Valdez Is Coming (1971)

A Mexican-American sheriff must resort to violence against a powerful rancher in order to get just compensation for the pregnant Indian widow of a wrongly killed black man.

Director:

Edwin Sherin

Writers:

Roland Kibbee (screenplay), David Rayfiel (screenplay),

Stars:

Burt Lancaster, Susan Clark, Frank Silvera

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Burt Lancaster	...	Valdez
Susan Clark	...	Gay Erin
Frank Silvera	...	Diego
Jon Cypher	...	Frank Tanner
Richard Jordan	...	R.L. Davis
Barton Heyman	...	El Segundo
Hector Elizondo	...	Mexican Rider
Phil Brown	...	Malson
Ralph Brown	...	Beaudry
Werner Hasselmann	...	Sheriff (as Werner Hassleman)
Lex Monson	...	Rincon
Sylvia Poggioli	...	Segundo's Girl (as Sylvia Paggioli)
José García García	...	Carlos (as Jose Garcia Garcia)
María Montez	...	Anita (as Maria Montez)
Juanita Penaloza	...	Indian Woman

Storyline

The town constable, Bob Valdez, is forced to kill someone accused by Frank Tanner of being a murderer. Valdez asks Tanner for monetary help for the man's wife, but he is ridiculed and almost killed by Tanner's henchmen. Valdez recovers and summons up his days in the U.S. Cavalry in order to fight them. Valdez wounds one of the henchmen and sends him back to Tanner with the message, "Valdez is coming."

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Plot Keywords:

violence | widow | native american | photograph | christ figure | 

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Taglines:

They tore his body. They buried his pride. But they forgot his old uniform, his Sharps rifle, and his Buffalo gun. Find Tanner, El Segundo, and the 16 others. And tell them Valdez is coming.

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Genres:

Western

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for violence, brief nudity and some language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

9 April 1971 (USA)

Also Known As:

Valdez

Filming Locations:

Estudios Roma, Madrid, Spain

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ira Steiner Productions, Norlan Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Final film of Frank Silvera.

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Goofs

At the end of the film, when Valdez is riding hidden between two horses, a wire is visible holding the horses' bridles together, so that they won't separate during Lancaster's close-up.

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Quotes

Frank Tanner: I treat you all right, don't I?
Gay Erin: Sometimes you're human - sometimes.

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Connections

Referenced in Minnie and Moskowitz (1971)

User Reviews

"Before I knew better..."

...was Bob Valdez's reply when he was asked when he used to hunt and shoot down Indians to eradicate them from rangeland. This is a great movie, one that deserves watching by anyone interested in the Western, and any Elmore Leonard fan. Burt Lancaster gives a great, artistic and very reserved performance as a very tired, lonely man who looks unassuming but should just not be messed with. His history makes him a very dangerous man, although he now only wants to live in peace. Of course, when he tries to do the honorable thing, he is treacherously dealt with, which leads to one of the most entertaining and compelling westerns ever filmed. Also of special note is Barton Heyman, who plays the world-wise Segundo, who quickly realizes that they are not after any ordinary man, and provides a great surprise ending. This is just a crackerjack movie, compelling from start to finish without losing a carefully crafted artistry that any movie lover would appreciate. Highly recommended.