The Unforgiven (1960): Cast & Plot
The Unforgiven is a 1960 romantic western directed by John Huston, starring Burt Lancaster as Ben Zachary, Lillian Gish and Audrey Hepburn. It runs 2 hours 5 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 5m (125 min)
- Director
- John Huston
- Original language
-
English - After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Unforgiven About?
The premise of The Unforgiven without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
John Huston directs a compelling western in which a frontier family’s peace is shattered when their neighbors suspect their cherished adopted daughter was taken from the Kiowa tribe. The community’s mistrust spirals into hostility, exposing cultural tensions and the struggle to protect loved ones.
The Unforgiven Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- family relationships
- classical western
- race relations
- rancher
- shootout
- racism
- american indian
- indian attack
- death
- horse
- horseback riding
- racial intolerance
+38 more Show fewer
- redface
- daughter
- brother sister relationship
- native american attack
- stolen child
- native american
- revenge
- kiowa indian
- texas
- adopted daughter
- lynching
- widow
- 1870s
- one eyed man
- civil war veteran
- ranch
- corral
- piano
- mother daughter relationship
- cattle
- loss of mother
- murder
- loss of son
- fire
- pianist
- rifle
- destroying a piano
- gun
- drunkenness
- father daughter relationship
- mustached man
- chest wound
- shot in the arm
- roof on fire
- shot in the stomach
- war paint
- axe
- dead body
The Unforgiven Cast & Characters
Burt Lancaster leads the cast as Ben Zachary, with Lillian Gish as Mattilda Zachary and Audrey Hepburn as Rachel Zachary. Directed by John Huston; 13 actors are credited in all.
-
Director John Huston
-
Burt Lancaster as Ben Zachary - Lillian Gish as Mattilda Zachary
-
Audrey Hepburn as Rachel Zachary -
Doug McClure as Andy Zachary
Also Starring in The Unforgiven
· 9 more- Audie Murphy Cash Zachary
- Charles Bickford Zeb Rawlins
- Albert Salmi Charlie Rawlins
- Arnold Merritt Jude Rawlins
- June Walker Hagar Rawlins
- Joseph Wiseman Abe Kelsey
- Carlos Rivas Lost Bird
- Kipp Hamilton Georgia Rawlins
- John Saxon Johnny Portugal
More from John Huston
More films directed by John Huston: The Dead, Escape to Victory, Phobia and Independence.
The Unforgiven Plot Summary
What happens in The Unforgiven from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
On the Texas frontier, the Ben Zachary–led Zachary family commands respect for their enterprise and tight-knit harmony. The death of Will Zachary at the hands of Kiowa Indians leaves the family under Ben’s care, with his mother Mattilda Zachary and the adopted daughter Rachel Zachary at the center of his world, alongside two younger sons Cash Zachary and Andy Zachary. The ranch is sustained by their neighbor and business partner, Zeb Rawlins, and Zeb’s shy son Charlie Rawlins, who hopes to win Rachel’s hand, stirring tensions within the family.
Full summary
The whole story of The Unforgiven, scene by scene
The Unforgiven Trailers & Videos
The trailer of The Unforgiven.
How Well Do You Know The Unforgiven?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Which actor portrays Ben Zachary, the head of the Zachary family?
Seen The Unforgiven?
Movies Like The Unforgiven
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Unforgiven, The Outrage and The Outlaw.
The Unforgiven FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of The Unforgiven, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Unforgiven?
The Unforgiven runs 2 hours 5 minutes (125 minutes).
When was The Unforgiven released?
The Unforgiven was released on April 6, 1960.
Who directed The Unforgiven?
The Unforgiven was directed by John Huston.
More films by John Huston Who is in the cast of The Unforgiven?
The Unforgiven stars Burt Lancaster as Ben Zachary, Lillian Gish as Mattilda Zachary and Audrey Hepburn as Rachel Zachary, among 13 credited actors.
Does The Unforgiven have a post-credit scene?
No. The Unforgiven has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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