The Deadly Trackers

Not to be confused with Deadly Trackers.

The Deadly Trackers is a 1973 American Western film directed by Barry Shear and starring Richard Harris, Rod Taylor and Al Lettieri.^[1][2] It is based on the novel Riata by Samuel Fuller.

The Deadly Trackers
VHS cover
Directed by	Barry Shear
Written by	Lukas Heller
Based on	Riata by Samuel Fuller
Starring	Richard Harris Rod Taylor Al Lettieri Neville Brand William Smith
Cinematography	Gabriel Torres
Edited by	Michael Economou Carl Pingitore
Music by	Fred Steiner
Distributed by	Warner Bros.
Release date	December 21, 1973 (1973-12-21)
Running time	110 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Plot

Sheriff Sean Kilpatrick is a pacifist. He is compelled to go against everything he has stood for to bring death to a gang of outlaws, led by the ruthless Frank Brand, to avenge the deaths of his wife and son, murdered by the gang when it robbed the bank in Kilpatrick's town. In Mexico, his hunt is challenged by his noble sheriff counterpart, Gutierrez, who is interested only in carrying out the law - not vengeance.

Cast

• Richard Harris as Sheriff Sean Kilpatrick
• Rod Taylor as Frank Brand
• Al Lettieri as Gutierrez, Mexican Policeman
• Neville Brand as Choo Choo
• William Smith as Schoolboy
• Paul Benjamin as Jacob
• Pedro Armendáriz Jr. as Herrero
• Isela Vega as Maria
• Kelly Jean Peters as Katharine Kilpatrick
• William Bryant as Deputy Bill
• Sean Marshall as Kevin Kilpatrick
• Read Morgan as Deputy Bob
• Joan Swift as Teacher
• Ray Moyer as Priest
• Armando Acosta as Mole

Production

The film began production as Riata, written and directed by Sam Fuller, based on his novel and starring Richard Harris and Bo Hopkins. Production was halted during filming and then reassembled with a new director and cast, with Harris the only member of the original cast to return.^[3]

According to costar Rod Taylor, Harris hated Fuller's script and walked out on the original production. Once Taylor signed on, he contributed to the re-write (Taylor was a member of the Screenwriters Guild) by adding scenes to flesh out his villainous character. It was through Harris' relentless drive that the film was completed at all, even using musical outtakes from other movies to cobble together the score.^[4]