“Yoicks!” —Tom Moore
Today’s quick review: Man of the East. Thomas Moore (Terence Hill), a refined English gentleman, travels to California to meet Bull Schmidt (Gregory Walcott), Holy Joe (Harry Carey), and Monkey Smith (Dominic Barto), his dead father’s closest friends. The trio of outlaws try their best to toughen Tom up and make him a man. Their training is put to the test when Tom crosses Morton Clayton (Riccardo Pizzuti), a local thug with a violent temper.
Man of the East is a Western comedy about a polite young man adapting to life in the West. To win the hand of Candida Olsen (Yanti Somer), Tom must put down his books, pick up a gun, and prove his worth. Man of the East is a light comedy that thrives on the contrast between Tom’s mild habits and the rough living of his would-be mentors. The movie manages to strike a nice balance with its tone and characters, but its story and humor hold it back.
Man of the East’s hidden strength is that it isn’t mean-spirited. The movie pokes fun at Tom’s gentleness and the gang’s coarseness in equal measure, and their friendship is never in doubt. Tom lacks the skills to make a name for himself in the West, but he is an apt learner. Meanwhile, the trio is rough but fair, living outside the law but never crossing over into villainy. As a result, the cast is very easy for the audience to spend time with.
Still, Man of the East doesn’t have the same impact as other Westerns. The plot is light almost to the point of non-existence, with low stakes and no real wrinkles. The humor is pleasant enough to carry the movie, but it isn’t as insightful or imaginative as other comedies. Finally, the cast suit their roles well but never do much with them. Man of the East is enjoyable but not exceptional, never going farther with the tools at its disposal.
Man of the East is a fine pick for viewers in the mood for something lighter. The movie delivers on its premise, tells a pleasant story, and avoids any major missteps. But viewers hoping for sharper comedy or a more elaborate plot may want to look elsewhere.
For a more robust Western comedy starring Terence Hill, try My Name Is Nobody. For a classic romantic comedy about a reluctant fighter, try The Quiet Man. For a slapstick comedy about a sheltered young man trying to adopt a more rugged lifestyle, try Steamboat Bill, Jr. For a movie with criminals of a similar stripe, try Thunderbolt and Lightfoot or Disorganized Crime.
[6.7 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068524/). I give it a 6.5 for a light story without much substance.