American Outlaws

Starring:Colin Farrell, Scott Caan, Ali Larter, Gabriel Macht, Gregory Smith, Harris Yulin, Kathy Bates, Timothy Dalton, Will McCormack, Ronny Cox, Terry O'Quinn, Nathaniel Arcand, Ty O'Neal, Joe Stevens, Barry Tubb, Jack Watkins, Tom Schuster, Lee Ritchey, Robin Christian-McNair, Ed Geldart
Director: Les Mayfield
Studio: Warner Home Video
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
If you're looking for a showcase for emerging Hollywood talent, American Outlaws is just the ticket. Its handsome young stars, playing Jesse and Frank James and gang, crack wise as if they were in a contemporary high school locker room. Combining authentic costumes and sets with stunt work befitting a Jackie Chan comedy, accompanied by an "Old West" soundtrack that's anything but old and only marginally Western, the film yields a few enjoyable highlights. Seasoned genre buffs, however, will cringe at the movie's clash of visual qualities, as well as the dialogue, which, while not as heinous as that in Maverick, is on par with Young Guns in terms of non-period flavor. It's not exactly a testament to the enduring potential of the authentic Western that was realized by Clint Eastwood's Unforgiven, made barely a decade before.

Amazon.com essential video

The second installment of John Ford's famous cavalry trilogy (which also includes Fort Apache and Rio Grande), this meditative Western continues the director's fascination with history's obliteration of the past. It features one of John Wayne's more sensitive performances as Capt. Nathan Brittles, a stern yet sentimental war horse who has difficulty preparing for his impending military retirement. All things considered, he refuses to leave before fulfilling his obligation to the local Indian tribe. It's a film about honor and duty as well as loneliness and mortality. And Oscar-winner Winton C. Hoch beautifully photographs it in Remington-like Technicolor tones (you've never seen such stunning cloud-covered skies). The combination of melancholy and farce (Victor McLaglen makes a perfect court jester) evokes comparisons to Shakespeare. Best of all, the scene in which Wayne fights back tears when receiving a gold watch from his troops is unforgettably bittersweet. If you view the whole trilogy, it actually makes sense to save this for last. --Bill Desowitz

Description

A masterpiece of mood and heroics, this second film in director John Ford's renowned cavalry trilogy (Fort Apache and Rio Grande are the others) features one of John Wayne's most moving performances as a cavalry officer in his final week of service on the frontier. Under makeup aging him some 20 years, he inhabits the role of a wily veteran who knows the sting of war and vows to make his last mission one of peace. The ritual of outpost life, the sweep of battle, the advance of the patrol beneath ominous skies: She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, an Academy Award winner* for its color cinematography, paints a memorable portrait of the honor, duty and courage in the finest tradition of the cavalry. And of Ford filmmaking.

Customer Reviews:

MY FAVORITE JOHN WAYNE FILM.......2007-07-04

Although Red River, The Searchers, and possibly True Grit and The Shootist might arguably contain better acting performances from the Duke, this film is my favorite. Everything works in this film, and works well. John Ford loved the U.S. Cavalry, as can be clearly seen in the trilogy, and also in the Civil War film, The Horse Soldiers. While I love all the aforementioned films, this one is the one where everything worked perfectly. The contrast of Wayne's seasoned Capt. Brittles with the two younger officers, the lonely life Brittles lives with no wife or family vs. the younger men competing for the hand of lovely Joanne Dru, the comedy relief provided by the incomparable Victor McLaglen, the savvy wisdom of(former confederate captain) Sgt. Tyree, nothing is missing. This was John Ford's stock company at it's best, with perhaps only The Searchers to compare. The passing years only make me love this film more. everyone was at the absolute top of their game for She Wore a Yellow Ribbon. See it soon!!!

