Paul Colt's Blog, page 18
July 3, 2022
Vera Cruz
Vera Cruz may have missed your radar as it did for many, but the Not-so-Classic film had profound influences you will recognize. It started with Ernest Borgnine, Jack Elam and Charles Bronson cast in evil, violent, cutthroat roles, shocking to 1950’s sensibilities. So shocking, they inspired similar characters played in films such as The Magnificent Seven, The Professionals, and The Wild Bunch. Not only did they inspire director Sam Peckinpah, Sergio Leone created a Spaghetti Western sub-genre around them.
Vera Cruz starred Gary Cooper as Ben Trane, ex-confederate gunman who travels to Mexico to seek work as a mercenary during the Franco Mexican War. He joins a renegade band of gunfighters led by co-star Burt Lancaster as Joe Erin. Erin’s band consists of the afore-mentioned evil and violent characters. They are hired by Marquis Henri de Labordere (Cesar Romero) to escort Countess Duvarre (French bombshell, Denise Darcel) to Vera Cruz.
On the way to Vera Cruz, Trane notices the carriage the countess is riding in is heavy. Trane and Erin discover the weight is owing to six cases of gold coins. The countess tells them the gold, valued at three million dollars, is intended to pay troop reinforcements from France. The three decide to steal the gold.
The party is attacked by Mexican revolutionaries on their journey and eventually surrounded with most of Erin’s men dead. Trane persuades the Marquis to buy off the Mexicans with one-hundred thousand dollars, allowing them to reach Vera Cruz. Erin is still bent on stealing the gold, ending in a showdown shootout with Trane, which of course, Trane wins.
The film grossed nine million dollars and was a big hit in France. Did I mention Miss Darcel was an exotic dancer before taking up acting?
Next Week: The Cowboys
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Ride easy,
Paul
Vera Cruz starred Gary Cooper as Ben Trane, ex-confederate gunman who travels to Mexico to seek work as a mercenary during the Franco Mexican War. He joins a renegade band of gunfighters led by co-star Burt Lancaster as Joe Erin. Erin’s band consists of the afore-mentioned evil and violent characters. They are hired by Marquis Henri de Labordere (Cesar Romero) to escort Countess Duvarre (French bombshell, Denise Darcel) to Vera Cruz.
On the way to Vera Cruz, Trane notices the carriage the countess is riding in is heavy. Trane and Erin discover the weight is owing to six cases of gold coins. The countess tells them the gold, valued at three million dollars, is intended to pay troop reinforcements from France. The three decide to steal the gold.
The party is attacked by Mexican revolutionaries on their journey and eventually surrounded with most of Erin’s men dead. Trane persuades the Marquis to buy off the Mexicans with one-hundred thousand dollars, allowing them to reach Vera Cruz. Erin is still bent on stealing the gold, ending in a showdown shootout with Trane, which of course, Trane wins.
The film grossed nine million dollars and was a big hit in France. Did I mention Miss Darcel was an exotic dancer before taking up acting?
Next Week: The Cowboys
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Ride easy,
Paul
June 25, 2022
The Jayhawkers
Hollywood can’t handle history. More particularly Hollywood can’t resist the temptation to ‘improve’ upon it. The Jayhawkers is set in the bleeding Kansas prequel to the civil war. It is a period of history I know very well from research in writing Sycamore Promises. Kansas Jayhawkers and Missouri Bushwhackers were guerilla bands that fought over the admission of Kansas to the Union as a free or slave state. It was a bloody and violent confrontation.
John Brown and his sons stood with anti-slavery free state Kansans. The film is LOOSLY based on Brown. The connection to Brown extends about as far as the mental state of Luke Darcy (Jeff Chandler), leader of a Jayhawker militia bent on seizing Kansas town by town to establish a sovereign nation with Darcy as supreme leader. Darcy is characterized as ‘The Man on Horseback’. I’d never encountered the concept before. The man on horseback refers to a military dictator. It is a story the producers wanted to set in the American west.
The governor of Kansas offers outlaw raider Cam Bleeker (Fess Parker) a pardon if he brings Darcy to justice alive. Bleeker believes Darcy had an affair with his wife, leading to her death. Given his choices, Bleeker takes the governors offer. He finds Darcy by saving one of his men from a lynching. This allows Bleeker to infiltrate Darcy’s army and come up with a plan to capture the guerilla leader. Bleeker lays out his plan for the governor who agrees.
