White Comanche (1968) User Reviews

WHITE COMANCHE (Jose' Briz Mendez, 1968) **

[Bunuel1976 · 4/10 · 9 February 2008]

Being a Spanish rather than Italian production, I don't think this rates as an official Spaghetti Western – yet, it's been included with a clutch of such efforts in a budget-release Box Set (which I've rented and am currently going through); the treatment itself, in fact, isn't even really evocative of that distinctly baroque style!

The film-makers managed to acquire two American stars for this one: veteran Joseph Cotten and William Shatner (a fashionable commodity at the time thanks to the STAR TREK phenomenon on TV); they actually complement each other quite well, the reliable Cotten being a laid-back yet plain-speaking marshal and Shatner brooding albeit given occasionally to his trademark histrionics – especially since he plays twins, i.e. cowboy hero and the troublesome half-breed of the title!

The narrative also incorporates a subplot involving rival factions fighting for control of the town of Rio Hondo; female interest is provided by lovely blonde Rosanna Yanni (co-star of the two "Red Lips" films by Jess Franco made the previous year), who's assaulted by one Shatner and loved by the other. Eventually, the two siblings face-off in a duel on horseback – which both undertake bare-chested and wearing a bandana (presumably, to confuse the audience as to the identity of the victor)! At the end of the day, the film proves a tolerable diversion if nothing more – unless one counts Shatner's almost campy intensity (particularly in his caricatured Indian portrayal) as an added source of gratification! I should also mention here that the terribly inappropriate jazzy score is a pain to listen to and, besides, the pan-and-scan version I watched had an irritating tendency to jump-cutting within the same shot in search of the current speaker's face!!

Was the crew doing peyote?

[stevehaynie · 3/10 · 25 September 2006]

The motion picture industry has trained viewers to expect certain types of music for certain types of movies and individual scenes. Occasionally a film score breaks with tradition and is recognized for its brilliance. The opening music of White Comanche should be judged with an open mind because it is within reason to allow experimentation at times. It did not turn into a classic western theme, but it is not too far out of place. As the movie continues there are some musical passages that definitely should not have been used. One sequence uses music that invokes the image of a chase scene in an old comedy, and another would have been appropriate for late 60's crime drama set in a big city. The music itself was good, but its placement does not enhance the movie. Instead it is noticeable and distracting.

William Shatner gives two acting performances that are totally opposite. As Johnny Moon, Shatner really does give a good performance. The sophistication of Johnny's character comes through, and if this were Shatner's only role in White Comanche it would be regarded more highly. As Notah Moon, Shatner cannot be taken seriously. When acting as the domineering Notah, he does not convey an image of a leader. Instead, he looks like he is rehearsing his lines for the first time. In addition, Notah is the only "comanche" with short, perfectly combed hair at all times while the rest of the Indians all have long hair.

Joseph Cotten is flawless in his performance as Sheriff Logan, but it is sad to see him in a movie that did not capitalize on his talent. Cotten must have been hired to add a "name" to the cast, but there was little for him to work with in his role.

The remainder of the cast varied in their acting qualities. Kelly, The General, and the Mayor appear to give good performances, but the dubbed voices in the soundtrack are lifeless. All of the fight scenes look like the weekend performances from a cowboy theme park-- fun in the moment but not good on film.

The greatest problem that plagued White Comanche was probably the cheapest to fix, the script. Only one scene gives some history between Johnny and Notah, and it has little depth. There is no account of how the rift between Grimes and General Garcia began or escalated. Neither Sheriff Logan or the saloon girl, Kelly, have any history. A little more explanatory dialog could have made the characters more dynamic.

White Comanche is not well made, but do not avoid it if you have the time and desire to view it.

Pale eyes, burning like fire

[Bezenby · 5/10 · 5 June 2017]

Notable Actors: William Shatner! Joseph Cotton! Victor Isreal! William Shatner again!

I leave reservation and travel many miles on my BMX to see this film many moons ago. Me heap excited to see Comanche people on film as me feel tribe under-represented in the cinematic medium. Um Squaw 'couldn't be arsed' so me go on lonesome.

Me not know who William Shatner is but me not remember many ginger folk in tribe. And he two brothers? One of which take Peyote? We not takers of such drugs. Our um only weakness is Steakbake from Greggs on reservation. I see recent picture of William Shatner and he look like he like Steakbake too. Quite a lot.

So there's one Shatner who bad (and he Indian one! Not good!) and one who boring cowboy type who I guess is Indian too). Indian Shatner want kill white man for boom-stick and horses and cowboy Shatner want stick peace pipe in Rosanna Yanni's Happy Hunting Ground.

Also, grumpy old Bastard Joseph Cotton got problems with white ranch men fighting but they seem to kill each other without Shatner getting involved too much, although this meant big gun fight happen too soon. Grumpy old Bastard Joseph Cotton good here, but better in Lady Frankenstien (which good because you see Rosalba Neri's Teepees! And in Slaughter Hotel you see her under scalp!).

Shatner then fight Shatner in end. This a bit bloodier than usual film but crappy too due to cheapness and Shatner crapness. How!

