Lolly-Madonna XXX (1973) User Reviews (35)

Hatfields and McCoys with Great Cast!

[shepardjessica · 6/10 · 10 July 2004]

This is not a great film, by any means, but they make an honest effort to build up the ridiculous notion of territorial ownership of people, fences, and honor. Robert Ryan (wonderful actor since the 40's) and Rod Steiger (more restrained than usual) are the patriarchs of two rural hillbilly families with an innocent girl standing between them.

Jeff Bridges, Scott Wilson, Gary Busey, and Randy Quaid are some of their brood that puts this slightly above the usual drive-in fare. Kiel Martin is very good. Nice cinematography and none of the cast is coasting, it just never really catches fire. Worth a watch, though. Best performance = Scott Wilson. A 6 out of 10.

Lolly Madonna XXX - RARE & INTENSE Flawed Film

[HardToFindMovies · 5/10 · 19 January 2014]

Lolly Madonna XXX was released in 1973 with an all star cast with direction by Richard Sarafin....this juicy film has been a lost movie since that time as it was never released on VHS, laser disk, DVD or pal in the U.K.....I finally watched a treasured print today 1/19/2014 and it certainly was not boring. One thing to remember is that the title actually refers to a signature written at the end of a letter and should be read as: Lolly Madonna Kiss Kiss Kiss. The movie appears to be a metaphor for the futility of war and the waste of precious lives over petty feuds. Though this film is about a hillbilly Hatfield/McCoy type feud it seems to be eluding to the Vietnam War going on at that time. What we have here is a poorly written violent film with an all star cast and riveting action! Rod Steiger is the tough and crazed Daddy of the Feather family and his nemesis is Robert Ryan aka Pap Gutshall of the Gutshall clan. This film has a tragic accident, land dispute, kidnapping...and then moves on to violent attacks, shootouts and murders....WOW! If you like plenty of southern good-ole-boy characters and a chance to see Jeff Bridges, Gary Busey & Randy Quaid very early in their careers then this is the film for you. the film was shoot in the actual mountains of Tennessee and looks fine, it just has choppy editing and a storyline that is not always clear to the viewer. These issues could be overlooked by the fine acting as Steiger verses Ryan is pretty wild to see and the talented supporting cast does good work...if only the film was not so depressing. The film is not upbeat in any way, shape or form and reeks of despair...this is truly the fatal flaw here and the reason I rate it a 5 out of 10 despite all the acting talent on display.

Terrific cast in realistic hillbilly shoot out ......

[merklekranz · 7/10 · 2 July 2016]

The cast alone makes viewing this multiple title film worthwhile. It goes by "Lolly Madonna XXX", "The Lolly Madonna Wars", and the trailer calls the movie "Fire in the Meadow." No matter what you call it, this is an excellent movie that is beautifully photographed. Scott Wilson, Ed Lauter, Jeff Bridges, and Season Hubley, really carry the film, with top billed Rod Steiger and Robert Ryan more in the background. With the authenticity of the rural setting never in doubt, there is a lot to like here as far as realism is concerned. Although the ending seems a bit rushed, it cannot cancel what has preceded it. Highly recommended, especially for fans of the actors. - MERK

An allegory for war, specifically Vietnam, with touching, memorable performances.

[KutWrite · 21 August 1999]

Two rustic families, headed by patriarchs Laban Feather (Rod Steiger)and Pap Gutshall (Robert Ryan), begin a feud. At first, it is comical, with the sons of the two families playing tricks on each other. One such trick gives the Feather boys the idea to kidnap a girl, who turns out to be innocent bystander Roonie, not the made-up girlfriend named Lolly Madonna. As events escalate, Jeff Bridges' character, Zack Feather, and Roonie fall in love and try to bring the others to their senses. What Roonie doesn't know is that Zack has a dark secret, which will explain why there is much real pain between the two families that once were close friends.

The plot really pushes forward in this movie, which I believe is in part an allegory for the mindlessness of war in general, and for Vietnam in particular (the Paris Peace Talks were about to start when the movie was released). The touching performances make you feel for and care about every character, from wannabe "Elvis" Hawk Feather (Ed Lauter) and his sensitive brother, Thrush Feather (Scott Wilson), both patriarchs, each with a different cross to bear, to the patient, wise, quietly suffering matriarchs (Tresa Hughes and Katherine Squire). Relative newcomers Jeff Bridges, Gary Busey and Season Hubley bring focus and hope to the film. Even the simple melodic score is perfect, coming forward at just the right time.

