Bad Man's River (1971)

User Rating:

4.4/10   

Director:

Eugenio Martín

Writers:

Eugenio Martín (story)
Philip Yordan (story)

Release Date:

23 December 1971 (Italy)

Genre:

Comedy | Western

Tagline:

A HAWK... A VULTURE... and A DOVE... All circling for the biggest haul in the WEST!!

Plot:

Robber Roy King loses his wife, Alicia, to revolutionary Montero. Despite their rivalry they collaborate...

Plot Keywords:

Train | Spaghetti Western | Beautiful Woman | Marriage | Mexican Revolution

Cast

Lee Van Cleef	...	Roy King
James Mason	...	Francisco Montero
Gina Lollobrigida	...	Alicia
Simón Andreu	...	Angel Santos
Diana Lorys	...	Dolores
Gianni Garko	...	Ed Pace (as John Garko)
Aldo Sambrell	...	Canales
Jess Hahn	...	Tom Odie
Daniel Martín	...	False Montero
Luis Rivera	...	Orozco
Lone Ferck	...	Conchita
Eduardo Fajardo	...	General Duarte
Sergio Fantoni	...	Colonel Enrique Fierro
José Manuel Martín	...	Mexican Soldier
Francisco Nieto

Also Known As:

E continuavano a fregarsi il milione di dollari (Italy)
El hombre de Río Malo (Spain)
Hunt the Man Down (USA)
Les quatre mercenaires d'El Paso (France)

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

Spain | Italy | France

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:A | UK:12 (DVD rating) | UK:12 (tv rating) | West Germany:16 (nf) | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 (1972) | Sweden:15 | USA:PG | Argentina:13 | Iceland:12

Filming Locations:

Colmenar Viejo, Madrid, Spain

Company:

International Apollo Films

Quotes:

Montero: I'm the goose that lays the golden eggs.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in 800 balas (2002)

An eccentric flop

Is it just me, or does James Mason wear a guilty look upon his face throughout this film, almost as if he's aware that he's wasting his talent in a sub standard cheapo? Bad Man's River is a bad film, but what makes it even more unforgivable is that a lot of classy stars were mysteriously persuaded to appear in it.

It's an eccentric paella western about various outlaws and swindlers trying to steal cash from the Mexican government. Mason was once quoted as saying that he made it for fun and money, never thinking that it would get a release in England, but much to his horror and dismay it was picked up by Rank and got cinematic distribution.

The film isn't as funny as it thinks it is and is made doubly irritating by frequent freeze frame shots (why were so many 70s films obsessed with the freeze frame gimmick?) and pantomime style music. It's a unique film, with a bizarre and unconventional flavour all of its own, but don't take that as a recommendation. The only thing I would recommend about this film is that you don't see it!