Bleeker tells Darcy he has learned a gold shipment will be delivered to Abilene by rail. The gold will buy the guns and ammunition Darcy needs to win his war for Kansas. Darcy orders his men to take the town and await arrival of the train. What Darcy doesn’t know is the train will be filled with federal troops.
Darcy learns of the trap and orders his men out of town. He stays behind to confront Bleeker. Bleeker prevails in a fist fight and is prepared to turn Darcy over to the troops at gunpoint. Darcy can’t abide the humiliation and spectacle of a public hanging. Bleeker still angered over Darcy’s hand in the death of his wife, gives him his chance of a duel. Bleeker kills Darcy. When Bleeker explains himself to the governor, the governor lets him go free.
Next Week: Vera Cruz
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Ride easy,
Paul
John Brown and his sons stood with anti-slavery free state Kansans. The film is LOOSLY based on Brown. The connection to Brown extends about as far as the mental state of Luke Darcy (Jeff Chandler), leader of a Jayhawker militia bent on seizing Kansas town by town to establish a sovereign nation with Darcy as supreme leader. Darcy is characterized as ‘The Man on Horseback’. I’d never encountered the concept before. The man on horseback refers to a military dictator. It is a story the producers wanted to set in the American west.
The governor of Kansas offers outlaw raider Cam Bleeker (Fess Parker) a pardon if he brings Darcy to justice alive. Bleeker believes Darcy had an affair with his wife, leading to her death. Given his choices, Bleeker takes the governors offer. He finds Darcy by saving one of his men from a lynching. This allows Bleeker to infiltrate Darcy’s army and come up with a plan to capture the guerilla leader. Bleeker lays out his plan for the governor who agrees.
Bleeker tells Darcy he has learned a gold shipment will be delivered to Abilene by rail. The gold will buy the guns and ammunition Darcy needs to win his war for Kansas. Darcy orders his men to take the town and await arrival of the train. What Darcy doesn’t know is the train will be filled with federal troops.
Darcy learns of the trap and orders his men out of town. He stays behind to confront Bleeker. Bleeker prevails in a fist fight and is prepared to turn Darcy over to the troops at gunpoint. Darcy can’t abide the humiliation and spectacle of a public hanging. Bleeker still angered over Darcy’s hand in the death of his wife, gives him his chance of a duel. Bleeker kills Darcy. When Bleeker explains himself to the governor, the governor lets him go free.
Next Week: Vera Cruz
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Paul
June 18, 2022
The Bravados
Rancher Jim Douglas (Gregory Peck) is on the trail of four desperados wanted for killing his wife. He tracks them to the town of Rio Arriba where they are being held, awaiting execution on unrelated murder charges. The sheriff allows him to see the men. Alfanso Parral (Lee Van Cleef), Bill Zachary (Stephen Boyd), Lujan (Henry Silva), and Ed Taylor (Albert Salmi).
Douglass stays in town to witness the murderers hanging. While there, he chances to meet Josefa Velarde (Joan Collins), a love of Douglas’s years before he met is now deceased wife. Never married Josefa, is now managing her deceased father’s ranch. Douglas explains he is a widower with a daughter.
The executioner, a man named Simms arrives in town. While townsfolk are attending church, he goes to the jail to measure the prisoners’ height and weight preparatory to a proper hanging. Instead, he stabs the sheriff in the back. The sheriff shoots him, but the gang escapes, holding a young woman hostage. Town’s people organize a posse and mount a pursuit only to find the body of the dead executioner.
Knowing the fugitives, Douglas takes up his search. One by one he tracks them down the first two. Each time he shows them a picture of his wife. Parral denies ever having seen the woman. Douglas kills him. Taylor too denies having seen Douglas’s wife. Douglas hangs him.
The two remaining fugitives reach the cabin of prospector John Butler, Douglas’s neighbor. Butler attempts to escape with a bag of coins. Lujan follows him outside, sees the posse and Douglas coming. The fugitives escape across the border. Douglass follows. He catches up with Zachary in a cantina. He kills the outlaw despite his denial of knowing the woman in the picture.
Douglas tracks Lujan to his home. He finds the man in possession of the bag of coins the murderer took from his ranch. Lujan tells him he took the coins from Butler. Douglass realizes he has killed the wrong men. He seeks forgiveness at the church in Rio Arriba, leaving for a new life with Josefa and his daughter.
The film, released in 1958, is based on a novel by Frank O’Rourke. Critical reviews were generally positive.