"Lolly-Madonna XXX" brings tears to my eyes every time I see it... and I'm no wimp!

These mountain feuds

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 6 July 2019]

The only thing that surprised me in Lolly Madonna XXX is that there was actually a bus stop in that nowhere corner of the Tennessee hills where Season Hubley had to change buses.

Oddly enough her character reminded me of Cary Grant in North By Northwest in that Cary Grant's ad man character fell into a ruse the CIA was using to trap spies. He was a character who didn't exist but who the villains take for a flesh and blood person.

Same with Season Hubley making her debut in this film. The one family lures the guards away from the other's still so they can wreck it. So when Hubley arrives she's thought to be one Lolly Madonna a girl interested in one of the brothers guarding a still.

The Feather and Gutshall families don't really need a reason to fight, they've been doing it for generations. Although I will say that family patriarchs Rod Steiger and Robert Ryan do keep a lid on somewhat as they seek advantage when the blood does start flowing.

As for Hubley she has no real family, she lost them early and was raised in foster care. Despite all the flaws she sees, she does love the Smokey Mountain scenery, the strong family ties and Jeff Bridges in particular.

The last third is very bloody as both families lose a lot of kinfolk. Lolly Madonna XXX is a nice realistic portrayal of the hill folk.

It sure ain't the Beverly Hillbillies.

Grim and depressing

[preppy-3 · 7/10 · 21 May 2016]

Story about two hillbilly families. One is run by Rod Steiger, the other by Robert Ryan. Two of Steiger's sons rape Ryans' daughter. Things quickly escalate and it all ends tragically.

This has a great cast--aside from Steiger and Ryan we have Jeff Bridges, Ed Lauter, Randy Quaid, Gary Busey and Season Hubley (a great actress who starred in many B movies well into the 1990s). However despite all the good acting this movie never really works. Nothing seems to have the impact it should have. The ending also is incredibly brutal and negative. So it's OK but just doesn't work. Despite the PG rating there's a lot swearing and a VERY bloody beating.

Impressive acting by Steiger and Ryan

[msneuropil · 6/10 · 13 November 2015]

I would give this hard to find movie an 8 except for the 70's dating of the movie. I've only seen this movie 1 1/2 times. I caught the end half of the movie decades ago on AMC when they didn't have commercials. I still remember the mayo scene for the acting. It was so awesome. From that time on I watched for the movie to come on again, and finally I saw the whole picture so now I understand the plot better and was even more impressed. Since Turner Classic Movies came on TV and Online I have requested they run the movie. A few times I saw a film short on the making of Lolly Madonna (xxx), but no movie. For film buffs, this is a classic even with it's 70's film treatment, not my favorite film year. I have the movie on a perpetual list of ones to auto record hoping one day it will show again. This movie got me interested in Ryan and Steiger movies and since TCM I usually watch that channel 90% of time so I have come to really appreciate their catalog of movies. I think perhaps the name with a triple X tacked on end is reason why movie is not shown or well known. Had I see the listing for it I would not have even watched the movie the first time. And early on the internet searching for the whole name is liable to give one an education of porn on the internet. It should use it's less known name, the Lolly Madonna War.

Worth a Watch

[lee1888 · 5/10 · 25 April 2021]

This move could have been so much more with the great cast it has, but the screen play was not very well written. This movie plays off the Hatfield and McCoy's, two family s that use to be friends and are now locked in a feud over land.

An innocent girl is kidnapped from a rural area bus stop because she is mistaken for Lolly Madonna, a made up female trick on the other family. The Feather clan take her home and refuse to let her go, believing she is the girl friend of one of the. Gutshall clan. This escalates the feud into and all out war. In the end you will be left wondering who won and what the heck just happen. One of those typical early 70's movies with holes that you are expected to fill in. The cast is the only thing that makes this movie any good.

Intense drama sobers one up in a hurry.

[Hey_Sweden · 8/10 · 15 March 2015]

This viewer had been wanting to see this little movie for years. Not only does it have a strong cast of veterans and then up-and-coming young stars, but it sounded like fun. He expected something trashy and action-driven, but ended up getting something more. This is really a pretty thoughtful melodrama with very convincing rustic atmosphere and efficient direction by Richard C. Sarafian (of "Vanishing Point" fame).