A battle of tightest pants

[andrewsarchus · 2/10 · 22 August 2006]

Hilariously bad western with Shatner playing the dual "good twin/bad twin" roles. This was made in Spain during his Star Trek years (hey, it seemed to have worked for Eastwood before him!). The incomprehensible back story winds up with a gun battle between fractious factions in the town of Rio Hondo (does anyone know what they're fighting about?). It also supports some other characters running around trying to hang innocent people. But the main clash is between the two twins which proceeds to a mano-a-mano finale in which Shatner gets to bare both his chests. I personally found his characteristic staccato delivery perfect for the Comanche twin Notah (speaking sterotypically of course). And for Star Trek fans - only one of him gets the girl! The film also suffers from a jazz influenced musical score, but, hey, that's the least of its problems.

How Much Pasta Was William Shatner Given For This?

[bkoganbing · 2/10 · 25 July 2006]

It's a good thing that Star Trek prime became such a cult item. I would hate to think that William Shatner would have his career judged by this monstrosity of a western.

It's probably well that critics remember that at the time this film was done, Star Trek was not the big cult item it became. It was an ambitious science fiction show in its first run that drew a loyal steady audience that NBC decided to cancel after three years. It's fan base grew in syndication and THEN Star Trek became an industry unto itself.

So William Shatner in accepting this part had no idea what his future had in store for him. I think if he had he wouldn't have done this film.

It's just plain terrible. It's poorly dubbed, it's music score is the worst I've heard for a western since The Outlaw, the acting is terrible and the plot line ridiculous.

Shatner plays twin brothers who are from an anglo father and a comanche mother. One of them identifies with the whites and the other the Indians. Come to think of it there was an episode in Star Trek prime where the transporter divided Captain Kirk into a good and evil self. That one was far better done than this film.

I'm sure Shatner might have thought he would go the way of Clint Eastwood and Charles Bronson in spaghetti westerns. But I think he knew early on what a dog this film was and he overacts outrageously. Especially as his Indian self. Joseph Cotten is around for this also and he looks like he misses those good old days with Orson Welles.

Just think when Bill Shatner did Comanche blanco he had no idea that his immortality was already sealed.

Iberian idiocy.

[ndwiv · 15 May 2001]

If the Italian made cowboy flicks were "Spaghetti Westerns", this must be an "Enchilada Western", and it suffers by comparison. If it weren't for the presence in the cast of Cotten and Shatner, I'm sure this would be considered a "Cowboy and Indians" farce. I don't know how the two of them got involved in this but it was so compelling to Shatner that he played two roles. From horses who prance and dance little jigs in otherwise serious scenes, to Notah leading his band of Comanches while continuing to ride a western saddle, to buzzards that sound suspiciously like amplified crows, this whole thing might be somewhat entertaining if only the actors didn't take themselves so seriously.

Note to Hollywood...

[quitwastingmytime · 1/10 · 6 July 2021]

Mixed race people don't look like whites with a little paint and a feather. They look like Benjamin Bratt, who is half Quechua and half German. Or Jason Momoa, half Hawaiian and half German.

Here they don't even bother with the usual horsehair wig and makeup that looks like mud. Shatner's skin is almost glow in the dark.

As others note, this is Plan Nine bad on every level. Bad writing, bad acting, makes no sense. Entertaining because it's fun to laugh at.

a mess of a western

[funkyfry · 2/10 · 22 September 2008]

The temptation to make weak and obvious jokes about this film is simply too strong for me to resist.... but the punchlines I'd come up with couldn't be as much of a joke as this movie itself. A sad Spanish production that somehow managed to wrangle movie icon Joseph Cotten and rising camp icon William Shatner into a hackneyed film about a death feud between twin "Commanche" brothers. Yes, we are supposed to believe that William Shatner of all people is half white man and half native American, and nothing in Shatner's bag of overstated expressions and mannerisms is going to help much in the matter. One of the brothers wants to live in peace as a white man, but he's continually being mistaken for his brother who still lives to rob and kill on the edges of civilization (while continually popping peyote buttons, which might explain the acting). Hilariously, the film is so naive that it expects us to respect the white-bread Shatner's wishes that his brother and the other Commanches would go back to the reservation where they will have some kind of idyllic life according to him.

The physical aspects of this production are embarrassing. There's actually some attempt by the director to bring visual nuance to the film, such as an interesting shot of a man disappearing from the frame which is revealed to be a mirror. But even the unfortunate director, Jose Briz Mendez, is undone in his ambition by the rock-bottom nature of everything associated with the film. The actors in the film are generally terrible, and all of the dialog is of course dubbed. There's a lack of scope to everything, as if the director was constantly aware that moving the camera in one direction or another would reveal unfinished parts of the set. In the end of the movie the good Shatner is supposed to be settling down with his generic showgirl girlfriend in this town, but we really can't imagine anyone wanting to live in such an ugly place for more than 5 minutes.

The production is so incompetent and lazy that when we start to see the clichéd "vultures overhead" towards the end of the movie, they sound exactly like crows. You see this vulture in the sky and then there's a voice going "Ca Ca Ca!". What's worse is that they didn't even bother to use an actual crow -- it's just some guy making animal noises dubbed onto the soundtrack. These people went to the Bert I. Gordon school of post-dubbing apparently.