Next Week: The Jayhawkers
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Ride easy,
Paul
Douglass stays in town to witness the murderers hanging. While there, he chances to meet Josefa Velarde (Joan Collins), a love of Douglas’s years before he met is now deceased wife. Never married Josefa, is now managing her deceased father’s ranch. Douglas explains he is a widower with a daughter.
The executioner, a man named Simms arrives in town. While townsfolk are attending church, he goes to the jail to measure the prisoners’ height and weight preparatory to a proper hanging. Instead, he stabs the sheriff in the back. The sheriff shoots him, but the gang escapes, holding a young woman hostage. Town’s people organize a posse and mount a pursuit only to find the body of the dead executioner.
Knowing the fugitives, Douglas takes up his search. One by one he tracks them down the first two. Each time he shows them a picture of his wife. Parral denies ever having seen the woman. Douglas kills him. Taylor too denies having seen Douglas’s wife. Douglas hangs him.
The two remaining fugitives reach the cabin of prospector John Butler, Douglas’s neighbor. Butler attempts to escape with a bag of coins. Lujan follows him outside, sees the posse and Douglas coming. The fugitives escape across the border. Douglass follows. He catches up with Zachary in a cantina. He kills the outlaw despite his denial of knowing the woman in the picture.
Douglas tracks Lujan to his home. He finds the man in possession of the bag of coins the murderer took from his ranch. Lujan tells him he took the coins from Butler. Douglass realizes he has killed the wrong men. He seeks forgiveness at the church in Rio Arriba, leaving for a new life with Josefa and his daughter.
The film, released in 1958, is based on a novel by Frank O’Rourke. Critical reviews were generally positive.
Next Week: The Jayhawkers
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Ride easy,
Paul
June 11, 2022
Sergeants 3
Only Hollywood’s legendary Rat Pack could pull off a comic western version of the classic film Gunga Din. Who would even try? Try they did. The result? Sergeants 3. As in the classic, you have three compatriots, First Sergeant Mike Merry (Frank Sinatra), Sergeant Chip Deal (Dean Martin), and Sergeant Larry Barrett (Peter Lawford). They are joined by freedman trumpeter trooper wanna-be Jonah Williams (Sammy Davis Jr.), because they have to be joined by Sammy. Joey Bishop rounds out the five as Sergeant-Major Roger Boswell, though other than having achieved his majority, the character doesn’t bring much to the telling of the story.
As the story opens Larry is planning to break-up the old gang at the end of his enlistment to marry the lovely Amelia Parent (Ruta Lee). His pals aren’t happy. They try to talk him out of it just as Indian hostilities break out. Chip, in an act of impetuous impetuosity decides to capture the tribal chief. Accompanied by Jonah, hoping to make his cavalry bones, they enter the Indian encampment. Chip is captured while Jonah escapes to carry the news to Chip’s compadres.
On hearing the news Larry insists they rescue the errant musketeer. Ever-the-clever Mike agrees, but insists Larry sign a temporary reenlistment to keep the mission official, pinky swearing to destroy the document after they rescue their friend. Larry signs. Mike, Jonah and Larry reach the Indian camp only to join Chip in captivity for their trouble.
The cavalry of course rides to the rescue. The Indians have laid a treacherous ambush the cavalry will blunder into until Jonah trumpets the regimental song in warning. The tables are turned. Who could imagine, the Indians are defeated? While Larry makes to ride off in a carriage with his love, Mike hands his reenlistment paper over to their commanding officer. Not so fast Larry.
In a way it is a fitting end to the film. It is the last time all five of the Rat Pack would appear together. Sinatra and Lawford were not on speaking terms, let alone working terms. Old Blue Eyes got his nose out of joint when a visit to his Palm Springs home by Lawford’s brother in-law in the spring of 1962 got cancelled. The optics of Sinatra’s reputed Mafia ties were not considered to be good for President John F. Kennedy’s image.
Critics panned the film, written by W.R. Burnett, directed by John Sturges, produced by Sinatra.
Next Week: The Bravados
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Ride easy,
Paul
As the story opens Larry is planning to break-up the old gang at the end of his enlistment to marry the lovely Amelia Parent (Ruta Lee). His pals aren’t happy. They try to talk him out of it just as Indian hostilities break out. Chip, in an act of impetuous impetuosity decides to capture the tribal chief. Accompanied by Jonah, hoping to make his cavalry bones, they enter the Indian encampment. Chip is captured while Jonah escapes to carry the news to Chip’s compadres.
