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 as Comancheros.

Directors:

Michael Curtiz, John Wayne (uncredited)

Writers:

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

Stars:

John Wayne, Stuart Whitman, Ina Balin

2 wins & 3 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:

comanchero | western town | comanche indian | native american | undercover | 

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Taglines:

Big Jake the Adventurer... Paul Regret the Gambler... Pilar the Gypsy beauty... Three With a Past... Destined to Cross and Clash... In a Kingdom of Killers!

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Romance | Western

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 November 1961 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

The Comancheros

Filming Locations:

Castle Valley, Moab, Utah, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox

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 (Color by Deluxe)

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's name alone appear as director.

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Goofs

In the final gun battle, when the man in the wagon is shot, instead of seeing his body falling from the wagon, we see someone throwing it out.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Gireaux: Since there is no reconciliation, we proceed. You will please stand with your backs to one another.
Emil Bouvier - Duelist: It may amuse you to know, monsieur, I never believed you cheated at cards.
Paul Regret: Well, maybe I don't have your sense of humor.
Emil Bouvier - Duelist: There's a lady who prefers your attentions to mine. I intend to... simplify her choice.
Paul Regret: Rachel?
[Emil snickers]
Paul Regret: Margo? No.
Gireaux: When I begin to count, you will each take 10 paces. You will turn and fire on the count of 10. If either man stops or turns before the count of...
[...]

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Alternate Versions

When originally released theatrically in the UK, the BBFC made cuts to secure an 'A' rating. When released on home video in 1988, the BBFC made cuts of 11 seconds to remove shots of horse-falls to secure a 'PG' rating. For the DVD release, the BBFC made cuts of 8 seconds in 2003 to remove similar shots of horse-falls resulting in a 'PG' rating. To date (December 2014), the film has not been released fully uncut on UK media.

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Connections

Referenced in Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)

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Soundtracks

Frère Jacques
(uncredited)
Traditional
Performed by Stuart Whitman and Aissa Wayne

User Reviews

"Yah, Here Come The Rangers, The Best in Texas."

John Wayne made better films with John Ford and Howard Hawks and he even made more historically accurate films. But for pure entertainment value this is the quintessential Duke.

Cecil B. DeMille was of the opinion that motion pictures have to move. He wouldn't have anything to complain about The Comancheros on that score. There's not a dull moment in the film. This was the last directorial effort of Michael Curtiz and he kept the action flowing.

Three things stand out in The Comancheros. First Elmer Bernstein's music keeps the action going. You will be humming that theme days after viewing this film. Secondly the Cinemascope photography is breathtaking even viewing a formatted VHS copy. I remember seeing The Comancheros in the Sheepshead Bay Movie Theatre in Brooklyn as a lad and a theater is where this film should really be viewed.

But mostly since the two of them are on the screen together for about half the film, the chemistry with John Wayne as Texas Ranger Jake Cutter and Stuart Whitman as fugitive Paul Regret is what sets the whole tone of the film. Wayne and Whitman only worked one other time together and that was in The Longest Day. They were such a perfect fit it's a pity they didn't do more together.

This was also the first time the Duke worked with Lee Marvin. Marvin's character is only on screen for about 10 minutes, but you remember him throughout. This is also the final screen appearance of Guinn "Big Boy" Williams who must have done at least fifteen films with Michael Curtiz back in the heyday of Warner Brothers.

The Comancheros deserves an honored place in the performances of John Wayne and can't be beat for entertainment. A MUST for Duke fans.