Perhaps the Ultimate Western........2007-04-17

John Wayne lives this part. A battle hardened veteran of the war between the states, a career officer - Captain Nathan Brittles - finds himself on the Western Frontier nearing the end of his career. A man for whom the military is not just a way of life, it is life. And, in a remarkably sensitive fashion for the time, the "hostiles" are shown to be a civilized and intelligent people who have been pushed time and time again by the western expansion of this nation and are simply fighting to survive. It would have of course been easy just to shoot another movie reflecting an Indian uprising with calvary charges and heroic gestures. Thank goodness we're spared that. Instead, we have a deeply well orchestrated movie developing many different characters and plot lines. While he is Army through and through, Captain Brittles still poignantly takes time to water the desert flowers on his wife's grave and to talk to her gently until that day comes that he joins her. And, Sgt Tyree, the irrepressible scout that is almost an extension of Captain Brittles, has another life too that we learn about, in a touching and well done scene not often witnessed in today's pyrotechnic oriented films. Is this the best western I've ever seen? Maybe, maybe not, but the Searchers (who can forget that shadowy ending shot with John Wayne framing the door?) is close (not to mention the sleeper The Tin Star with Henry Fonda) and so are Fort Apache, My Darling Clementine (Henry Fonda again), and Gunfight at the OK Corral (Kirk Douglas) - some of which have been mentioned by other reviewers as well. I would give this movie more than 5 stars if I could, and you cannot go wrong viewing it.

GREAT JOHN WAYNE CLASSIC!.......2007-03-11

Without any doubt - this is my favorite John Wayne classic movie.
All actors are playing wonderful and the movie was shot on a great
place - Monument Valley/Arizona.

Just perfect for every Western fan.

Thank you John Wayne!

Early Duke Classic.......2007-01-19

See another side of John Wayne. This movie stands with The Shootist as one of Wayne's more layered roles. *****

Exciting, highly enjoyable, and beautiful!.......2006-11-08

'She Wore a Yellow Ribbon' remains for many viewers their favorite Ford film, and it is certainly the most striking visually... Winton C. Hoch won an Oscar for his Technicolor photography...

The compositions and photography around Ford's new stamping ground of Monument valley are great to look at as always... The Monument Valley goes from bright sunlight to hail and sleet...

There is a melancholy mixed together in those incredible vistas, with a certain sense of dreamlike contemplation... A backdrop so complex but so significant as the human characters...

Ford has superbly achieved a huge and composite demonstration of all the legends of the frontier cavalryman... Never have the legendary troops been through the silent 'Indian country' and across the magnificent Western plains so brilliant, vivid, exciting and romantic...

Ford has surely done better himself, unquestionably with 'My Darling Clementine,' and 'The Searchers,' yet one has to admit the undisputed merits of 'She Wore a Yellow Ribbon.' Even the usual criticism launched against it-that it is a Western influenced by feeling rather by reason--can be dismissed at the start... Certainly Ford can be sentimental but only when the springs of honest feeling run dry and lose their inspiration, and this never really happens in 'She Wore a Yellow Ribbon.'

The story is that of an older cavalry officer (John Wayne) who is six days from retirement at Fort Stark when he's sent out, in a last mission, to escort the Major's wife (Mildred Natwick) and her niece, an attractive single lady (Joanne Dru) out of the danger area... Wayne tries to fulfill his military role protecting his female charges against the uprising of the Sioux, Cheyenne, Kiowa, Comanche and Apaches...

Wayne possibly more than any other Western star has re-created and heightened the mythology of the West-one has only to watch again his absolute and ideal image in 'She Wore a Yellow Ribbon,' or his avenging Ethan in 'The Searchers,' to be reminded of how irresistible the Duke has been on the cinema screen...

'She Wore a Yellow Ribbon' is above all a sentimental movie, with irresistible scenes, full of Ford's best touches:

- The cavalry engaged in its everyday work... Wayne simply can't picture himself in a world far from the army...

- The comic interaction between Wayne and Victor McLaglen, two hardcore professional officers...

- The bravery of Sgt. Tyree (Ben Johnson), chased by hostile Indians, who must finish his mission by reporting to the captain what he saw...

- The rivalry of two young cavalry lieutenants (John Agar and Harry Carey Jr.) in love with the same woman, each competing to have her wear a yellow ribbon as a token of his love...