On hearing the news Larry insists they rescue the errant musketeer. Ever-the-clever Mike agrees, but insists Larry sign a temporary reenlistment to keep the mission official, pinky swearing to destroy the document after they rescue their friend. Larry signs. Mike, Jonah and Larry reach the Indian camp only to join Chip in captivity for their trouble.
The cavalry of course rides to the rescue. The Indians have laid a treacherous ambush the cavalry will blunder into until Jonah trumpets the regimental song in warning. The tables are turned. Who could imagine, the Indians are defeated? While Larry makes to ride off in a carriage with his love, Mike hands his reenlistment paper over to their commanding officer. Not so fast Larry.
In a way it is a fitting end to the film. It is the last time all five of the Rat Pack would appear together. Sinatra and Lawford were not on speaking terms, let alone working terms. Old Blue Eyes got his nose out of joint when a visit to his Palm Springs home by Lawford’s brother in-law in the spring of 1962 got cancelled. The optics of Sinatra’s reputed Mafia ties were not considered to be good for President John F. Kennedy’s image.
Critics panned the film, written by W.R. Burnett, directed by John Sturges, produced by Sinatra.
Next Week: The Bravados
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Ride easy,
Paul
June 4, 2022
Death of a Gunfighter
Title of the 1969 film, Death of a Gunfighter is something of a spoiler alert before the term was invented. The film is set in the small Texas town, Cottonwood Springs at the turn of the century. The old west is experiencing the growing strains a more civilized modern age. Cottonwood Springs is a town with a history, much of it in conflict with the trappings of a more refined community image. One of the throwbacks is Marshal Frank Patch, played by Richard Widmark. As the movie poster states it, “Marshal Patch lived by the law of the gun”.
Marshal Patch’s brand of law becomes a problem when he shoots a drunk in self-defense. The mayor and town council decide it is time for Patch to retire. The marshal is not of a mind to oblige. Patch reminds them that back in the wild and wooly days when he took a job that nobody wanted, the agreement was he could keep it as long as he liked. Patch also reminds them that much of the town’s sordid history is owed to their own misdeeds.
Now the city fathers had a different problem. The marshal needs to be removed, even by force. One of the councilmen has a run in with Patch, that ends poorly for the shopkeeper who gets slapped around like a schoolboy. The shopkeeper plans to kill the marshal, but when he confronts Patch, in a curious Hollywood quirk, he turns the gun on himself. The shopkeeper’s son, vows revenge with ample support and encouragement of the city fathers.
Patch realizes that a city council filled with reformed bad actors it is likely his life is in danger. It is. In the spirit of putting his affairs in order, he marries his long-time girlfriend and brothel madam, Claire Quintana (Lena Horne) the day of the shopkeeper’s funeral. The shopkeeper’s son seeks to make good on his pledge of vengeance only to meet his match by mortal wound.
Marshal Patch next encounters councilman Lester Locke (Carroll O’Connor) who also has murderous intentions. Lock is wounded and jailed. Patch sees the handwriting of his death on the wall. It is only a matter of time. He goes to church before resuming the search for his would-be killers. On leaving the church he is gunned down in a hail of bullets.
Available information on Death of a Gunfighter makes a thin broth. The only actors with significant recognition are those identified. Which raises the question, did anybody ever make a western without Richard Widmark?
Next Week: Sergeants 3
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Ride easy,
Paul
Marshal Patch’s brand of law becomes a problem when he shoots a drunk in self-defense. The mayor and town council decide it is time for Patch to retire. The marshal is not of a mind to oblige. Patch reminds them that back in the wild and wooly days when he took a job that nobody wanted, the agreement was he could keep it as long as he liked. Patch also reminds them that much of the town’s sordid history is owed to their own misdeeds.
Now the city fathers had a different problem. The marshal needs to be removed, even by force. One of the councilmen has a run in with Patch, that ends poorly for the shopkeeper who gets slapped around like a schoolboy. The shopkeeper plans to kill the marshal, but when he confronts Patch, in a curious Hollywood quirk, he turns the gun on himself. The shopkeeper’s son, vows revenge with ample support and encouragement of the city fathers.
Patch realizes that a city council filled with reformed bad actors it is likely his life is in danger. It is. In the spirit of putting his affairs in order, he marries his long-time girlfriend and brothel madam, Claire Quintana (Lena Horne) the day of the shopkeeper’s funeral. The shopkeeper’s son seeks to make good on his pledge of vengeance only to meet his match by mortal wound.