Rod Steiger and Robert Ryan (the latter in one of his final film roles) play Laban and Pap, the patriarchs of the Feather and Gutshall families. These families used to be close, but eventually things got bad, real bad. The Hatfields and McCoys type feud starts out somewhat mild, with pranks being pulled. The title comes from a phony postcard, signed by a made-up woman, "Lolly-Madonna", designed to get one family to abandon their still. This leads the Feathers to kidnap a young traveller (Season Hubley) who they are convinced must be this "Lolly- Madonna".

It's interesting to note that this was an early credit for the famed author Sue Grafton, who also wrote the screenplay with producer Rodney Carr-Smith. It's a very serious meditation on the utter futility and madness of any war, especially the Vietnam war. The material gives some juicy acting opportunities to a superb ensemble. Steiger and Ryan mostly play it low key (although Steiger *does* eventually erupt into typical Steiger-esque acting) in order to let the younger generation make their mark. And what a supporting cast: Jeff Bridges, Scott Wilson, Timothy Scott, Kiel Martin, Ed Lauter, Randy Quaid, Gary Busey, Paul Koslo. Lauter is especially fun as Hawk, who has fantasies of being an Elvis-like rock star. Bridges plays Labans' son Zack, and as he and Hubley make a connection, you realize that they're the biggest hope for some semblance of sanity and reason in this story. Still, it's hard to deny the somber feeling of inevitability to everything here.

The rough, grainy look is actually appropriate for the mood, and Fred Myrow contributes a very affecting music score.

This is an intriguing, now somewhat obscure, movie deserving of another look.

Eight out of 10.

The futility of a family feud

[JasparLamarCrabb · 6/10 · 17 August 2012]

This modern day rift on the HATFIELDS & MCCOYS is deceptively nasty. A prank committed by one hillbilly family leads to catastrophic actions on both sides. Rod Steiger is the grizzled patriarch of one family, Robert Ryan is the "principled" head of the other. They're two bullheaded sociopaths who think nothing of sacrificing their sons rather than swallow their pride. Directed with a lot of finesse by Richard C. Sarafian (who had previously helmed the classic VANISHING POINT). Steiger and Ryan are, as expected, excellent, but it's the cast of newcomers playing the sons that steal the movie. Scott Wilson, Jeff Bridges, Gary Busey, Randy Quaid and especially Kiel Martin are outstanding. The great underutilized Season Hubley plays the title role (or does she?). The exceptional music score is by Fred Myrow.

Not quite Hollywood enough, not quite hillbilly enough

[ofumalow · 5/10 · 19 August 2020]

This interesting but ultimately not very successful 70s obscurity can't quite decide how to approach its whole "hillbilly blood feud" premise: Old-fashioned blood and thunder melodrama with broad archetypes, or something more naturalistic and credible?

It winds up somewhere in the middle, with a capable cast not credible as family (of course it's not their fault that so many of the younger actors later became famous, and hence are a little too recognizable), or as rural folk. Some of them play up the "inbred yoke" cliche, others don't at all, but no one has a fully rounded character. So we don't feel much when inevitably the hostility rooted in an old land dispute-then escalated by a series of new blunders and misunderstandings-erupts into practically everybody killing practically everybody else at the final shootout.

As the patriarchs, Steiger and Ryan are maybe the least defined of all, their usual strong personalities failing to bring the roles into focus at all. It sort of personifies the film's near-miss quality that during one big chunk of the climactic mayhem, Steiger just sits in the kitchen making a sandwich, for no tangible reason at all. Anyway, a watchable film, but as with so many now hard-to-find early 70s flops, it's easy to see why this one didn't connect with audiences.

Late Night Surprise

[Websnacker · 8/10 · 2 July 2005]

I saw this movie on TCM late at night (must be around 2 AM) when I was channel surfing. I was actually intrigued by its title and decided to watch it assuming it was a campy 70's sex romp. But once you see established names like Rod Steiger, Robert Ryan, Jeff Bridges, Randy Quaid, Scott Wilson, Ed Lauter and Gary Busey, you know you are wrong.

Though not everybody's cup of tea, Lolly Madonna XXX is a surprise treat - one of those movies that surprise you just when you think you know whats going to happen next or assume nothings going to happen at all. With terrific performances especially by Ed Lauter, a(very thin looking)Randy Quaid and a very young Jeff Bridges besides a beautiful score thats just right,this is a movie you shouldn't miss.

Solid Film with a Great Cast

[mchl88 · 7/10 · 11 April 2024]

I started this movie as I hopped on the life cycle this morning thinking I'd do an hour spin. 90 minutes later I finally stopped pedaling and then watched the last 10 minutes of this as I cooled down. Which says a lot about this film.