- The 'beloved brute,' the tough-soft cavalry sergeant sharing his saddle with a little orphan rescued from a devastated stage station...

- Ford celebrating McLaglen's lachrymose in self-indulgent fisticuffs in an epic saloon fight...

- The last inspection of the C. troops almost bringing tears to Wayne's and the audience's eyes, as he reads the inscription that means so much to him...

- Wayne riding into the war camp of the Indians to stop a war...

- The U. S. cavalry at full gallop descending upon the encampment, firing wildly and stampeding hundred of Indian ponies...

- The evocative use of music, notably the gay and spirited theme song of the yellow ribbon, played countless times...

'She Wore a Yellow Ribbon ' is an exciting story with strong characters and sentiment, highly enjoyable, and beautiful...

Average customer rating:

Cool Quick, Delightful Dead!!!
a good movie. fun to watch
You'll Need A Bottle Of "MESCAL" To Get Through This One!
The gunfights are the highlight
"Our daddy's gonna kill you, preacher!"

The Quick and the Dead
Starring: Sharon Stone , Gene Hackman , Russell Crowe , Leonardo DiCaprio , and Tobin Bell
Director: Sam Raimi
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 0767817710
Release Date: 1998-09-29

Amazon.com essential video

Director Sam Raimi (The Evil Dead) tries gamely to recapture the exotic mysteries of spaghetti Westerns in this stylish but empty film, which stars Sharon Stone as a stranger who comes to the town of Redemption in time for an annual shooting contest. Her real motivations for being there are the stuff that might have found their way into a film by Sergio Leone--in fact, much of this film is a pastiche of Leone's greatest hits, including A Fistful of Dollars and Once upon a Time in America--but one can't quite believe Stone in the role. Gene Hackman gives a predictably solid performance as the town tyrant, and Leonardo DiCaprio is good as a lucky young gunslinger who gets to kiss the heroine. But not even the cast can help this failed project. Raimi brings a lot of razzle-dazzle to his camera work, but it doesn't make the film any more substantial. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

Cool Quick, Delightful Dead!!!.......2007-06-30

Take one of the many martial arts contests to the death movies, transplant it to the Wild West, and you have the general idea what The Quick and the Dead is about. The head bad guy, Herod (played by Gene Hackman) sponsors a gunfight. First prize is enough money to choke a herd of horses. From all corners of the country they come, some nasty and some nice. There is Russell Crowe's character, a former outlaw who has renounced violence. There is Leonardo DiCaprio's character, only know as "the kid", who's fate is irrevocably intertwined with Herod's. Finally, there is the mysterious gun woman, played by Sharon Stone, who has her own agenda.

In theory, this movie should be a disaster. Not that many critics liked it, in some circles the nicest thing said about it was "ridiculous". This is regretful, because it is an excellent, exciting movie with precise, supercrisp camera work. The duels, while bloodless enough to avoid an "R" rating, nevertheless come across as rough, tough and nasty.

This is a must-see movie.

a good movie. fun to watch.......2007-06-05

not accurate, but it is fun. It is very easy to get into the story. Gene Hackman is awesome.

You'll Need A Bottle Of "MESCAL" To Get Through This One!.......2007-05-17

In THE QUICK AND THE DEAD (1995), Sharon Stone plays a cheroot-smoking, Clint Eastwood-mimicking 1800s gunslinger, and Gene Hackman plays Gene Hackman - think of a wood plank; you know, something just a little less rigid and a little more emotional than Clint Eastwood. For the intelligent reader, this is all the review that should be necessary. Sure, I could proceed point-by-point in illustrating what makes this movie such a putrid corpse (a real "Boot Hill" special), but frankly, it is not even worthy of a serious critique. THE QUICK AND THE DEAD - along with Jack Nicholson's THE SHOOTING (1967) and Jane Russell's THE OUTLAW (1943) - represents "The Dreck Of The West" on celluloid, and it is a good example of why I completely stopped going to the movies two decades ago. I was tired of paying money to have my intelligence insulted (as well as having Hollywood's immorality paraded before my eyes).

