Actuakers One of my all time favorites.

Sharkflei Your blood may run cold, but you now find yourself pinioned to the story.

Senteur As somebody who had not heard any of this before, it became a curious phenomenon to sit and watch a film and slowly have the realities begin to click into place.

Isbel A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

Richard Chatten A big hit in its day that has fallen into surprising obscurity, the audience deservedly gave the 'The Hellions' a round of applause at the end of tonight's extremely rare archive screening on London's South Bank of this singular British 'western' vividly photographed in Technicolor and Technirama by South African-born cameraman Ted Moore (soon to spend over ten years shooting most of the original James Bond films), evoking the brilliant sunshine of 1870s South Africa.The title song is one long spoiler describing the fate of the eponymous Hellions, who die "one by one...in the Transvaal sun"; so the suspense derives from trying to figure out just how this wild bunch are to get their comeuppance, and who they're going to take with them in the process. When the crunch finally comes the climax is pretty unbelievable but extremely satisfying.Although often compared to 'High Noon', the action more closely resembles 'The Desperate Hours'; and for a 1961 audience The Hellions would more uncomfortably have recalled Teddy Boys than hired guns. Visually, this collection of unkempt, gurning delinquents wouldn't have been out of place a few years later in a spaghetti western (Al Mulock, who plays Adam, was actually in 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly'); although for all its impressive violence - including some eye watering scenes involving barbed wire - it retains a certain English fastidiousness, well-exemplified by the presence of Richard Todd as its hero. The superb performance by Lionel Jeffries (fresh from his terrifying Marquis of Queensberry in 'The Trials of Oscar Wilde') as the Hellions' patriarch is ably complemented by a script that even at the tensest moments displays a very dry black humour.

gotron1997 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 !

flo_harper My sister took me to see this film years ago and I loved it. We often reminisce about it. Our favourite character was Jubal. I wish it would be shown on TV or released on DVD. I'd love to see it again. I can't remember very much of the story line so it was nice to read about it on your website. I must have seen loads of films throughout my life so it says something about the film that I can remember this one.It had an excellent cast and the filming was superb. I can't think why it hasn't been shown on British television, unless it's because it is a South African story, though why that should matter I don't know. Anyway, It is a brilliant film and if anyone ever gets the chance to watch it, They should!

dadjohnfj I first saw it just over forty years ago. All told I have seen it either two or, perhaps, three times at the cinema. I have never known of it having been on television. I enjoyed it so much I can still remember a vast amount of it. R.Todd, as ever, a controlled and sensitive performace and Zena Walker was a gem. Several of the others were very good but, not to be critical of any of the other actors in the film, by far the best was Lionel Jeffries. For an actor so famous for his comedy roles this performance is by far his best. As the father of the hardened band of outlaws he knew how to keep control of his sons. He should have, at the very least, have been nominated for an award. An excellant comedy drama with first class music to keep the pace of the film going. I cannot think of any other film that I would like to see again as much as this one. Why can it not appear on DVD, video or television?Thank-youTake Care.dadjohnfj