It's a simple plot. Roonie Gill is kidnapped by the Feather family in a case of mistaken identity. The Feathers are currently at war with their neighbors, the Gutshalls (think Hatfield-McCoy) so Gill is literally caught in the crossfire.

It's hard to say what I liked so much about this. Everyone except Gill (and the innocent pigs who are also caught in the middle of the feud) is abhorrent. Even Jeff Bridges' Zack Feather, who's kinda nice to Gill, is still holding her against her will. I think I just enjoyed rooting against everyone, especially in the final faceoff where I was like, good, I hope they all kill each other. And I also loved seeing some of these actors (like Bridges and Gary Busey and Randy Quaid) at the beginning of their careers.

7 out of 10 for me on this. A solid movie that I'd watch again if it came back up on TCM.

Outstanding film!!!

[schylar · 6 August 2004]

I too saw Lolly Madonna XXX very late one night 20 years ago. I am now 41 years old and still haunted by this film. When I saw this movie at 21 years of age, I was very disturbed by it - the way these families lived, the misunderstanding and violence between the families, the misunderstanding and violence within each family itself -it was overwhelming. However, to this day, I consider this to be the best film I have ever seen. I judge a movie based on the ability it has to make me really FEEL - and Lolly Madonna did that for me like no other film ever has!! This film forces you to become attached to each and every character. And then when things start to go very, very, wrong.............well, I can't say anymore. Suffice it to say that this film will seriously affect anyone thinking person who sees it. There is also a very sad but very beautiful about the music. When I saw it the first time I couldn't stop thinking about for two days! I was fortunate enough to have caught this a second time about 15 years ago on the late, late movie (from the beginning) and was able to video tape it. Unfortunately, the tape was misplaced in my move to NYC. I would pay good, good money to own this movie!! That is, if I could find it!!

lolly madonna xxx

[mossgrymk · 6/10 · 1 September 2023]

First half shows promise as director Richard C. Sarafian interestingly subverts his "Vanishing Point", slam bang, non stop action persona by alternating scenes of violence with ones of quiet sensitivity that remind the viewer that this time Sarafian is working from a well regarded novel rather than a mindless original screenplay. But then, right around the time the Gutshall gal is raped by the Feather boys (or is it the other way around? Hard to keep the characters straight in Sue Grafton's script), it is as if Sarafian is suddenly doubting this contrasting approach to his material and instead reverts to the trusty ol blood bag as we are treated to multiple beatings, shootings of horses, conflagrations and slow motion killings. By the end the film looks like it was directed by the Griner boys, of "Deliverance" fame. C plus.

PS...Lotsa good performances from both the usual suspects (Ryan, Bridges, Busey) and the not so usual (i.e. Kiel Martin of "Hill St. Blues" fame, Scott Wilson of "In Cold Blood" fame, veteran red neck character actor Ed Lauter, and a stage actor I'd not seen before named Tresa Hughes).

redneck feud

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 12 August 2023]

Two rural Tennessee families, Feather and Gutshall, are two constantly feuding. Two of the Feather boys decide to kidnap Lolly Madonna, the girlfriend of one of the Gutshall boys. In reality, they've been tricked. There is no Lolly Madonna and they have kidnapped innocent traveler Roonie Gill on her way to Nashville.

The premise is a little dumb. She should have some sort of ID. She's moving her whole life to Nashville. Everything should be in that suitcase. The only way to fix that story problem is for the Feather boys to leave the suitcase behind. Next problem is the Gutshall boys should call the police. The movie claims that the local deputies would never step foot on Feather land. That's fine. Call the state police. Call the Feds even. It's a kidnapping. If they were smart, they would tell the people at that gas station. There has to be some people there.

The premise needs a lot more work. It's relying on characters being dumb and a bit of nonsense. Even if I ignore all that, the pacing is a little slow at time. I do like the spiraling situation and the tension does climb over time. It's not the best family feud. It has some really good actors here. The issue do keep it from being better.

Largely unknown, but beloved by most who have seen it

[kmosier-2 · 10/10 · 18 September 2006]

This is a movie I, like many others, caught on late night TV. Being a long-time Jeff Bridges fan, I thought I would give this a whirl when it showed up on TBS back in the 80's. I was immediately transfixed by the atmosphere, the haunting music and most of all the casting. All of the characters were on target and I can't recall a movie with more "character" actors than this one. Scott Wilson, Randy Quaid, Ed Lauter, Keil Martin and 70's staple Paul Koslo all add to the richness of this flick. There were no real bad guys in my mind. Even Rod Steiger's psychotic yet tortured portrayal evoked sympathy. I was able to tape a showing about 15 years ago and still have the VHS. I am half afraid to watch it because if anything happened to it it's practically irreplaceable. With all the garbage being released on DVD these days I would love to see more quality pictures such as this being released.

