Not one of the great westerns, but really good. Lancasters accent from central casting is a bit overdone, even hokey, as is most of the story. Overdone. Even so there is a nice feel to this thing. And it has a few really very fine moments, starting with a very slight one that most are going to miss, the Credits. A lot of character is packed into the poses of the silent Valdez riding the stagecoach as guard, from the way he pulls up his coat against the cold, and then the way he chomps his apple and slices off a piece for the driver. Too bad the rest of the movie could have shifted to that kind of subtlety.
But I have said even so. And so it is, everything in this film is bang bam square in the face, from its blatant racism to the very milquetoast of Valdez one to the Superman lost my cape Valdez two: few westerns weaknesses have been so much their strengths. If there is, however one blatant overweening irreparable weakness its is Cypher. He just is so overwrought he is embarrassing.
And Lancaster, silent, screwing in his long range rifle and starting to mow down Cyphers men, is great. For about a minute you follow his eyes over the gun and revel in his greatness.
As for the plot, forget it. As full of holes as most movies.
Susan Clark, admitting she killed her husband also has a fine, toothy moment.
The really truly great thing about this film however is the acrobatics of Lancaster, taking us nearly all the way back to the Crimson Pirate. Just look at him scamper and grab, practically somersaulting about: nobody in the history of cinema ever had anything close to his physical presence, his balletic glide and grace, his long loopy way of snatching and holding things. And this movie puts it all very center stage. That alone gives this a high place in the Lancaster canon. Don't miss it.
But I have said even so. And so it is, everything in this film is bang bam square in the face, from its blatant racism to the very milquetoast of Valdez one to the Superman lost my cape Valdez two: few westerns weaknesses have been so much their strengths. If there is, however one blatant overweening irreparable weakness its is Cypher. He just is so overwrought he is embarrassing.
And Lancaster, silent, screwing in his long range rifle and starting to mow down Cyphers men, is great. For about a minute you follow his eyes over the gun and revel in his greatness.
As for the plot, forget it. As full of holes as most movies.
Susan Clark, admitting she killed her husband also has a fine, toothy moment.
The really truly great thing about this film however is the acrobatics of Lancaster, taking us nearly all the way back to the Crimson Pirate. Just look at him scamper and grab, practically somersaulting about: nobody in the history of cinema ever had anything close to his physical presence, his balletic glide and grace, his long loopy way of snatching and holding things. And this movie puts it all very center stage. That alone gives this a high place in the Lancaster canon. Don't miss it.