Count Three and Pray

In 1867 Arizona, a former Union soldier, Luke Hartmann, arrives in a small town seeking peace and a fresh start. He falls for Lissy, the daughter of the town's stern, disapproving mayor, who also happens to be a respected minister. Hartmann becomes embroiled in the town's conflicts, including a feud with a ruthless landowner, while navigating his forbidden romance and seeking redemption for past actions.

Count Three and Pray received mixed reviews upon its release. While praised for its performances, particularly from Van Heflin and a young Joanne Woodward in an early role, and its attempts at a more complex narrative than typical Westerns of the era, some critics found the plot to be somewhat predictable and the romantic elements occasionally overshadowed the Western genre conventions. Audiences generally responded positively to the film's dramatic elements and its exploration of moral themes.

• Appreciated for its earnest dramatic performances, especially from its lead actors.
• The film attempts to blend Western action with a more thoughtful exploration of faith and redemption.
• Some found the pacing and narrative arc to be a bit conventional for a Western.

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This film marked one of Joanne Woodward's earliest significant film roles, shortly before her breakthrough performance in 'The Three Faces of Eve'.