Haunting

[hapyfish · 10/10 · 30 December 2006]

I can't tell you how many years ago I saw this movie late night on some local station. I can't tell you many details I remember from this movie. The only thing I can tell you is that it has stayed with me for years, haunted me and I can't say why.

I'm from Tennessee, so that part may resonate with me, although I'm not from the back hills of the state.

I remember how cute Season Hubley and Jeff Bridges were.

I don't remember much about the music, but perhaps it wormed itself into my mind.

Nope, no particular reason for it, and I've only seen it once.. yet it haunts me to this day.. probably some 20 years later. I'd love to have the chance to see it again.

Not for all Tastes

[dougdoepke · 23 May 2016]

Not a film for all tastes. It's violent, almost nihilistic in outcome, and certainly not a classic Hollywood ending. Like some other reviewers, I take the narrative to be an allegory on war, at least of certain types of war. Here a dispute over a lovely Tennessee meadow escalates tragically into a shooting war between two patriarchal families that devastates both clans. Tragically, neither patriarch (Steiger nor Ryan) exercises the kind of leadership to head off the calamitous results. Thus headstrong elements are allowed to operate at gut level instead of anything reasoned, producing tragic results.

Frankly, I'm not sure whether I liked the film or not. Parts are compelling, especially the sensitive romance between Bridges and Hubley. Both are outstanding; in fact Hubley almost made me feel her painful confusion. Also, the beauty of the rolling hills and meadow contrasts creatively with the clans' destructive emotions. Then too, whose inspiration was balding Edd Lauter's secret fantasy to fly away on his tattooed wings to become the next southern Elvis, his chances about as good as mine. And judging from the dilapidated shacks, their time would be better spent fixing up where they dwell instead of taking each other down.

On the movie's downside is the choppy editing that at times makes the storyline hard to follow, especially when the scene shifts from one clan to the other. Thus the threads can at times be hard to follow. Moreover, except for the few romantic interludes, the mood is unrelentingly grim, not exactly an audience come-on. Anyway, Steiger is uncharacteristically restrained, while Ryan doesn't get the screen time his talent deserves. At the same time, a lot of younger talent does get a chance to shine.

All in all, I guess I respect the movie more than I liked it, its moral certainly meriting that kind of consideration.

An old story raised to the top

[richanderson-99667 · 10/10 · 1 April 2022]

I was intrigued to see this movie when I came across it on Amazon (sadly out of print) some years ago. When I recently acquired a DVD copy, I found it is even better than I imagined it would be.

My overriding assessment of a movie depends on the atmosphere it creates. Lolly Madonna has atmosphere in spades. All the ingredients - acting, script, sets, photography, music and direction - contribute to a movie that is greater than its parts. Other reviews refer to its Vietnam association. At this remove (50 years) from that time - which I well remember - that is no longer an issue. To the modern viewer, it is just a staggeringly good film that completely takes you into the lives of these people. It's great to see Steiger at his menacing best and Robert Ryan as the stoic hard man. Young Jeff Bridges almost upstages them. Every character in the movie is fleshed out - even the smallest role is given the spotlight at one time.

Given the story is an old one - family feuds (probably older than the Capulets and the Montagues) - the viewer could easily tire of such a one story movie. But the script has multiple layers as it exposes the characters and their motivations.

The finale is almost operatic in its almost total and mad destruction. The end credits are so imaginative - a perfect representation of the skill and inspiration that make this movie so powerful.

Still has an impact.

[patathomas · 10/10 · 18 August 2002]

After the first viewing, movies don't hold much interest for me. Lolly-Madonna XXX is one of the exceptions. I first saw it about 15 years after its release on late-night TV, and was very surprised at the way the plot held my interest, and the absence of even a slight awkwardness in any of the performances, given the potential for some of them to be taken over the top. I see it whenever there is a chance, and it still has an impact. I wish it were available on tape or DVD so I could choose the times to watch it, and not have to wait for it to show up on late-night TV, whenever someone decides to run it.

