the audience applauded

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

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.

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!

First saw it on screen 1963-64. Then later on ITV/BBC mid 70s. Enjoyed it more than High Noon - obviously has a similar plot. I remember the names of the sons Matthew, Jubo ?, Mark, Luke and John I think. Although I was 11 when I saw it it certainly stood apart from any other film I saw at that time. I think it was the combination of fine acting by Jeffreys and James Booth and to a lesser extent by Richard Todd. The entire score song sung by Marty Wilde remains registered on my memory. It deserves to go on DVD and to be viewed by younger audiences again on TV. I am not sure if other people share this view but 1960s vintage films were superior on average to what has been produced since - particularly compared to the past 20 years. One further comment - why are there no black artists in this film. The fact that it was based in South Africa was not disguised yet we only see white faces on screen. Is this possibly a reason why the film was not more widely distributed. Aparthid applied to a western film ?.

The Hellions is a great film and Richard Todd is very convincing. I have seen this film only once and that was about 30 years ago on British television. I too, have searched for a video but have been unable to find any although Posters do appear on ebay from time to time. Most people say it is a High Noon and in some respects it is similar as a lone lawman, in this case a South African Constable has to face the bad guys alone out of his personal sense of duty. It is dissimilar to High Noon in that the action is more spread out as a sequence of events. It is most similar to Firecreek which was made 7 years later and stars James Stewart and Henry Fonda and I think this was a copy of the Hellions script adapted as a Western. In Firecreek James Stewart plays a honorary sheriff of a small town of losers which becomes a place for the bad guys led by Henry Fonda to hold up in. Fonda leads a gang of gunmen who take part in Range Wars. So if you can't watch the Hellions get a copy of Firecreek.Jeff Herbert