a Kiowa Native American. Soon, the Zachary brothers (Audie Murphy, Burt Lancaster) and their mother (Lillian Gish) must defend themselves from both racist whites and vengeful Kiowa.

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nick s

The production quality is high, with great scenic shots. And the acting is great. But it's pretty drawn out. I gave it a lot of time to get going as I'm a fan of the actors and the sets were awesome, but I just didn't get hooked by the storyline. It didn't spark. After an hour I tapped out.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

10/25/23

Full Review

dana r

I have seen this movie for years. Never reviewed it. I like it a lot and recommend it. I appreciate and like the strong acting from Burt Lancaster and Audrey Hepburn. You can see in the movie the national angst of racism as Audie Murphy and community friends seethe in racism that confuses Hepburn, while Lancaster and the Zachary family band together to fight the vicious racism thrown at them. It's timeless, well written and acted, and I always enjoy watching it. There are no actors today like Lancaster and Hepburn. Not even close.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

20% rating .... Interesting plot twist, but I had troubles staying focused because it was rather boring in my opinion.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/17/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I was curious to watch this film because I've been watching other Westerns and thought this one might be a good one to be familiar with. Also, it was released in the year of my birth, 1960. It's an OK film. The plot is a little confusing in places. The drifter with the sword is compelling, and it's interesting how his perceived power collapses as he's lying on the ground after a long and grueling chase. I like that scene, where he tries to draw his sword while lying on the ground, but the pursuer simply kicks it away. Previously, that sword has been a symbol of his mystique. The Kiowa history painted on the animal skin is also very interesting, and I enjoyed the scene where brother Ben interprets it. I love the scene toward the end where the Kiowa play music at their camp. I wonder if they ever played music that sounded even remotely like that. And would they have had the instruments with them while traveling in a war party? It seems doubtful, but the scene is great nonetheless. The Whites respond by having their mother bang out a loud piece on the piano which, incredibly, is still sitting in the yard outside the cabin. That scene goes nowhere, and I simply cringe as the piano quickly crumbles under the assault. As for Audrey Hepburn, I wouldn't say it's a stand-out performance on her part. I like her as an actress. Who doesn't? But she overacts a bit. Plus, who buys the idea that she was actually born a Kiowa when she's as fair-skinned as the rest of the Zachary family and looks nothing like the Kiowa brother? I like the sentiment of the film, which is anti-racist. But I think the plot could have been re-worked to better serve that stance.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/14/23

Full Review

mike g

Wow what a film! Audrey Hepburn is stunning. Burt Lancaster shines. The storyline wouldn't make it today with so many snowflakes who wouldn't be able to handle that people once spoke a way they wouldn't approve, but the film is definitely worth the time.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A tearjerker to some extent- Love Conquers all.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/20/23

Full Review

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John Huston

Director

Burt Lancaster

Ben Zachary

Audrey Hepburn

Rachel Zachary

Lillian Gish

Mattilda Zachary

Audie Murphy

Cash Zachary

John Saxon

Johnny Portugal

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The Unforgiven: Official Clip - Sealed With a Kiss

1:06

The Unforgiven: Official Clip - Cash to the Rescue

2:12

The Unforgiven: Official Clip - I Hanged Him!

2:04

The Unforgiven: Official Clip - Defending the Homestead

1:59

The Unforgiven: Official Clip - Rooftop Stampede

2:12

The Unforgiven: Official Clip - Ben's a Mite Touchy About Rachel

2:11

The Unforgiven: Official Clip - How Much Woman Worth?

2:12

The Unforgiven: Official Clip - Reclaiming Rachel

2:10

The Unforgiven: Official Clip - A Gallows Tale

2:12

The Unforgiven: Official Clip - Charlie Is Ambushed

1:08

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Dwight MacDonald

Esquire Magazine

The Unforgiven is a work of profound phoniness: part adult Western, part that Oklahoma! kind of folksy Americana.

Jul 12, 2019

Full Review

Michael W. Phillips, Jr.

Goatdog's Movies

This film ... comes draped in the hair shirt of revisionism, but in reality it's an unrepentant throwback to the "good old days" when the only good Indian was a dead Indian.

Rated: 2/5

Apr 8, 2006

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 3/5

Jul 19, 2005

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Considering how Huston and Lancaster have artistic disagreements over filming, it surprisingly still turned out relatively well.

Rated: B

Jan 17, 2005

Full Review

James Sanford

Kalamazoo Gazette

Terrific Western with a strong message

Rated: 5/5

Jul 30, 2004

Full Review

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Synopsis

The Zachary family live quietly on a cattle ranch in post-Civil War Texas. A stranger (Joseph Wiseman) appears and disturbs their bucolic existence by spreading a malicious rumor that their adopted daughter, Rachel (Audrey Hepburn), is a Kiowa Native American. Soon, the Zachary brothers (Audie Murphy, Burt Lancaster) and their mother (Lillian Gish) must defend themselves from both racist whites and vengeful Kiowa.

Director: John Huston
Screenwriter: Ben Maddow
Distributor: United Artists
Production Co: United Artists
Genre: Drama, Romance, Western
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 6, 1960, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 16, 2008

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