Powerful

It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

I disagree with the commentator who opined that "The Hellions" resembles "Firecreek" in action and themes more closely than it resembles "High Noon". Points of similarity: 1. The Outlaw father is seeking revenge against the local lawman for a past injury. 2. It's a thriving frontier community, not a backwater full of "losers" like the town of Firecreek. 3. The departure-by-train that doesn't happen: Just as the Marshal'wife gets off the train to go back and help him fight, another character in "Hellions" makes a similar decision. But the townspeople in "Hellions" go only so far in leaving everything up to the Constible. When the chips are down, it's a very different ending.I first saw this movie about 1962, and again on TV in the late 80's. (Beware of the edited-for-TV print.--Ugh! But I still remember scraps of the lilting theme song: Here they come and may they soon be gone/ Matthew, Jubal, Mark and Luke and John/ ...Live by the gun and sure as the sunrise/ Die by the gun you must,/ Just as the Hellions one by one/ Died in the Trans Vaal dust! (Chorus: They died in the Trans Vaal dust!)

The 'HELLIONS' was a great movie, a great cast, a perfect film ! The song i've never forgotten, though i haven't seen the movie since it last aired on NetWork TV in the late 60's if i recall. It is a great film, and i too keep hoping it will surface somewhere, hopefully on DVD. I often think about it, and some may remember the father of the Hellions was in TARZANS GREATEST ADVENTURE, with GORDON SCOTT in 1960. Another great movie ! And TARZAN THE MACNIFICENT with GORDEN SCOTT was another Classic ! The HELLIONS was and is one of the best movies ever made, definitely forever on the favorites list !!! If i recall the ending was a fight atop a roof between the hero and the outlaw father ! I recall moments here and there of the film, such as Jeffries saying to the guy who admitted killing his son he was looking for, ... " No, not you, not a little man"... !!! then he thrashed him if i recall with barbwire ! Indeed, a great movie ! Similer to another obscure western, and great movie, THE PLUNDERERS !

I saw this movie once over 45 years ago and I've never been able to forget it. Nor do I want to forget it. Lionel Jeffries and Richard Todd were never better. Apparently it has never been released on video and I think that's a bitter shame. This South African Western is superb and deserves to be seen by everyone. The story has been compared to "High Noon", but I believe "The Hellions" packed more punch. One is used to Lionel Jeffries' portrayals of befuddled old men. But here, he is as evil as anyone I've ever seen. James Booth deserves, I believe, more credit for his role. This film is bulging with talent and should be accessible to today's audience. I definitely will keep searching.

I have been searching for this movie for many years. I first saw it when it was originally released and was more than impressed. Somehow the casting director put together a group of actors who had 'the right chemistry' and the film turned out to be exceptionally good. For Western lovers all the right ingredients are there (except for the quick draw) and the film builds to a tense climax. I really want to see this movie again and would love to add it to my collection. Lionel Jeffries is brilliant as Luke Billings!HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.