It's just a horrible, rotten movie.... oh shoot I didn't mention that Joseph Cotten is in it. How Cotten ended up in so many bad movies around this time in his career is really difficult to understand. It actually fills me with sadness to see this great actor, who had been a leading man for Orson Welles and Alfred Hitchcock, reduced to being the nominal "star presence" in a pathetic and pointless film like this one, which doesn't even have the class that Mario Bava could bring to some of his other European films. There's no excuse for this movie -- if it had been a TV pilot, the show would never have been picked up. To expect people to actually pay money for a ticket to this mess is almost criminal. I was able to survive and even enjoy the experience thanks to 4 pints of Stone IPA.

Poorly conceived but far away to be bad!!

[elo-equipamentos · 5/10 · 20 August 2018]

I wondering how William Shatner was involved in this average Spanish western, the premisse wasn't so bad at all, in fact no make sense, a twins brother half bread comanche & white man, but to consider it a crap there a long distance, the picture has a bad reputation by a large majority IMDB's users, however to me was an easily appreciation, therefore l find the answer, actually the people found a outrageous Captain Kirk got engaged in poor picture like that, a step down in your career, a place which he didn't dare to go, the picture itself is watchable and there good and bad moments, in time Joseph Cotten also has some criticism too????

Resume:

First watch: 2018 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD-R / Rating: 5.75

Tortilla or Paella Western (no Spaghetti) filmed in Spain and written/directed by Jose Briz

[ma-cortes · 5/10 · 6 May 2013]

Spanish movie made Paella Western that contains thrills , action and lots of gratuitous gunplay . It deals with two half-breed brothers , a cowboy called Johnny Moon (William Shatner) and his ruthless Indian twin brother called Notah (William Shatner) . Notah likes peyote and gets the crazy idea that he's the Comanche messiah sent to lead the Comanche nation against the white man but more specifically the dusty desert town of Rio Hondo . Moon , estranged from his brother, decides to face Notah either by words or by bullets . As Moon goes to the tribe location where meets Noaha and his pregnant wife called White Fawn (Perla Cristal) . After that , Johnny saves a damsel in distress (Rosanna Yanni) but she thinks that Johnny is Notah who formerly attacked to her . Meanwhile , two rival bands taking on to death , there takes place a bloody gunfight between the General Garcia bunch (Mariano Vidal Molina) and Grimes gang (Luis Prendes)

There is plenty of action in the movie , guaranteeing shootouts , fights or stunts every few minutes . This is an enjoyable Chorizo or Gazpacho Western dealing with a continuous confrontation among protagonists and both of them against several opponents ; it packs thrills , action , brawls , crossfire and drags at times , balancing in ups and downs . William Shatner , in his only Western , plays pretty well two roles , the good guy and the bad guy ; while Joseph Cotten plays an upright sheriff , this is his third Spaghetti Western , he had previously played ¨Mario Sequi's The tramplers¨ and ¨Sergio Corbucci's Hellbenders¨ . It's a thrilling western with spectacular outdoors filmed in Manzanares Del Real , La Pedriza and Colmenar Viejo ,Madrid , being interiors shot in Roma studios , Madrid . The movie has the typical European Western characters , as the bloody facing off , greedy antiheroes, dusty and spectacular showdowns , extreme baddies ; although being middlingly directed . Filmed in Spain on a miniscule budget while William Shatner was on hiatus from playing Captain Kirk on Star Trek , this film features him playing the dual role of half-breed twin brothers in the Old West . Agreeable secondary cast has several familiar faces from Paella Western such as Mariano Vidal Molina , Chris Huerta , Jose Canalejas , Barta Barri , Simon Arriaga , Victor Israel and many others . This Chorizo Western was filmed in 1968 , a notorious year in the development of European western that almost doubled since former year with movies mostly filmed in Spain and Italy . It results to be a peculiar version about confrontation between brothers ; theme to be treated in Spaghetti as ¨The tramplers¨(1965) by Mario Sequi with Joseph Cotten , Gordon Scott and Franco Nero and other Hollywood films such as ¨Broken Lance¨(1954) by Edward Dmytryck with Spencer Tracy as daddy and sons as Robert Wagner , Earl Holliman , Hugh O'Brian ; and previously in ¨House of strangers¨ (1949) by Joseph L Mankiewicz with Edward G Robinson , Luther Adler and Richard Conte .

The motion picture was regularly directed by Jose Briz Mendez , an usual filmmaker of documentary and TV episodes , this is his second picture having previously filmed a movie titled ¨Ragan¨ with Ty Hardin . Sadly the movie has also been relegated to what is sometimes called Spaghetti Western Hell, a denomination used to describe pictures that have fallen out of copyright or ¨Public Domain¨ and seem destined to stay that way, though as usual a widescreen presentation might improve one's perception of the results , hence my neutral rating of 6/10 . However , this film is listed among The 100 Most Enjoyably Bad Movies Ever Made in Golden Raspberry Award founder John Wilson's book 'The official Razzie Guide' .

Comanche blanco.

