The Farmer

Shortly before returning overseas as a Marine, I saw this film at the base theater.I can count on my fingers the films which stand out as being the most memorable over the years to me.The Farmer was not only action packed but also embodied all of the noble traits and causes an honorable warrior could possess and champion.This was a great vicarious fantasy and it is a shame that there seems to be no way to get this film re-released.The film was also strong in that it addressed a number of social and moral issues.Without a doubt, The Farmer still evokes a visceral reaction when remembered. This was a very well thought out plot and at the same time very easy to follow. Of course when revenge is a prime motivating force...we can all identify with this silver star winner and his resolve.Semper-Fi and lets try to get this great film re-released.

If action packed violent movies is your thing then this movie is the one for you, unfortunately it was never released in video or dvd or even beta format. Yes the originals are still locked up in Columbia pics movie vaults. I saw this movie in the theatres in 1977 when I was 17 years old, and loved it. Kyle Martin played by Gary Conway is a retired war veteran turned Farmer, who finds out that money is short to pay the mortage on the farm. He turns to the mafia boss,Michael Dante, I believe, who pays Conway money to rid himself of a few rival enemies. Which Conway does just that with plenty of bullets blood and gore. The fact that this movie just missed an X rating from all the graphic violence is not odd, but that of the one liners that Conway spits out each time he offs a bad guy. One seen Conway is under a car waiting for a bad guy and when he walks up to get in has his feet blown completly off by a sawed-off shot gun. Conway comments "you won't be going any where soon" as he wastes him yet again at point blank range sending the body flying across the parking garage. Every thing is rare about this movie, from the movie posters to the LP sound track. It probably won't ever be released in video due to the graphic violent content contained therein. America is just not ready for such action as this one dishes out. David Berlatsky directs and Gary Conway helped produced. It make me wonder where they thought this film would eventually go to as obscure as it is. Still is and always will be one of my favorite action in its genre of all time. Write me if you know of where a copy may exist! ;^)

I saw The Farmer (Aka "Blazing Revenge") at a theater in Tokyo, Japan with my Japanese girlfriend back then. I was stationed at NAF Atsugi. The movie was great. I remember the beginning of the movie with the returning WWII hero (Kiel Martin) on a train. There was a black soldier who was being given a hard time over a drink because of his race. Kiel Marin stepped in, big fight, etc....from that point you knew he was an honorable, courageous and no nonsense kind of guy. After they take his land, burn his house, attack his girlfriend, killed his friend...it is time to go kick some ass. And he does big time. I have searched high and low for this movie the better part of 30 years. Still searching. I imagine if I got to see it today...it would possibly appear corny by today's standards for revenge flicks. Not sure, but maybe I am better off with the memories. Lastly, the star, Mr. Gary Conway is still going strong at 80 plus and owns a winery in CA. Why this movie is locked away is beyond me.

So it was not until later that I realized what an testosterone packed, ultra-violent film it was, (I just assumed "all" American movies had taken the lead from Sam Peckinpah, since I'd been overseas...Wrong!:0) yet "The Farmer" was well done and you cared about his mission and survival. I'd shave all the hair off my left one to have this movie on DVD!!! It is an overlooked gem of it's genre' and "rules" on the viceral level (i.e., you want to see the Farmer take out the bad guys, similar to the buzz engendered in the original Bronson's "Death Wish", but much less repellent). It even has some historical accuracy in reference to the treatment of returning war veterans (I remember respecting that touch at the time). Not to be missed by action fans...

Upon returning home from his service in World War II, Kyle Martin (Gary Conway) finds his family farm in foreclosure, with no way to pay off the debt. Things appear to take a positive turn in a serendipitous way, only to result in Martin being drawn into problems with local gangsters.

THE FARMER is a revenge film with a bit of a twist. Martin is offered big money to take vengeance for someone else, but he's in no hurry to do the deed, until those he's supposed to kill make it personal.

The build-up is rather slow, but the final 30 minutes are worth the wait. Mr. Conway is convincing in his role, as is Angel Tompkins as his love interest.

There's a nice twist ending that you might not see coming...