The Comancheros (1961)

Texas Ranger Jake Cutter arrests gambler Paul Regret, but soon finds himself teamed with his prisoner in an undercover effort to defeat a band of renegade arms merchants and thieves known ... See full summary »

Director:

Michael Curtiz

Writers:

James Edward Grant (screenplay), Clair Huffaker (screenplay),

Stars:

John Wayne, Stuart Whitman, Ina Balin

3 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
John Wayne	...	Capt. Jake Cutter
Stuart Whitman	...	Paul Regret
Ina Balin	...	Pilar Graile
Nehemiah Persoff	...	Graile
Lee Marvin	...	Tully Crow
Michael Ansara	...	Amelung
Patrick Wayne	...	Tobe (as Pat Wayne)
Bruce Cabot	...	Maj. Henry
Joan O'Brien	...	Melinda Marshall
Jack Elam	...	Horseface (Comanchero)
Edgar Buchanan	...	Circuit Court Judge Thaddeus Jackson Breen
Henry Daniell	...	Gireaux
Richard Devon	...	Esteban

Storyline

Texas Ranger Jake Cutter arrests gambler Paul Regret, but soon finds himself teamed with his prisoner in an undercover effort to defeat a band of renegade arms merchants and thieves known as Comancheros.

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Plot Keywords:

texas ranger | gambler | undercover | renegade | outlaw | 

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Genres:

Action | Western | Adventure | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 October 1961 (USA)

Also Known As:

Comancheros

Filming Locations:

Castle Valley, Moab, Utah, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (35 mm mag-optical prints) (Westrex Recording System) Mono (35 mm optical prints)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

During much of the shooting, director Michael Curtiz was seriously ill (he died of cancer shortly after the film's release). On the days when Curtiz was too ill to work, John Wayne took over direction of the film, and when it was completed he told the studio that he did not want credit as co-director and insisted that Curtiz' name alone appear as director.

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Goofs

Obvious use of a dummy in the final escape when Esteban is shot and "falls" out of the wagon.

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Quotes

Circuit Court Judge Thaddeus Jackson Breen: Major here has told me what your troubles are. I've been thinking it over and in light of my forty years experience in legal jurisprudence, I have come to the positive conclusion that there ain't no way to do this legal and honest... but being good sensible Texans, we'll do it illegal and dishonest! Now all the boys here in the room have agreed to sign a paper I have prepared. They all are going to commit perjury. That's legal language for just a plain, dumb blasted lie.

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Connections

Featured in Hollywood Remembers Lee Marvin (2000)

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Soundtracks

"The Comancheros"
Music & Lyrics by Tillman Franks

User Reviews

Entertaining, Fun Western

Never a huge fan of John Wayne, I watched this because I knew it was the last film by Michael Curtiz (he died soon after filming was completed). I thought it would be an average diversion.

I was pleasantly surprised. This movie is a lot of fun, as long as you do not try to make sense of it, and do not take it seriously.

Beautiful landscapes, a great score by Elmer Bernstein, a terrific, performance by Wayne (who looks like he's having the time of his life surrounded by his real-life children on the set) and a show stealing role by Lee Marvin, who looks as though he has a bunch of "Silly Putty" sitting on top of his head (not the best make-up job, guys).

I'm so glad I invested the time to watch this. You will be too.