[hitchcockthelegend · 5/10 · 16 October 2013]

Actually it's not as awful as its reputation, well OK it's not very good either, but there is still a uniqueness to the story that warrants interest, and it's hugely enjoyable in that unintentional way.

William Shatner stars as "two" brothers of mixed race raised on a Comanche reservation. The one brother is Notah, a peyote taking bad boy who firmly follows the "not very" Comanche way and enjoys killing and raping white folk, the other is Johnny Moon, living as a white pale eyes dude who is a dandy with a pistol and fed up of being mistaken for his brother. So much so Johnny says enough is enough, it's time to have a duel and vanish his brother from the planet. As Johnny goes about his ways in the town of Rio Honcho, where he is building in preparation for "the duel", he has to deal with suspicious folk, bounty hunters, the alluring town vixen Kelly (Rosana Yanni) and the wise old sheriff (Joseph Cotton) who is simultaneously trying to avert a range war and keep an eye on Johnny.

What unfolds, in a blurry collage of bad dubbing, bad sound effects, bad musical scoring, bad acting and bad stereotyping, is a Freudian tinged tale of doppleganger complex and perverse Stockholm/Lima Syndrome type kinks. Director (and I use the term lightly) José Briz Méndez more or less just lets "The Shat" have his day in the Madrid sun, giving him the chance to be Clint Eastwood and Henry Brandon for one movie only. There's a nasty edge to the whole thing, which would be insulting were it not so ludicrous, but damn is it funny! And I'm not just talking about Shatner's ill fitting pants.

Poisonous paella served at the cult café. 5/10

Euro Native American movie

[RanchoTuVu · 8/10 · 16 August 2006]

The white Commanche is actually identical twin brothers played by William Shatner, one a ruthless peyote ingesting warrior chief who leads his followers into believing there will be a revival of there fortunes, and the other who tries to fit in with both cultures, but who has to deal with the consequences of his crazy brother and finally in the end is forced with the inevitable showdown. The film focuses more on the second brother, and if there is any criticism that would be where it should start, as the first one, the drugged out warrior seems to be the more interesting subject. But that wouldn't allow for the dubious necessity of having a plot where the cultures clash and the other brother gets to fall in love with the saloon girl his crazed brother earlier raped after leading an attack on the stage coach she was a passenger in. So one brother confronts the hatred and vengeance that the other brother caused. It's a good premise that's a bit restricted by the talent and budget, but is original and interesting.

"Notah's brother talks like the white man he thinks he is, he's afraid to be Comanche."

[classicsoncall · 6/10 · 8 June 2006]

I had more than a little trepidation approaching this film, but you know what, it wasn't that bad. Casting William Shatner here was a little like putting Lorne Greene in command of a space ship, but for the most part it worked - sort of. He pulled off the part of Johnny Moon decently enough, the brother who went off to grow up as a white man. However as Notah, the psychedelic Comanche warrior, Shatner whoops it up a bit embarrassingly, but then again his character regularly got high on peyote buttons and mystic visions. Funny, but it seemed to me that Notah looked about ten years younger than Johnny.

Joseph Cotten is the only other major name here, portraying Sheriff Logan of Rio Hondo. He had a kind of watered down Gary Cooper look, but at least he stood for law and order and wasn't afraid to mix it up when the bad guys hit town. He didn't get very far preventing the gunfight between the General Garcia and Grimes gangs, even taking a bullet for his trouble. Ultimately though, his presence in the film didn't seem to add up to much.

There are a couple of scenes you ought to keep your eyes on. When Johnny shoots Garcia's brother following an ambush, he begins rolling toward a cliff. As his body makes its' way over, note how he uses his hand to ever so slightly push away from the rock.

The other is an outright result of the director and his crew not paying attention. In the duel on horseback between Johnny and Notah, Johnny rides a black horse and Notah is on a brown horse. After it's over, the wounded Johnny rides into view and falls off a brown horse. Then when it's time to lead the Comanches back to the reservation he's back on a black horse again. At least as a white Comanche there was no guesswork.

Though not on a par with Clint Eastwood's Italian Westerns, this flick is still entertaining enough, if nothing more than to see William Shatner go where he had not gone before. Except for appearances in a number of TV Westerns, I can't think of another cowboy movie he might have been in. The picture has taken a few hits from other posters on this site, but if you're inclined to dismiss it as one of the worst Westerns ever made, try making it through "Cry Blood, Apache."

Not completely horrible!

[planktonrules · 3/10 · 21 February 2009]

While I will freely admit that this is a bad film, there were enough positive things about it that prevent it from getting a score of 1 or 2. An aging Joseph Cotten did a very credible performance as an aging sheriff. Although every bit of his 63 years, he gracefully and competently did his job in a film that wasn't worthy of his talents. Sadly, this isn't the last bad film Cotten did, as he later starred in LADY FRANKENSTEIN as well as AIRPORT '77. So, for Cotten's presence alone, you can't reasonably give the film a lower score than 3.

As for the rest of the film, it's all pretty silly. The first things you'll notice is that the movie looks as if it were filmed using a Super 8mm camera and the music is 100% wrong for a Western. When was the last time you heard jazz and electric guitars in a cowboy film?! And the credits looked like they were created by a high school audio-visual club! Just how cheap and crappy can you get?!