Marshal Patch next encounters councilman Lester Locke (Carroll O’Connor) who also has murderous intentions. Lock is wounded and jailed. Patch sees the handwriting of his death on the wall. It is only a matter of time. He goes to church before resuming the search for his would-be killers. On leaving the church he is gunned down in a hail of bullets.
Available information on Death of a Gunfighter makes a thin broth. The only actors with significant recognition are those identified. Which raises the question, did anybody ever make a western without Richard Widmark?
Next Week: Sergeants 3
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Ride easy,
Paul
May 28, 2022
The Way West
In 1843 former U.S. Senator William Tadlock (Kirk Douglas) quits his Missouri home to travel west to Oregon by wagon, accompanied by his sixteen-year-old son Brownie. They join a wagon train, scouted by Dick Summers (Robert Mitchum). Families traveling with Summers include Lije Evans (Richard Widmark) and his wife Rebecca, the McBee family with young daughter Mercy (Sally Fields), and newlyweds Johnnie and Amanda Mack.
The newlywed bed falls short of Johnnie’s expectations. He gets drunk and takes a tumble with Marcy. They are interrupted by what Johnnie takes for a wolf. He shoots it, killing a Sioux Chief’s son. Tadlock sees but one choice to placate the Sioux and save the wagon train. He hangs Johnnie over the objections of his fellow travelers. The train continues west with the Indian threat behind them and misfortune traveling along.
When Mercy McBee turns up pregnant, young Brownie Tadlock proposes marriage, but before that can come about the lad is killed in a stampede. The Senator takes out his grief on the members of his party, becoming abusive. He destroys Rebecca Evans antique clock when she refuses to leave it behind. Lije attacks Tadlock who goes for his gun before Summers intervenes. The wagon members have had enough of Tadlock and threaten to hang him. Evans talks them out of it and assumes leadership of the train.
Nearing Oregon, the train comes to the rim of a canyon leading to the Oregon Trail below. Tadlock has a plan to lower possessions, wagons, livestock, and travelers by rope over the canyon wall to the trail below. With the maneuver nearly complete, Tadlock lowers himself, leaving only Amanda Mack and Summers on the rim of the canyon wall. Amanda, still despondent over Johnnie’s death, cuts the rope. Tadlock falls to his death. Amanda runs off. Summers rides away. The survivors pay their respects to Tadlock and continue their way west.
Despite an exceptional cast and glorious cinematography, the film earned mixed critical reviews. The screen play was variously described as a series of “disjointed incidents”. Direction too was panned though likely due to unfavorable comparison to the western work of Director John Ford. Few do well in that comparison.
Next Week: Death of a Gunfighter
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Ride easy,
Paul
The newlywed bed falls short of Johnnie’s expectations. He gets drunk and takes a tumble with Marcy. They are interrupted by what Johnnie takes for a wolf. He shoots it, killing a Sioux Chief’s son. Tadlock sees but one choice to placate the Sioux and save the wagon train. He hangs Johnnie over the objections of his fellow travelers. The train continues west with the Indian threat behind them and misfortune traveling along.
When Mercy McBee turns up pregnant, young Brownie Tadlock proposes marriage, but before that can come about the lad is killed in a stampede. The Senator takes out his grief on the members of his party, becoming abusive. He destroys Rebecca Evans antique clock when she refuses to leave it behind. Lije attacks Tadlock who goes for his gun before Summers intervenes. The wagon members have had enough of Tadlock and threaten to hang him. Evans talks them out of it and assumes leadership of the train.
Nearing Oregon, the train comes to the rim of a canyon leading to the Oregon Trail below. Tadlock has a plan to lower possessions, wagons, livestock, and travelers by rope over the canyon wall to the trail below. With the maneuver nearly complete, Tadlock lowers himself, leaving only Amanda Mack and Summers on the rim of the canyon wall. Amanda, still despondent over Johnnie’s death, cuts the rope. Tadlock falls to his death. Amanda runs off. Summers rides away. The survivors pay their respects to Tadlock and continue their way west.
Despite an exceptional cast and glorious cinematography, the film earned mixed critical reviews. The screen play was variously described as a series of “disjointed incidents”. Direction too was panned though likely due to unfavorable comparison to the western work of Director John Ford. Few do well in that comparison.
Next Week: Death of a Gunfighter
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Ride easy,
Paul
May 21, 2022
Alverez Kelley
Set against the backdrop of the Civil War, 1966 film Alvarez Kelley stars William Holden in the title role opposite Richard Widmark as Confederate Colonel Tom Rossiter. The film is based (loosely) on Confederate General Wade Hampton’s 1864 Beefsteak Raid.