Although this movie is an empty-headed, overly-produced, ultra-dippy "cartoon" (the Biblical allusion was especially stupid and any Yosemite Sam cartoon would be funnier and equally believable), it did amply show me what I borrowed it from the library to see - namely, MESCAL.

MESCAL is a frontier town movie set where numerous Westerns have been filmed. It is located near Benson, Arizona, just three miles North of Interstate 10 (exit #297) and on "the other side of the tracks." (I've always wanted to say that!) My brother, Napoleon, my friend, Pooh, and I sneaked into MESCAL a number of years back (a REAL Outlaw Trio), but I have since longed to take the "official" $8.00, 45-minute guided tour, and on May 3rd that dream was finally realized. The tour begins in the large saloon built specifically for THE QUICK AND THE DEAD, and there are no phones, johns, or refreshments available. (No saltwater taffy here folks! This is the REAL West . . . uhm, built for moviemaking.) Some other FAR BETTER Westerns that have largely or partially utilized the MESCAL set include:

The great Monte Walsh (1970) featuring Lee Marvin and Jack Palance (will this film EVER be released on DVD?!) MESCAL represented both Harmony and Charleyville. It was Roy Bean's Langtry, Texas, in The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean (1972), and Paul Newman's courthouse/saloon is still standing! It stood in for (if memory serves me) Hays, Kansas in The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976), where that old cigar-store Indian of an actor, Clint Eastwood, asked the Confederate soldiers, "Are you going to pull those pistols or whistle Dixie?" And it played the part of Tombstone, Arizona in Val Kilmer's Tombstone (1993). On the MESCAL tour, you will walk into The Oriental saloon (now an empty shell of its former self) where Kurt Russell slapped around Billy Bob Thornton and where later, Ol' Doc Holliday matched Ol' Johnny Ringo's gun tricks with a fancy exhibition of silver cup-handling. (The MESCAL tour operates on a very limited schedule, so call ahead -- (520) 883-0100; press menu option #7.)

I watched THE QUICK AND THE DEAD - filmed entirely at MESCAL - solely to see the movie set. And if you haven't got any gardening to do; a house to clean; children to watch; a good book to read; quality music to hear; a dinner to cook; letters to write; bills to pay; windows to wash; a dentist to see; a room to paint; a leaky faucet to fix; a friend to visit; a car to repair; a play to attend; a wife (or husband) to love; a drawing to sketch; a good movie to view; an enemy to fight; a dog to walk; a cat to kick; a geriatric to help; a mouse to catch; a fly to swat; a walk to take; dishes to scrub; laundry to fold; prayers to pray; shopping to do; a bank to rob; a supermodel to stalk; a nap to sleep; a game of solitaire to play, or a Louisville Slugger-wielding friend to batter you into unconsciousness, then by all means, I recommend that you borrow THE QUICK AND THE DEAD from your local library.

But be forewarned, if you do borrow it and your trigger finger doesn't hit that "eject" button QUICK enough when the movie turns stupid (which it does very QUICKLY), then this movie might render you brain-DEAD. Of course, if you actually PURCHASE this movie, then you probably already are!

The gunfights are the highlight.......2007-04-22

'The Quick and The Dead' is a good example of an anti-western. Released in 1995 and directed by Sam Raimi, the film features a female gunfighter played by Sharon Stone and some campy, over-the-top gunfights. Critics and western purists haven't been kind to this movie over the past several years. For that reason, it is better remembered by most as an early film vehicle for Russell Crowe than for being a "classic" western. Crowe's career benefitted more from this movie than that of other stars who appeared in the film such as Stone, Gene Hackman or Leonardo DiCaprio. The plot is as simple as a plot can get. Hackman plays John Herod, a grizzled outlaw who "runs" the town of Redemption which is a generic western town with a bar, a gun shop and a haven for prostitutes. Herod hosts regular quickdraw competitions in Redemption as part of a plan to goad other gunfighters, men who might challenge his rule, into coming onto his turf and, more often than not, eating lead. It is a simple and effective strategy that has allowed him to stay in power for many years. Instead of having these men sneak into town or gang up on him, Herod is able to get these men face to face in a one-on-one setting and either blow them away himself or sit back and watch while other gunmen do his dirty work for him in the contest.