However bad all this is, that's exactly what I was hoping! After all, the film starred the king of subtlety, the great (at least in his mind) William Shatner. Having just wrapped up production of "Star Trek", Shatner apparently could have used some money and took part in this low-budget film--and in the process made it look even more low-brow and cheesy!! The plot certainly didn't help (with Shatner playing two silly roles, not just one) but who would have possibly thought of casting him a two half-American Indian brothers!?!?! Seeing this "White Comanche" riding about with his pasty white skin and war paint was a hoot. You ask yourself such questions as "why does he have short hair and look like Captain Kirk when the rest of his Indian brothers all sport shaggy black wigs?" as well as "why is he dressed nothing like an Indian?" and "what were they smoking!?!?!". And, in typical Shatner style, he delivers his lines staccato-style and is about as convincing as a man raised by Indians as Rip Taylor might have been in this role! It's so bad, it's good!

Now in the other role, Shatner was actually pretty tolerable. Sure, he looked nothing like a typical man of the old West, but at least he was somewhat believable and delivered many of his lines like he wasn't drugged. Additionally, the over-emoting which is quite typical of Shatner is actually mostly absent--and his role is relatively subdued. Had Shatner just played this one role, the film would have been a lot better--but also a lot less funny. It might have also helped his career, though I truly doubt that people of the time remembered this role nearly as much as the Comanche one!!

The story is about two identical twins whose mother was White and father was an Indian. While they were both raised by the tribe, neither looks or sounds the least bit Native-American. One chose to live among the Whites as an adult and the other became the leader of a renegade group of Indians. Well, believe it or not, the nice Shatner is tired of everyone thinking he is the "White Comanche" and challenges his evil counter-part to a final showdown in four days in the town of Rio Burrito or whatever it was called (it might have been Rio Hondo, but I WON'T watch the movie again to find out for certain). Once he arrives in the city, nice Shatner turns out to be a killing machine and a bit of a social worker--helping right wrongs and convincing everyone that he is one swell guy. And, in a silly finale, both Shatners prove they couldn't hit the broad side of a barn as they shoot at each other at literal point-blank range and miss repeatedly. In the end, the expected occurs and the credits roll.

I strongly recommend this film for anyone wanting a good laugh, though the film still isn't as silly and stupid as another Shatner opus, IMPULSE. I suggest strongly you find this other film because unlike WHITE COMANCHE, Shatner is not the least bit restrained and over-emotes worse than he ever did on "Star Trek" (is this even possible?!).

In recent years, Mr. Shatner has finally found his niche. Parodying himself with Priceline and his role on "Boston Legal" have proved that although cheesy, Shatner is not above exploiting his cheese-factor because he seems to be willing to make fun of himself...provided a camera is running and someone is willing to watch!

"You sit like the waiting duck in the water."

[mlrobinson · 9 October 2004]

MR. MIKE'S COUCH-TIME MOVIE REVIEW WHITE COMANCHE.

Yes, the line above is spoken in the context of some time-honored Native American fable. It's just one of the many nuggets that make this sofa-time well spent. White Comanche features William Shatner (Capt. Kirk)during a break from Star Trek starring in an Italian western. Now, hold on. Hindsight being 20-20 and all, this might not have been the disastrous career move we've come to expect from the strict method-acting thespian with Shat's pedigree.( wait, that 20-20 reference might be another native American truism ! Put yourself in Shatner's shoes, no small feet for a guy who stands 5-7 at best! Clint Eastwood was making a big splash in Italian Westerns. Of course, THOSE Italian westerns were shot with more than one camera. But hey, you get on a plane for Italy, you don't find out these things right away.

Summary: Shat plays half-breed, twin brothers. Johnny Moon the misunderstood cowpoke in the polycotton blend slacks, and Notah Moon, the bloody savage killer Comanche brother who wears his hair just like Johnny's and yes, Mom still lays Notah's polycotton blend slacks on the bed for him each night too. Notah eats peyote, sees visions (all off-camera) and believes he is a Comanche messiah, sent down to the reservation to get a lot of Italians dressed as Indians all hot and bothered ! There's a showdown in the street.

The reliable (but obviously down on his luck) Joseph Cotton wrestles with the script as the well-meaning sheriff who reaches out to Johnny. And Rossana Yani, one hot Italian actress, who of course plays Kelly, the whore with a heart of gold, the love interest.

The movie is godawful. Poor cinematography, obvious jump cutting, stilted script, misplaced period music. The director tries to update the Cowboys/Indians shoot 'em up with drug references and then throw in the old Prince/ Pauper routine. Tired. A better budget might have pulled it off, but would have probably meant a better, more expensive cast (like say, Vince Edwards, Lee J. Cobb and Connie Stevens as Kelly). If that were the case, NO ONE would remember this movie. Kelly is beautiful, but has no one idea what her lines mean in English. At one point, she sympathizes with Johnny's abuse by prejudice, "We're all outcasts in someway, I'm part French, English with a little German mixed in." Of course, there's NO IRISH connection, her name IS KELLY.

