cult film freak: ROBERT MITCHUM IN 'THE WRATH OF GOD' WITH KEN HUTCHISON

Title: The Wrath of God Year: 1972 Rating: ***

British actor Ken Hutchison, from intimidating Dustin Hoffman in STRAW DOGS to beating up GANDHI, played mostly villains except THE WRATH OF GOD opposite Robert Mitchum; the latter a foul-mouthed priest to Hutchison's feisty/fun Irish rogue, all taking place in Central America. And the best scenes have the trio, including likable con man Victor Buono, pursued by antique cop cars, involved in various shoot-outs and almost getting executed, right down to the black eye-mask... Then given a mission to kill dictator Frank Langella, a role he underplays...

Split by Catholic mom Rita Hayworth and a personal hatred of religion, especially priest Mitchum, he's not evil enough for our heroes to spend so much time preparing a revolution by training ill-prepared townspeople for battle. So what works AND fails are the sub-genres ranging from Spaghetti Western Revenge; Classic Gangster involving Mitchum, a Tommy-gun and an attempt to smuggle prohibited booze; and a barrage of Sam Peckinpah style slow-motion firing squad deaths in the opening credits. And since a world-weary Mitchum and rambunctious Hutchison (the latter romancing gorgeous mute local Paula Pritchett) are always game to either fight or run away, it's a shame things got so serious halfway through.