Kelley is contracted to deliver a herd of cattle to Union forces in Virginia. While driving the cattle north he is captured by Rossiter and his band of Confederate raiders. Rossiter wants Kelley to divert the herd to feed the embattled Confederate garrison at Richmond. The two men have a history, complicating negotiations. The history is Liz Pickering, played by Janice Rule, and bad blood to go with it. Kelley is eventually persuaded to change customers mid-stream if you consider having your fingers shot off one at a time negotiation.
Kelley teaches Rossiter’s men how to cowboy and the herd lines-out for Richmond. Union Major Albert Stedman (Patrick O’Neal) refuses to see his charges stolen. Kelley, Rossiter, and the herd confront a Union battle line deployed by Stedman to retake his herd. What do you do when confronted by a military roadblock bristling with riflemen and cannon? Stampede. A rip-roaring, action packed race to Richmond, delivers Rossiter’s herd. His feud with Kelley isn’t over. Kelley arranged passage for Liz on a blockade runner. She leaves Rossiter to his doomed cause and makes her escape.
The film opened to critical acclaim. One critic described the paring of Holden and Widmark in their respective roles as “sardonic perfection”. Cinematography came in for critical credits. Some compare portrayal of war profiteering to a common premise with The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.
Next Week: The Way West
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Ride easy,
Paul
Kelley is contracted to deliver a herd of cattle to Union forces in Virginia. While driving the cattle north he is captured by Rossiter and his band of Confederate raiders. Rossiter wants Kelley to divert the herd to feed the embattled Confederate garrison at Richmond. The two men have a history, complicating negotiations. The history is Liz Pickering, played by Janice Rule, and bad blood to go with it. Kelley is eventually persuaded to change customers mid-stream if you consider having your fingers shot off one at a time negotiation.
Kelley teaches Rossiter’s men how to cowboy and the herd lines-out for Richmond. Union Major Albert Stedman (Patrick O’Neal) refuses to see his charges stolen. Kelley, Rossiter, and the herd confront a Union battle line deployed by Stedman to retake his herd. What do you do when confronted by a military roadblock bristling with riflemen and cannon? Stampede. A rip-roaring, action packed race to Richmond, delivers Rossiter’s herd. His feud with Kelley isn’t over. Kelley arranged passage for Liz on a blockade runner. She leaves Rossiter to his doomed cause and makes her escape.
The film opened to critical acclaim. One critic described the paring of Holden and Widmark in their respective roles as “sardonic perfection”. Cinematography came in for critical credits. Some compare portrayal of war profiteering to a common premise with The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.
Next Week: The Way West
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Ride easy,
Paul
May 14, 2022
The Law and Jake Wade
The Law and Jake Wade is a 1958 film based on a 1956 novel by Marvin H. Albert. It stars Robert Taylor as the title character with Richard Widmark as his former outlaw partner Clint Hollister and Patricia Owens as Peggy, Jake’s gone straight fiancé.
Jake and Clint are southern sympathizing guerilla raiders who continue their outlaw ways after the war. In a bank robbery gone bad, a young boy is caught in a crossfire and killed. Jake is troubled believing he is responsible for the boy’s death. Clint is arrested, leaving Jake with the $20,000 proceeds of the bank robbery. Jake buries the loot and vows to go straight, becoming marshal in the small town of Cold Stream. There he meets and falls in love with Peggy.
Jake decides to right matters with Clint by breaking him out of jail. Once free, Clint demands Jake take him to the money. Jake refuses, returning to Cold Stream without telling Clint where he is headed. Soon after, Clint and the old gang show up. They take Peggy hostage to force Jake to take them to the money. On the way Jake and Peggy attempt to escape unsuccessfully. They ride into the threat of Comanche Indian trouble but reach the ghost town where the money is buried. Jake learns from Ortero, a friendly gang member, he was not responsible for the boy’s death. Clint just let him believe it.
The Comanche attack. Holed up in a saloon, the Indians thin out the ranks of the gang, allowing Peggy to free Jake. With the Indians driven off Jake leads Clint to the cemetery where the money is buried in a saddlebag. Jake digs it up along with the gun inside, getting the drop on Clint. He tells Ortero to lead Peggy to safety. Once they have departed, Jake tosses Clint a gun to let him have his play. A tense stalking ensues with Clint hunting Jake through the ghost town ruins until the climactic moment when Jake kills Clint.