Points of interest: Visible telephone poles in the old west, Notah Moon's on-again, off-again saddle trick. He does this same magic with his warpaint. Shatner's use of Kirk-esque grappling moves in his far too-long fight scene. Kelly's quick leap in the sack with the twin brother of the man who raped her. This logic is rivaled only by her insistence on bathing alone in the middle of nowhere in a spicy scene guaranteed to save the special effects budget. With the money saved, the crew was able to construct a SIXTH building for the set!

Cotton is not bad in this picture. It's easy to pile on Shat, but he's not a bad actor either in the right role. But God can't help this production. The music is not to be missed. Pick up White Comanche today. But do it when the Video stores are bulk selling their VHS stock.

White Comanche gets 3 potatoes: 1 for the soundtrack 1 for Rosanna Yanni (no relation and that's why she gets a potato!) 1 for the incredible marksmanship. Everyone who dies in this picture, save Notah, all take a bullet right between the eyes.

Thats the same sensation you'll experience if you see White Comanche !

A case of mistaken identity

[sol1218 · 5/10 · 23 July 2006]

(There are Spoilers) Almost getting hanged at the start of the movie for being mistaken for his kill crazy brother Notah White/Comanche half-breed Johnny Moon, William Shatner playing a duel role,has just about had it and decides to ride into Comanche territory,Johnny wants to challenge Notah to a duel and finally get it over with by either killing Notah so he won't commit any more crimes that he's, Johnny, been unjustifiably accused off. And that doesn't work or get killed by Notah himself so he won't by around and alive to have that problem any more.

Meanwhile Notah is up to his old tricks again by attacking a stagecoach with his band of Comanche braves killing everyone on it. Raping the only survivor Kelly, Rossanna Yanni, as Natah goes back home to get stoned out on peyote to enhance is visions. He plans to resurrect the great Comanche nation and thus drive the hated white man out of it's ancestral lands.

Johnny showing up at Notah's place challenges him to a duel to the death. The two brothers decide that it should take place in neutral territory, the quiet little town of Rio Hondo, four days hence. On his way to Rio Hondo Johnny gets involved with a local dispute there between the General,Mariano Vilda, and the towns salon owner Grimes, Louis Prendes. Johnny coming to the rescue gunned down two of the General's men who were about to hang one of Grimes work-hands Ellis,Vincent Roca. Ellis was fooling around with territorial markers on the General's and Grimes property.

Getting into Rio Hondo for some rest before his big showdown with Notah Johnny is first recognized by one of the General's men his younger brother Coor, Javier Maiza, as the man who gunned down his men. Kelly mistakes him for his brother Notah,which is a very common happening in the film, as the man who held up the stagecoach tries to apprehend him. Johnny has a knock down an drag out brawl with Coors whom he puts to sleep with a number of kicks and straight rights. Luckily he just misses being shot and killed by an outraged Kelly.

Convincing Kelly and the town sheriff Logan, Joseph Cotton, that he's not his murderous half-breed brother Notah, the only difference between Johnny and Notah is the color their eyes, Kelly falls in love with her now mistaken rapist ,the proper and gentlemanly Johnny Moon. This get's the banged up and jealous Coor a bit mad at him since he's secretly in love with her. We later in the movie again have a fight, this time with guns, between Johnny and Coor with Coor again getting the worst of it with a bullet between his eyes.

The movie then degenerates into a free-for-all shoot em up between the Grimes gang and the General's staff. We get to see the entire town of Rio Hondo is depopulated of it's citizens in the process. Notah on his way to town to have it out with Johnny has his pregnant squaw White Fawn, Perla Crista, go to bat for him but ends up getting batted herself, by someone else. Later a member of the tribe Koh To, Louis Rivera, goes after Notah to stop and kill him. Koh To came to the conclusion that he's completely out of his head and will only bring death and destruction on the Comanche nation with his insane actions.

White Fawn ambushes Koh To by sticking a knife in his back and then tries to finish him off by having her horse stomp him to death. It then that Koh comes back to life and unseats the shrieking and hysterical White Fawn stabbing and killing her as he himself slowly bleed to death from the stab wound. This whole scene is accommodated with some of the wildest and ear-splitting cries and yells that, if the sound on the TV isn't turned down. The screams can easily damage and burst your eardrums.

Facing off in an almost deserted Rio Hondo Johnny and Notah have it out with johnny coming out the winner. Then as the movie ends Johnny plans to marry, a crazy about him and his light brown eyes, Kelly as he leads his people the Comanches back to their reservation to life of peace and harmony with the White Man.

More then worthy to be featured on the Mystery Science 3000 bad movie program "White Comanche" is undoubtedly one of the best bad movies you'll ever see. Johnny Moon is hilarious by being targeted by everyone for crimes that he didn't commit. Even a little wimpy nerd turned bounty hunter like Carter, Victor Israel, trying to kill him who in return ends up almost shooting himself, before sheriff Logan gunned him down.

Has to be seen to be disbelieved

[TerryMcC · 3/10 · 28 March 1999]

Yes this is a dull film for the most part, but the sight of Shatner as Notah with his bare white chest is worth at least taking a look. If you don't want to sit through the whole film come in on the last part where the two brothers fight it out on horseback in an extremely badly shot close out.

