******SPOLIERS AHEAD .This movie was shown on the French TV as " la ville des légendes de l' Ouest" (the town of the legends of the West), a title far less explicit than "Purgatory", - and thus better. Because, though the arrival of the gang in a too-clean small town with a gunless sheriff, and later the resemblances of some inhabitants with legendary gunmen were question-rising, it was only with the disappearance of the ill-fated Lefty Slade that I got an inkling of what the town really was.... maybe I am a bit slow... Anyhow, I am glad to have known the American title after I saw the movie. It is a rather enjoyable one: German-born Uli Edel has succeeded in opposing the harshness of outlaws to the mysticism of reborn-for-10-years God-fearing redeemable sinners (he had accomplished a somewhat similar opposition in his previous 'Last exit to Brooklyn'). The bank attack, the pursuit, and the final gunfight are all very convincingly made, and the town has the somewhat eerie required atmosphere. Acting is extremely important in such movies, and most actors are quite good; sole real mistake, the casting of Randy Quaid (an otherwise honorable actor) as Doc Holiday who - since John Ford's 'My Darling Clementine'- is known to have been consumptive.. while Quaid is very large and apparently in good fettle; it might be the reason why he always seems ill-at-ease; his role could have been played by Sam Sheppard, who looks wan, awfully thin, and quite ill in too large black clothes and hat . consumptive in a word. Nevertheless, he is convincing as Wild Bill Hickok . Donny Wahlberg was most remarkable in 'The Sixth Sense ' , shot around the same time as 'Purgatory '; but here, he looks plumper, and accordingly registers less effectively; but he is quite good in the gunfight. J.D. Souther as Jesse James has little to do. John Dennis Johnston as Lefty Slade is impressive in his main scene. As for the young couple, Brad Rowe does his rather trite part rather well, and Amelia Heinle is attractive in a quiet way; she appeared quite promising (but up-to-date, she has not materialized this promise). Among the bad guys, Peter Stormare is so evil that he is close to a caricature, while Richard Edson is a little more subdued. Black John's brother (whom I think is played by John Diehl) dies convincingly. And Eric Roberts renders perfectly the total lack of feelings and absolute recklessness of Black Jack, is truly outstanding, one of the best bad guys ever. A curiosity : R.G. Armstrong, who plays the small part of the coachman, is a real screen legend, with a career spanning upon 6 decades (he started in 1954, and was in 'The Walking', shot in 2001); because of his craggy face, strong build, and forceful personality, he played mostly Western (he was in 4 Sam Peckinpah films) and thrillers. He had some important roles, played them with great conviction, and was very impressive indeed. Look closely, his face has not changed much, and you have seen him before if a Western fan.