The thin plot that exists in 'The Quick and the Dead' is centered around a few major and minor characters, each of whom have their own reasons for wanting to eliminate Herod (Hackman). The dialogue here is adequate and some characters (or actors) have better material to work with than others. Predictably, the worst dialogue comes from Stone herself and her character (Ellen) resorts to a large number of one liners. Such is the norm in a Sam Raimi movie. More often than not, though, Stone's performance is convincing and she does a much better job with the script than many leading ladies (circa 1995) might have done. Would Demi Moore or Julia Roberts have been better? Hardly. Before he was a household name, Russell Crowe contributed a convincing performance here playing the role of a preacher named Cort, who was once a riding partner of Herod's. Gene Hackman's performance is up to par and then some, even though 'The Quick and the Dead' is usually overlooked when one brings up his long catalog of films. Admittedly, there is nothing new here that a Hackman fan hasn't seen before but that doesn't mean his performance isn't good. It is. Leonardo DiCaprio uses his considerable talents to bring the character Fee to life. Known throughout the town of Redemption as "The Kid", Fee is purported to be John Herod's son and that eventually becomes more important as the competition moves on.

The actual plot does very little to drive 'The Quick and the Dead.' The most enjoyable moments take place during the actual gunfights and the challenges (banter), among the contestants, leading up to them. While the results of most bouts are predictable, the way things play out will both amuse and shock people who are new to the movie. One freshly dead gunfighter gets stripped to his skivvies by bandits who loot his corpse in the middle of the street, while the entire town is looking on. Another gunfighter, believed to be dead by no less than the town doctor, rises up and continues to fight. Meanwhile, the townspeople do show emotion when a gunfighter or two they are sympathetic with, or rooting for, is gunned down.

The plotholes here are forgivable, due to the excitement that takes place leading up to and during the gunfights. What is missing from the movie would be some character development or background on a few of the supporting cast members. Some of the supporting characters, particularly Ace Hanlon (played by Lance Henriksen) and Sgt. Clay Cantrell (Keith David), are great. Hanlon plays a card shark who goes from town to town doing "impossible" trick shots to entertain locals, before stopping in Redemption for the quick draw contest. During one early conversation Ace brags about how many men he has killed and in another scene, he talks about being as fast of a draw with his left hand as he is with his right. Nobody believes a word of it. Played to perfection by Henriksen, Hanlon's screen presence and dialogue is one of the best things about 'The Quick and the Dead.' It is just too bad his screen time is fairly limited and you get very little background on the character, other than one or two key scenes.

Sgt. Cantrell is a gruff, no-nonsense hitman who is hired by a group of townspeople to enter the contest and kill Herod (Hackman) by any means necessary. Somehow Herod finds out about this plan and confronts Cantrell before the two of them engage in a gunfight later that day. In a touch of irony, Herod admits he thought Ace Hanlon was the hitman hired by the town which led him to confront Hanlon first. Like Ace Hanlon, the character of Clay Cantrell gets very little screen time and it is too bad since he proves to be an entertaining character when he is on screen. Furthermore, Cantrell's last scene in this film is the most controversial one in the movie for people who are writing a review. Most Raimi fans love it but some western purists loathe the camera shot. Once again, Keith David's character is another minor character that the viewer would love to know a little bit more about. You'll notice that a lot of the minor gunfighters are just there and you never learn anything about their past and very little about their motives. Another minor character who provides a little entertainment is Jonathon Gill, who plays Spotted Horse and leads everyone into believing that he is impervious to bullets. One of the more talked about appearances is that of Gary Sinise, who makes it into the movie via a flashback. He plays the father of Ellen (Stone), who had his life interrupted by Herod when Ellen was just a child.