Forgettable

[dickzie32-1 · 2/10 · 15 December 2006]

Actually saw it so many years ago that I don't remember much of the film. However, knew Gil Kay, the director, when he was living in Madrid in the late 60's and wonder if he is still around and writing and directing. At the time he had a screenplay, that he wrote, and was trying to produce it in Spain. Madrid was a hotbed of film activity, fueled mainly by Samuel Bronston's productions. Big names and, for those days, big budgets compared to the Spanish economy. Gil was an integral part of the ex-pat community of film makers, most of whom came over to work on specific projects but, seduced by the extraordinary life style in Madrid, remained, sometime for years, trying to put together productions. A few succeeded but most returned to Hollywood poorer but wiser. So, anybody know if Gil is still alive and active? What was his last effort? Would appreciate an update at my email address: [e-mail]

beam me up, Scotty!

[tracyfigueira · 5/10 · 8 June 2009]

God must really like William Shatner. How else can you explain a career like his? Shatner has probably given more bad performances than any actor in history, has been in more turkeys than you can name, yet somehow he keeps adding success to success. This bizarre Spanish-made Western plays like a bad Star Trek episode. Remember the one where a transporter accident divided Kirk into his good and evil selves? This is like that, except in this version the good Kirk is white and the bad Kirk is Indian. Anyone smell a hint of racism here? Where's Kevin Costner when you need him? Still, "White Comanche" is great fun, with a good performance from Joseph Cotten as the sheriff and plenty of the rugged, two-fisted action fans of "Star Trek" and Spaghetti Westerns have come to expect. Sure, it's not "Dances With Wolves," but how many films are?

White Comanche

[Scarecrow-88 · 4/10 · 16 August 2015]

I guess "White Comanche" interested me for its fascinating history (made during the hiatus of Star Trek, and that Shatner tried to get NBC to purchase it for television) and Shatner's involvement more than anything. Joseph Cotton's name attached to it is also a plus with me, but sometimes a presentation hampers any chances of actors being able to lift a film out of the doldrums. In the case of White Comanche, Shatner is unable to balance dual roles without going to two wide extremes. His Notah Moon is a highly energized, totally savage, and psychotic "half breed", leading the Comanche on stagecoach raids and killings of White folk, while Shatner's interpretation of Johnny Moon is monotone, flat, devoid of any color at all. Two ends of the spectrum, but for whatever reason, he remained watchable just the same. I have to tell you, some of Shatner's best work came later in years, but he had some doozies in his prime, too. But here, he seems to be indifferent as how to handle a double-part. That's not to say he isn't capable, but maybe this film in its construction, while Shatner was there acting in it, he knew it was a turkey.

It has a dull script and ratty dubbing with rough noise in the background when the cast speaks. There's the customary fisticuffs as Shatner's Johnny Moon must defend himself against the young buck brother of a land baron in a bar fight (yep, tables and beer bottles break), and shootouts (two rival land barons have their hired guns shooting it out in the dusty streets of Rio Hondo, the town setting for most of the film).

Cotten is the sensible sheriff who just wants to keep the township safe, and obtain law, and peace. Well, with land barons shooting at each other, the Comanche's reservation some miles distant (riled up by the violence-minded Notah), and a Wanted poster with a price for Notah's hide due to his stagecoach murders, Rio Hondo's safety might not be so assured. Even a little boy that had bonded with Johnny Moon gets shot when accidentally walking into the line of fire. Rosanna Yanni (while quite easy on the eyes) is a boring romantic love interest (no emotions register at all but her beauty indeed does) for Johnny Moon, although her rape at the hands of an excited Notah is rather devastating.

There's a huge body count and plenty of head shots, blood, and bullet fire. Shatner never looked comfortable to me as Johnny Moon. It was a "going through the motions" boredom that emerged in every scene Moon appeared to me. It was essentially a paycheck role. Cotton deserves better than this but he was a trooper, giving his sheriff a willingness to defend his town and not back down from the money men that were blowing smoke at each other over land rights. However, the film itself just kind of lays there on the screen and never seems capable of taking off. There's no energy. There's this pastiche of elements from westerns past, but White Comanche doesn't necessarily incorporate anything interesting or inspired in its own storytelling.

Shatner's "brothers dual" on horses with guns blazing at the end doesn't give the viewer the big conclusion a final showdown normally does when a film builds towards it. Because the film's plot paints itself in a corner with the twins-at-odds final gunfight, it was a given to fail rather miserably. You can't really see anything, and the director/editor has to shoot the film to avoid the glaring problem facing them: how do you get two Shatners appear in the same frame with guns out shooting? Much less, how could they on horses, passing when effects weren't quite there to do so in the late 60s? And the score…this music applied to the film is a mess that rarely amplifies or ignites the drama or action on screen.

If anything, the score just makes the film look foolish. That, and the editing and shot selections. This is just a badly produced, directed, edited, acted, dubbed, and scored western dud. It's not the worst film ever made, just a rather poor western that never amounts to much. It has enough violent bits and action to be somewhat effective on occasion.

