Released in 1968 and directed by Andrew V. McLaglen, "Bandolero!" stars James Stewart as Mace, who masquerades as a hangman in order to save his brother, Dee, from the gallows (Dean Martin). They and Dee's motley crew then flee to Mexico with a beautiful hostage (Raquel Welch). George Kennedy plays the lovelorn sheriff who pursues with a half-hearted posse.
Everything about this Western clicks marvelously. The first 45 minutes involves the capture, attempted hanging, and escape of the Bishop Gang, and it's a memorable sequence. Some people complain about Stewart and Martin as brothers but I've seen many brothers in real life that look more different than they do.
Even though Martin plays an outlaw he's portrayed sympathetically. It's implied that the war corrupted him and he simply doesn't know any other way of life. He's weary of the outlaw lifestyle and desperately wants out. Mace and Maria (Welch) offer him succor by way of lucre and love respectively. They dream of a new life in Montana. There are just two problems: Kennedy & his posse and a gang of wild Mexican bandits (bandoleros).
Although there are some low-key amusing elements, the film is essentially a serious Western with quality adventure and drama. It potently explores themes of loyalty, temptation, seeking & finding true love, the repentance/forgiveness principle, the folly of the criminal path and dreams of a better life. Some complain that the ending is too downbeat, but I've always loved it. In fact, it wouldn't have been right to end it any other way.
***SPOILER ALERT*** The climax supports the age-old notion that those who live by the sword (and stolen loot) WILL prematurely die by the sword. George Kenney is outstanding as the stolid Sheriff who has a puppy-love passion for Maria. She naturally finds him unexciting, however. As a hostage to the Bishop Gang, she slowly discovers true-love for the first time in her life.***END SPOILER***
The score by Jerry Goldsmith is notable. Jerry borrowed the basic melody from Neal Hefti's magnificent composition for "Duel at Diablo," which was released two years earlier. He took the melody and ingeniously created a completely different-sounding score. His composition has a fun Western vibe to it whereas Hefti's is ultra-dramatic. Yet Goldsmith's piece has some dramatic moments as well, which are reminiscent of his later outstanding piece for "Rio Lobo" (1970). All three of these scores rank up there with the all-time best Western compositions, like "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" (1966), "How the West was Won" (1962), "Mackenna's Gold" (1969) "The Magnificent Seven" (1960), Bonanza and "A Fistful of Dollars" (1964), the latter ripping off "Rio Bravo" (1959).
Too many Western films take place in Texas but were filmed elsewhere (like Arizona, etc.). Much of "Bandolero!" by contrast, was actually shot in Brackettville and Del Rio, Texas, not far from the Mexican border/Rio Grande; with additional portions shot in Utah (Kanab & Glen Canyon) and Arizona (Lee's Ferry). These locations are fabulous.
FINAL SAY: "Bandolero!" is Western filmmaking of the highest order and not to be missed. It's inexplicable that it's not cited on more Best Western lists.
The movie runs 106 minutes. The screenplay was written by James Lee Barrett from Stanley Hough's story.
GRADE: A
Everything about this Western clicks marvelously. The first 45 minutes involves the capture, attempted hanging, and escape of the Bishop Gang, and it's a memorable sequence. Some people complain about Stewart and Martin as brothers but I've seen many brothers in real life that look more different than they do.
Even though Martin plays an outlaw he's portrayed sympathetically. It's implied that the war corrupted him and he simply doesn't know any other way of life. He's weary of the outlaw lifestyle and desperately wants out. Mace and Maria (Welch) offer him succor by way of lucre and love respectively. They dream of a new life in Montana. There are just two problems: Kennedy & his posse and a gang of wild Mexican bandits (bandoleros).
Although there are some low-key amusing elements, the film is essentially a serious Western with quality adventure and drama. It potently explores themes of loyalty, temptation, seeking & finding true love, the repentance/forgiveness principle, the folly of the criminal path and dreams of a better life. Some complain that the ending is too downbeat, but I've always loved it. In fact, it wouldn't have been right to end it any other way.
***SPOILER ALERT*** The climax supports the age-old notion that those who live by the sword (and stolen loot) WILL prematurely die by the sword. George Kenney is outstanding as the stolid Sheriff who has a puppy-love passion for Maria. She naturally finds him unexciting, however. As a hostage to the Bishop Gang, she slowly discovers true-love for the first time in her life.***END SPOILER***
The score by Jerry Goldsmith is notable. Jerry borrowed the basic melody from Neal Hefti's magnificent composition for "Duel at Diablo," which was released two years earlier. He took the melody and ingeniously created a completely different-sounding score. His composition has a fun Western vibe to it whereas Hefti's is ultra-dramatic. Yet Goldsmith's piece has some dramatic moments as well, which are reminiscent of his later outstanding piece for "Rio Lobo" (1970). All three of these scores rank up there with the all-time best Western compositions, like "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" (1966), "How the West was Won" (1962), "Mackenna's Gold" (1969) "The Magnificent Seven" (1960), Bonanza and "A Fistful of Dollars" (1964), the latter ripping off "Rio Bravo" (1959).
Too many Western films take place in Texas but were filmed elsewhere (like Arizona, etc.). Much of "Bandolero!" by contrast, was actually shot in Brackettville and Del Rio, Texas, not far from the Mexican border/Rio Grande; with additional portions shot in Utah (Kanab & Glen Canyon) and Arizona (Lee's Ferry). These locations are fabulous.
FINAL SAY: "Bandolero!" is Western filmmaking of the highest order and not to be missed. It's inexplicable that it's not cited on more Best Western lists.
The movie runs 106 minutes. The screenplay was written by James Lee Barrett from Stanley Hough's story.
GRADE: A