Not an awful movie, but not successful

[Wizard-8 · 6 June 2016]

Like a number of movies from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer that were made in the first half of the 1970s, "Lolly-Madonna XXX" was hard to see for many years until quite recently. I'd always been curious about it, so when it popped up on Turner Classic Movies one night, I was sure to record it and subsequently watch it. After seeing it, I think I can understand why the movie was held back for so long. As I said in my summary line, the movie is not awful. It is well acted, both by established stars Steiger and Ryan, as well as by the members of the cast who hadn't become stars yet. The movie feels authentic; you really get a taste of what run down and poverty-stricken life the characters live. However, there is one big flaw that sinks the movie, and that is that it's extremely slow. Scene after scene goes by with no real consequence - even the ending feels incomplete. If there had been more real plot, we might have had something here. But as it is, the movie will probably only appeal to film buffs with interest in the cast as well as with major studio movies that are obscure.

Very good movie

[prism_ism · 10/10 · 11 December 2009]

One of those movies out of the 70's that really stays with you !!! I also saw this on the late night movie channels a few times and then when VHS & DVD became common I tried to get a copy for my collection and found that it is not been released ever !!! What is with that ???...So I checked Amazon every month and other sites but no luck at all...Then a friend said they might possibly get it for me but it would be $50 or so...I said go ahead and 2 weeks later I got a copy on DVD that has been recorded from TCM and is a 5 in quality (scale of 1 to 10) and I could not have been happier to see this wonderful film again !!! Also got Sue Grafton to sign the DVD for me...I did a little research and the friend of a friend of a friend got the autograph... LOL- THANKS SUE !!! you are the best !!! and see this movie everyone if you get the chance !!!

Powerful;gripping.A must see for anyone's list!!

[tinkertonkertoys · 9/10 · 10 December 2019]

I have been searching for this movie for 20 years and i couldn't find it anywhere. i thought i might never see this movie again and i hated to think that such moving performances had been lost to time immortal but then, year 21 of my search came around, and i found a copy (VHS) on eBay. Then the next year it was listed in net flicks although they didn't have a copy to rent yet....say what? But now as the last year of my searching came around I'm happy to say you ll find this movie on more than three streaming sights not to mention the Pirates Bay.

One of the criminal neglects in DVD history.

[chaos-rampant · 2 May 2010]

This one starts out like the distant inbred cousin of Deliverance from West Virginia come out on the porch to play the banjo. A menacing beat-up flatbet truck runs circles around a girl killing time in a remote bus stop on her way to Nashville. There's promise of backwoods squalor and meanness and the delivery of it, not exploitation graphic and gratuitous but it's there, the passerby girl is snatched, another girl is raped, a moonshine still is busted, and a backwoods yokel with painted eyes and a bra makes a scene. At that point the Feathers family appears to be only a few generations of inbreeding away from moving down to Texas to make lampshades out of human skin and chase Marilyn Burns with a buzzing chainsaw.

Then, as the two feuding families headed by patriarchs Rod Steiger and Robert Ryan begin to spar about stolen hogs and a postcard written to one Lolly-Madonna and a grassy meadow that at one time belonged to one or the other family, something begins to change like a dark cloud passes over the movie. It's not about the futile anguish and madness of vendetta, although it seems so at first. And it's not about hogs or the grassy meadow or even land as a basic abstraction and what it's come to signify for people who had nothing to call their own for generations but land. It's about the creeping realization of a broken life muttering to itself late at night on a rocking chair by the window that "it's too late", that it's too late not for killing and dying but for even words.

It's about something that happened long ago which can't be made right again, and it has something to do with a son who never came back from the war, about brothers who can never measure up to that son who never came back from the war because they stayed behind, about a dead wife who was more important to the father-in-law than the son who lost her, that much more important that the father-in-law had to sacrifice that which was the most important thing in the life of the other son (the one who never amounted much for anything) to repudiate the killing. And about horses. It's about bitter regret pain and anguish gnawing at the insides and then the grassy meadow is set on fire and the two families meet for a standoff outside the old rundown Feathers home, once probably elegant with wealth happiness and good fortune.

In the end, the look on Rod Steiger's eyes turns from anger and sadness to complete madness and Sarafian gives us freeze frames of the main characters that look like portraits of despair, the colors are drained out and the movie turns sepia yellowish as if in memory of something lost, of that small insubstantial detail that involved horses and the dead wife that was the result not of practical design or coincidence but of the pure blind chance of the cointoss that forever changed the lives of two families. Immense sadness. Or like William Faulkner would say, between grief and nothing, Lolly-Madonna XXX will choose grief.