And it does have shocking moments like the little boy being shot and killed and a rather nasty piece of work in a pregnant Comanche squaw of Notah's who takes a knife to a "rogue Comanche" who warns Johnny of a potential attack on the town of Rio Hondo. There's also the aftermath of the land barons' shootout with all the bloody bodies, and the rocky cliffs and vistas in Spain that are nice. But, I don't think anything remotely sustainable leaves an impression after this is over. It is rather forgettable.

Quite possibly the worst movie I've ever seen.

[DHWay75 · 1/10 · 15 January 2006]

I was raised on Star Trek re-runs, Star Trek films, & The Next Generation. I've been a fan of the franchise most of my life. As a result, I'm a pretty big Shatner fan, & not just for his years of playing Capt. Kirk. I've seen him in many other roles where I thought he was great. This is not one of them though. The film is terrible & Shatner is awful. A lot of films that I watch & end up hating will usually have at least one thing in them that I like. One good scene, or an actor that gives a great performance...something to give the film some sort of redemption. This movie has NONE!!! Shatner plays dual roles as half white/half Commanche brothers, one who embraces the white way of life, the other Commanche. His scenes as a Commanche are particularly terrible (if not scary). I watched the film only once & now am deeply saddened that I wasted 2 hours of my life that I can never get back. Take my advice. Don't waste your time with this one. Be afraid, be very afraid!

Horrible horrible horrible

[designed4 · 1/10 · 27 January 2005]

The main reason I decided to watch this awesomely horrible movie was because, I had nothing else to do. This whole movie reeks with disdain. First of all the plot, dull, and predictable. The message of the movie was also very annoying. Why does one of the half-breed brothers who pretends to be white, get the good life, while the other who sticks to his roots, automatically has to be killed?

Anyway, another horrible factor was the make-up on the actors. Let's say really dark concealer, and red paint, and voila! You got a Native American Indian! The music too was soo out of place for the late 1800's westerns. The whole 60's influence showed through example: the hair!

Anyway, to conclude if you watch this movie as I plainly did, you will say at the end of the day that it was a waste of time.

P.S. I have to write to TCM headquarters, and tell them to ban this film.

Surprisingly Great

[limelog · 10/10 · 27 June 2011]

This movie gets extremely low ratings and rankings on almost every website you look at, but this is one of the best westerns I have seen. Yes, it's low budget, 1960's foreign attempt at an American Western, but somehow it manages to be one of the best westerns ever. Somewhere over the years this film seems to have slipped into the public domain because it's on a lot of the big multi-pack movie sets from Platinum DVD, TreeLine, and Mill Creek. It's also available for free on several legitimate websites. So, since it's free online, and only a few pennies to get on DVD you should give this one a look if you ever enjoyed a spaghetti western, or ever feel nostalgic for old 1960's westerns.

Beam Me Up Scotty!I'm Done with this Western VR!

[gattonero975 · 6/10 · 13 August 2020]

A very weird and strange Western starring good ol Captain Kirk William Shatner as a Comanche!? It was done during a Hiatus of Star Trek so it's no wonder that Shatner still looks young enough to do the stunts in this movie and whatnot and show off his athletic body. My poor Shatner he will always be remembered as Captain Kirk that's the way at least how I see him and even in Long fighting scene that he has in this film it seems captain kirkish type of fight and it's funny. Old-time Legend Joseph Cotten does a better job as a old-time Sheriff and Cotton plays him and like a Gary Cooper type of way. The beautiful Argentinian actress Rosanna Yanni play the so-called love interest and while there really isn't any chemistry between her and Shatner she is still very easy on the eyes and to look at.

at the beginning of film there is a this is a very disturbing scene with Shatner basically raping Yanni and it's very unnerving to see Shatner do that type of roll but it looks like he was having fun doing it playing against type. Another thing I couldn't get out of my mind was that all the other actors playing the Indians were wearing their Shawty black wigs while Shatner just kept it short Captain Kirk hairstyle and wrap the bandana around his head to look Indian no wonder his twin brother who Shatner also plays in a dual role is having problems because they both have the same haircut so I look at it if I was Johnny Moon Comanche who was trying to be white, I would have dyed my hair or let a mustache grow a beard or just shave my head Yul Brynner look good in the Magnificent Seven and as the Gunslinger in the original Westworld so if it was good for Yul Brynner could have been great for William Shatner haha Oh and this has to be the first time I've ever seen in a western that everybody's such a good shot that everybody that died, dies from a bullet in the head except Shatner when he kills his twin brother. And also the little boy that got caught in the crossfire I believe he got shot in the stomach and he did a little nice acting job in dying so I give the Oscar to that little boy haha

Great for actual Shatner fans...not the haters.

[TeenVamp · 5/10 · 14 March 2020]

This movie was a lot better than i expected from the dismal reviews on here. William Shatner is one of those actors whose "fans" love to crap talk him and i really don't understand why. The man can act and looks great back in the day. Here he's 37 and doesn't have a ounce of fat on him. He spend most of the movie shirtless as the evil twin haha but you have to admire Shat for pulling it off. This isn't a bad movie you could do way worse as far as westerns are concerned. The only thing that does suck about it is the horrible jazz music score that just doesn't fit a western and sounds like they got it for free. This movie is on youtube in great quality. Give it a shot.