Rough Night in Jericho [Blu-ray]

This was considered a very adult and violent Western in its day. Dean Martin is cold blooded and George Peppard is steel eyed. For almost the first hour, the tension is increasing as Dean and his gang corruptly terrorize HIS town (or 51% of it). Peppard enters, sizes up the odds, and maintains his cool but dismisses the situation as far too big to handle. A cat and mouse game goes on between him and Martin but something about Peppard tells you he’s no mouse: he’s a very dangerous cat.I waited 50+ years to see this movie again since seeing it as a boy in the theater. It was almost never shown on tv and no good copy was available on video. It’s even better than I remembered. Peppard’s relationship with John McIntyre is thoughtful and well written. It’s a good role for Mr. McIntyre. The brutal fight between Peppard and Slim Pickens outdoes the Rod Taylor/Earnest Borgnine match in Chuka. Overall Rough Night in Jericho has been a well deserved cult favorite with Western fans. Dean Martin pulls off his sleazy, rotten character and Peppard absolutely shines as the the cool headed stranger with an air of menace about him.As I was watching, having forgotten the details over the decades, I was thinking “they’re going to have to come up with a plan. They have to cut the odds down”. Let’s just say I was not disappointed.

This is a Western with some familiar pieces: the former lawman turned town boss (and his many "deputies"); the former lawman who reluctantly comes to the rescue of the town (and one resident in particular); the one resident who persuades the former lawman to do the right thing; and the town folk trapped helplessly under the boss's thumb. Yet familiar as it might be, it's still a cut above and a fine example of the genre. Dean Martin's bad guy is low-key but menacing; George Peppard's good guy is laid back but strong and ultimately noble; and Jean Simmons' strong female lead is similar to the one she played years earlier in "The Big Country," a great epic Western. With the usual fine support from John McIntire and Slim Pickens--good guy and bad guy, respectively--and some other familiar faces, like a pre-"Ironside" Don Galloway. It's good; it works. I'd recommend it to any Western aficionado.

Everyone involved in this film did a great job.

Universal Pictures has literally dug into their vaults for this rare, intense sixties western,Director Arnold Lavin's 'ROUGH NIGHT IN JERICHO'-1967 made when the Euro Western was making a dent in the genre and the states were holding on to the old tried and true oaters. It's the same old story, a one time lawman turns megalomaniac and decides to run the town of Jericho but the stubborn stage coach owner refuses to give up her rights. After sending notice to a former US Marshal to come and defend the town, the marshal is accompanied by his assistant who slowly realizes that right makes might. The film is an intense experience under the wonderful performances by George Peppard, Jean Simmons, and John McIntire but the film is truly owned by Dean Martin who graced many Westerns but here turns in a truly villainous performance. Martin was never taken seriously in his film work and mores the pity when you see such excellent work such as this. His Alex Flood character is truly amazing and on repeated viewings makes you really grasp his relentless grip on his order of the town. With beautiful images by Photographer Russell Metty and a nice music score by Don Costa, we are witness to the last of the truly by rote American Westerns of the late sixties and Lavin pores on the intensity to the last frame. Peppard gives his always heroic performance and Simmons gives her role a grittiness which never seems to be realized. Highly recommended to all Western lovers and those who only thought Dino was only a show business singer. Along with Director Andrew V. Maclaglen's 'BANDOLERO'-1968. its his best performance ever. Universal releases it in a crystal clear 2.35 DVD-R transfer with no extras.

I had never seen this movie before, and Dean Martin plays a really sleazy bad guy. You don't need to be psychic to know what is going to happen. Cool capable stranger (Peppard) who does not want to get involved comes into a town ruled by a mean boos (Martin) who has taken over 51% of everything but the One Good Woman (Jean Simmons, whom I admit to having had a serious crush on in the Big Country) who owns a stage line and won't give in to his intimidating ways. Add in some innocent people who get hurt and then the one thing that pushes Peppard who then Has Had Enough. The fight he has with Slim Pickens is very realistic, a lot of slow moving, as they are hurting each other with each landed blow. This was made near the end of Peppard's peak period, only wish his character had gotten int the fight sooner, because he is great at handling bullies.

First time I’ve seen this movie & I have not been reading any reviews, I was surprised to find Dean Martin as the villain. I keep thinking of him as a happy go lucky guy. However, the film was very good. Fight scenes were rough & tough. It wasn’t your regular western. I felt it was more in a Shane type format. Acting was super for all characters. George Peppard was the easy going, cautious good guy. I Highly recommend this western.

I like the movie because in it you can still see a clear image of what is right and wrong. No middle shades of right and wrong as is now days. A good old Western with excelente actors, good scenery and script

ROUGH NIGHT IN JERICHO: Standard western. But, this time,Dean Martin is the woman-slapping, back-stabbing, crooked-shooter, evil cattle-baron. I preferred the other one I boughtthat had a little comedy relief, but THIS was, also, of interestto Dean Martin fans; he sings in neither. This one IS, rather,suspenseful.

"Jean Simmons" R.I.P. One of the screens loveliest Actresses. Good film.

Very good western, great cast. I think this was Dean Martin's only movie where he was the villain. He played it well even though he goes against his screen image. Jean Simmons is always an A+ and George Peppard and John McIntyre were almost as good as Jean.

Unusual to see Dean Martin cast as an out and out villain, his outlaws and bad guys usually have some redeeming qualities, for example "Bandolero!" and "Somthing Big", but here he's all bad, and carries off his vllainous role well. Although he owns at least 51% of most of the town he gets even worse when he can't get his hands on the towns run down stage line owned by Jean Simmons. Into all this rides a black clad reluctant hero, (George Peppard) will he help Jean or side with Dean? It all makes for a pretty good western with quite an unusual showdown at the end!

Buon western da me provato e poi regalato.

Very classic style western. Bad guy owns most of a town and threatens the lady who owns the stagecoach line to sell him her business. She refuses. A retired marshal and his former deputy arrive in town, but are reluctant to help until the woman and deputy fall in love (of course). Naturally a big shootout ensues and in the final confrontation Peppard, the deputy, kills Martin, the bad guy. Dean Martin didn't often play a bad guy so it's interesting to see him in this role. If you like westerns you'll enjoy this one.