Sam Raimi's directing work here is very underrated and some of the best stuff is hidden beneath the surface. Watching the movie several times, a viewer can still notice new stuff each time out. Looking in the background of the bar while contestants are signing up for the contest, you will find a wanted poster for Virgil Sparks (wanted for murder and rape) who is one of the first round contestants. A moment or two after you see the poster, Sparks appears on the screen to enter the competition. Deep in the background of most shots, you don't just see extras but you can also see main (and minor) characters interacting with each other. Such a practice isn't common since the background of many major movies are regularly filled with extras and not the stars. This subtle camera work may have been entirely unintentional but I don't think it was. There are a lot of neat "props" and some character shots that you'll notice in the background when watching the movie in slow motion, rewinding over key scenes or stopping to press pause every so often.

The ending of 'The Quick and the Dead' is hardly a surprise and this movie finishes just the way you would expect it to. No twists, no "surprise" ending and thankfully, no legitimate opening for a sequel. What happens with John Herod is another point of contention for reviewers who have a grudge with this movie and it is something Sam Raimi gleefully included. What you will realize from watching the movie, or even reading most of these reviews, is that this is not a "traditional" or "pure" western. Not even close. Campy dialogue and fight scenes abound. The hero/heroine is a female gunfighter, which polarizes the audience right from the start. Some label this as a comic book style western. A recurring theme that 'The Quick and the Dead' shares with other westerns is its dark humor, most of which is provided by Hackman's character Herod. Some of the contestants in the quickdraw, including Eugene and Scars, are stereotypical outlaws. Those type of characters meet the norm for nearly any western.

What you get with 'The Quick and the Dead' is a movie that won't finish high on the list of most seasoned western fans or a list from a mainstream movie critic. It is a movie that is imperfect and could have been touched up in a number of places. Regardless, 'The Quick and the Dead' is a good introduction to Russell Crowe, a good catalog movie for Gene Hackman, a good cameo for Lance Henriksen (or Gary Sinise and Keith David, etc.) and a good stepping stone to help Leonardo DiCaprio cement his star status. This is one of the most commonly shown (and watched) movies on "regular" cable tv. It is regularly shown on AMC, TBS and TNT when they need to fill a late night or weekend time slot and there is a reason for it. 'The Quick and the Dead' is an easily accessible movie with just enough star power and just enough action to keep someone watching until the finish. When it is all said and done, the good things in 'The Quick and the Dead' outweight the bad and you are left with an above average movie and a three-and-a-half to a four star film.

"Our daddy's gonna kill you, preacher!".......2007-02-19

I think that line (spoken by a crowd of evil children before they beat up an unarmed, chained Russell Crowe) sums up the movie well. This movie does an excellent job of communicating the sheer GLEE of sadism. Everyone in this movie (with the partial exceptions of Stone and Crowe) don't just like to inflict pain on others - they ENJOY it. They cackle and quip and snicker and guffaw as they blast enormous, ragged, bleeding holes into people. This is an excellent (if somewhat garish and comic-bookish) look at an evil that has infected a whole town. Imagine Eastwood's more sinister and sometimes turgid attempts (High Plains Drifter and Unforgiven come to mind), but with a wink and a sense of humor. More slow-mo than the Olympics. Pioneered the bullet cam that has since been done to death. Ms Stone shows a lot of leg. So, it's got a lot going for it is what I'm saying.

Average customer rating:

Fairly Good....Not Blazing
Loriann Ringgold
Not sure about accuracy, but fun to watch
An intelligent, well-made Western
Jesse James? no! Colin Farrell? YES!

American Outlaws
Starring: Colin Farrell , Scott Caan , Ali Larter , Gabriel Macht , and Gregory Smith
Director: Les Mayfield
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005QW6V
Release Date: 2001-12-04

Amazon.com

If you're looking for a showcase for emerging Hollywood talent, American Outlaws is just the ticket. Its handsome young stars, playing Jesse and Frank James and gang, crack wise as if they were in a contemporary high school locker room. Combining authentic costumes and sets with stunt work befitting a Jackie Chan comedy, accompanied by an "Old West" soundtrack that's anything but old and only marginally Western, the film yields a few enjoyable highlights. Seasoned genre buffs, however, will cringe at the movie's clash of visual qualities, as well as the dialogue, which, while not as heinous as that in Maverick, is on par with Young Guns in terms of non-period flavor. It's not exactly a testament to the enduring potential of the authentic Western that was realized by Clint Eastwood's Unforgiven, made barely a decade before.

