Will Penny (1967): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1967, Will Penny is an action, adventure, romance and western film directed by Tom Gries, running about 110 minutes. “The brute in every man was also in him... And the love and the violence!” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. Will Penny, an aging cowpoke, takes a job on a ranch which requires him to ride the line of the property looking for trespassers or, worse, squatters. He finds that his cabin in the high mountains has been appropriated by a woman whose guide to Oregon has deserted her and her son. Too ashamed to kick mother and child out just as the bitter winter of the mountains sets in, he agrees to share the cabin until the spring thaw. But it isn't just the snow that slowly thaws; the lonely man and woman soon forget their mutual hostility and start developing a deep love for one another.

Who’s in it. Will Penny stars Charlton Heston as Will Penny, Ben Johnson as Alex, Donald Pleasence as Preacher Quint and Joan Hackett as Catherine Allen, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 6.6/10, Will Penny has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.

Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Will Penny page.

If you liked it. Fans of Will Penny tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Inception and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.