The film returned $87,000.00 on box office receipts of $2,795,000.00
Next Week: Alvarez Kelley
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Ride easy,
Paul
Jake and Clint are southern sympathizing guerilla raiders who continue their outlaw ways after the war. In a bank robbery gone bad, a young boy is caught in a crossfire and killed. Jake is troubled believing he is responsible for the boy’s death. Clint is arrested, leaving Jake with the $20,000 proceeds of the bank robbery. Jake buries the loot and vows to go straight, becoming marshal in the small town of Cold Stream. There he meets and falls in love with Peggy.
Jake decides to right matters with Clint by breaking him out of jail. Once free, Clint demands Jake take him to the money. Jake refuses, returning to Cold Stream without telling Clint where he is headed. Soon after, Clint and the old gang show up. They take Peggy hostage to force Jake to take them to the money. On the way Jake and Peggy attempt to escape unsuccessfully. They ride into the threat of Comanche Indian trouble but reach the ghost town where the money is buried. Jake learns from Ortero, a friendly gang member, he was not responsible for the boy’s death. Clint just let him believe it.
The Comanche attack. Holed up in a saloon, the Indians thin out the ranks of the gang, allowing Peggy to free Jake. With the Indians driven off Jake leads Clint to the cemetery where the money is buried in a saddlebag. Jake digs it up along with the gun inside, getting the drop on Clint. He tells Ortero to lead Peggy to safety. Once they have departed, Jake tosses Clint a gun to let him have his play. A tense stalking ensues with Clint hunting Jake through the ghost town ruins until the climactic moment when Jake kills Clint.
The film returned $87,000.00 on box office receipts of $2,795,000.00
Next Week: Alvarez Kelley
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Ride easy,
Paul
May 7, 2022
The Professionals
Rancher J.W. Grant (Ralph Bellamy) hires four professionals to rescue his wife from the clutches of a Mexican revolutionary bandit, Jesus Raza (Jack Palance). The Professionals starred Burt Lancaster as explosives expert, Bill Dolworth, Lee Marvin as weapons specialist, Rico Fardan, Robert Ryan as wrangler Hans Ehrengard, and Woody Strode as Apache Scout Jake Sharp. The 1966 film is based on the 1964 novel A Mule for the Marquesa by Frank O’Rourke.
The Professionals cross the border and observe Raza and his men attack a government train. Veterans of Pancho Villa’s Division del Norte, Dolworth and Fardan know Raza for a fine soldier. Still, they have a job to do. They follow him to his stronghold where they rescue Grant’s wife against her will. She was given to Grant in an arranged marriage, she escaped to return to her lover, Raza. Dolworth concludes they’ve been deceived. Still, they have a job to do.
The fugitives don’t get far before Raza’s pursuit catches up with them. Guns blaze, dynamite explodes, Raza is wounded and captured by the escaping Professionals, who ‘return’ Maria to Grant. Grant thanks them for a job well done and orders one of his men to kill Raza. Hollywood takes over when, in one of Abraham Hoffman’s Top 12 western film cliches as reported in Western Writers of America’s December 2021 issue of Roundup Magazine, Dolworth shoots the pistol out of the man’s hand. Raza is saved. He and Maria ride back into Mexico with the Professionals for an escort.
As for the Lone Ranger patented pistol-out-of-the-hand shtick, the likelihood of that falls somewhere between slim and none. First comes the probability of hitting a target that small shooting from the hip. Next comes the chance of not taking out a few fingers if not the whole hand if one were to actually make such a shot count. Hoffman’s Top 12 make for a fun read.
The Professionals earned an estimated $8.8 million and three 1967 Academy Award nominations. With that I will close with one last thought on the premise of the plot:
Claudia Cardinale. ‘Nuf said.
Next Week: The Law and Jake Wade
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Ride easy,
Paul
The Professionals cross the border and observe Raza and his men attack a government train. Veterans of Pancho Villa’s Division del Norte, Dolworth and Fardan know Raza for a fine soldier. Still, they have a job to do. They follow him to his stronghold where they rescue Grant’s wife against her will. She was given to Grant in an arranged marriage, she escaped to return to her lover, Raza. Dolworth concludes they’ve been deceived. Still, they have a job to do.
The fugitives don’t get far before Raza’s pursuit catches up with them. Guns blaze, dynamite explodes, Raza is wounded and captured by the escaping Professionals, who ‘return’ Maria to Grant. Grant thanks them for a job well done and orders one of his men to kill Raza. Hollywood takes over when, in one of Abraham Hoffman’s Top 12 western film cliches as reported in Western Writers of America’s December 2021 issue of Roundup Magazine, Dolworth shoots the pistol out of the man’s hand. Raza is saved. He and Maria ride back into Mexico with the Professionals for an escort.
