A Time for Dying

A Time for Dying is a 1969 American Western film written directed by Budd Boetticher with a cameo role by Audie Murphy, who also produced the film, as Jesse James. It was Murphy's last film, as well as the final dramatic feature for Boetticher. Plot Cass Bunning (Richard Lapp), a farm boy with a talent for shooting, meets up with Nellie (Anne Randall), a naive woman from the East, who has been lured West by the promise of a waitressing job which turns out to be in a brothel. Cass helps Nellie escape and the two are forced into marriage by Judge Roy Bean (Victor Jory). Cass decides to become a bounty hunter. He crosses paths with Jesse James (Audie Murphy) who, impressed by Cass' shooting, suggests he join his gang, but Cass declines. Cass is killed in a shootout with the outlaw Billy Pimple (Bob Random), and Neillie is left on her own in the brothel. Cast Richard Lapp as Cass Bunning Anne Randall as Nellie Audie Murphy as Jesse James Victor Jory as Judge Roy Bean Beatrice Kay as Mamie Bob Random as Billy Pimple Peter Brocco as Ed Burt Mustin as Seth Production Audie Murphy's career was in a bad state and he had not made a film in 1968, the first year that happened since he started starring in films. Boetticher, who directed Murphy on The Cimarron Kid, was going through a similar slump. The two men formed their own company, Fipco (First International Planning Company) to make films. This was planned to be the first of several.