As for the Lone Ranger patented pistol-out-of-the-hand shtick, the likelihood of that falls somewhere between slim and none. First comes the probability of hitting a target that small shooting from the hip. Next comes the chance of not taking out a few fingers if not the whole hand if one were to actually make such a shot count. Hoffman’s Top 12 make for a fun read.
The Professionals earned an estimated $8.8 million and three 1967 Academy Award nominations. With that I will close with one last thought on the premise of the plot:
Claudia Cardinale. ‘Nuf said.
Next Week: The Law and Jake Wade
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Ride easy,
Paul
May 1, 2022
The Comancheros
John Wayne headlines a not-so-classic-western-film series because it is one of his lesser-known works and we’ve never done it before on these pages. The 1961 film is based on a 1952 novel by Paul Wellman. The director’s chair eventually landed on Michael Curtiz after posing as a roulette wheel. Curtiz, best known for directing the classic Casablanca, was unable to finish the film due to terminal illness. Wayne completed the film as uncredited director.
The cast included Wayne in the lead as Texas Ranger Jake Cutter, in pursuit of gambler Paul Regret played by Stuart Whitman. Regret’s romantic interest, Pilar Graile is played by Ina Balin. Her name didn’t ring a bell, but she did. Others included Lee Marvin, Jack Elam and Edgar Buchanan. Three minor players of interest include Wayne’s son, Patrick, Michael Ansara before he was discovered and a sentimental favorite of mine Bob Steel, nearing the end of his career.
Set in 1843 Texas, the story has Regret on the run from a death sentence for killing the son of a Louisiana judge in a duel. With Texas Ranger Jake Cutter in pursuit, Regret stays a free man just long enough to fall in love with the mysterious Pilar Graile. With Regret in custody,
Cutter stops at a friend’s Ranch where they are attacked by Comanche. The source of the Indian trouble is a renegade band of gun runners, known as the Comancheros. During the Comanche attack, Regret escapes. Rather than flee, he rides for help, returning with a company of Texas Rangers to runoff the Indian attack. Regret is rewarded for his unselfish act, by the rangers sending word to Louisiana, Regret couldn’t be their man because he was riding with them.
Regret joins the Rangers and along with Cutter they use a Comanchero supply wagon to insinuate themselves into the band’s hideout. There Regret is reunited with Pilar who turns out to be the daughter of the Comanchero leader. All ends well when Cutter, Regret, and the Rangers to defeat the Comanche and the Comancheros. Regret and Pilar ride off to happily ever-after in Mexico while Jake returns to the Rangers.
Next Week: The Professionals
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Ride easy,
Paul
The cast included Wayne in the lead as Texas Ranger Jake Cutter, in pursuit of gambler Paul Regret played by Stuart Whitman. Regret’s romantic interest, Pilar Graile is played by Ina Balin. Her name didn’t ring a bell, but she did. Others included Lee Marvin, Jack Elam and Edgar Buchanan. Three minor players of interest include Wayne’s son, Patrick, Michael Ansara before he was discovered and a sentimental favorite of mine Bob Steel, nearing the end of his career.
Set in 1843 Texas, the story has Regret on the run from a death sentence for killing the son of a Louisiana judge in a duel. With Texas Ranger Jake Cutter in pursuit, Regret stays a free man just long enough to fall in love with the mysterious Pilar Graile. With Regret in custody,
Cutter stops at a friend’s Ranch where they are attacked by Comanche. The source of the Indian trouble is a renegade band of gun runners, known as the Comancheros. During the Comanche attack, Regret escapes. Rather than flee, he rides for help, returning with a company of Texas Rangers to runoff the Indian attack. Regret is rewarded for his unselfish act, by the rangers sending word to Louisiana, Regret couldn’t be their man because he was riding with them.
Regret joins the Rangers and along with Cutter they use a Comanchero supply wagon to insinuate themselves into the band’s hideout. There Regret is reunited with Pilar who turns out to be the daughter of the Comanchero leader. All ends well when Cutter, Regret, and the Rangers to defeat the Comanche and the Comancheros. Regret and Pilar ride off to happily ever-after in Mexico while Jake returns to the Rangers.
Next Week: The Professionals
Return to Facebook to comment
Ride easy,
Paul