With all the light-hearted action and character interplay, it's hard to tell if director Les Mayfield (Flubber) is taking the material seriously, but this much is certain: the Jesse James here (played with effortless appeal by Tigerland newcomer Colin Farrell) and his brother Frank (Gabriel Macht) have almost no connection to historical fact. Nor do their fellow farm-raised gang members, the Younger brothers Cole (Scott Caan), Bob (Will McCormack), and Jim (Gregory Smith). (And Jesse's fiancée, played by Ali Larter, looks like she dropped in from a Gap commercial.) The gang's post-Civil War battle against a ruthless railroad baron (Harris Yulin) and his Pinkerton henchman (Timothy Dalton) seems arbitrary, irrational (since farmers typically welcomed railroads, not fought them), and riddled with clichés, turning the movie's bloodless shootouts into another opportunity for pretty-boy preening. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Fairly Good....Not Blazing.......2007-06-27

Having had little exposure to the whole Jessie James legend out here, it was with some interest and some curiosity that I sat down to view "American Outlaws". The anxiety was a little tense due to Colin Farrell, whose movies have been truly abominable at times.

While tweaking the historical side of things a bit, "American Outlaws" does seem to stick to basic phases of James' life. It also present Jessie James as a largely innocent Confederate hero returning from the ended Civil War. While that may be true in part, things are rarely so simple. So, the factual side has been played with substantially.

That said, what comes out at the end is a good movie with plenty of action, a good dose of humour and some good tension between various members of the James-Younger gang. None of it has been overdone to the point of absurdity, and "American Outlaws" is a good, basic Western movie with plenty of things going bang.

For a good action movie with a Western flavour, this is a good movie. While I would not say it is the best of the Western genre, I rather enjoyed it for what it is. A solid night's entertainment.

Loriann Ringgold.......2007-06-14

I think this is the best movie ever made about Frank and Jesse James. New life is given to the story. You are on the edge of your seat right from the get go. The music chosen for this movie is also perfect. Colin Ferrell is at his best in this movie. I also thought Scott Caan gave a wonderful performance as Coleman Younger. Gabriel Macht was fabulous as Frank James. You will not be disappointed in this movie. This is a must own DVD. It is really great! This movie can also be watched by the whole family.

Not sure about accuracy, but fun to watch.......2007-01-02

American Outlaws is set in Missouri just after the Civil War. The railroad is constructing a track that will run west and go right through the town of Liberty, Missouri. The railroad company offers to buy each farmer's land otherwise they will just take it in the name of progress (imminent domain). Well, the railroad company picked the wrong town to go through and ran into Jesse James and company.

The cast is great and it includes Colin Farrell in one of his earliest roles) and also has two other recently known stars Ali Larter (Niki Sanders in Heroes) and Terry O'Quinn (John Locke in Lost).

I cannot attest to the movies accuracy of the story of Jesse James or the accuracy of the imitation of the post-Civil War era, but I can say that this movie is a blast to watch. It contains shootouts from beginning to end in all sorts of different settings (open fields, banks, main street, train). There are escapes/rescues in multiple places, plenty of humor mixed in and even a slight love story to round it off.

The movie itself is shot great and never gets hung up on any story line for too long in my opinion and it seemed to have just the right amount of running time so that you don't get tired of watching it.

If there is a flaw with the movie I would say that it is focusing on the gun blazing battles too much (although I personally didn't mind). I also highly suspect some historical inaccuracies although my knowledge of the James-Younger gang is limited so I cannot say for sure.

Overall, I am not much of a western movie lover but I loved this movie and recommend it for all. In my own situation my wife and I watched it with some friends of ours and every single one of us enjoyed the movie and rarely does that happen.

An intelligent, well-made Western.......2006-12-13

American Outlaws is set in post-civil war Missouri in which the War Between the States is over and Jesse James, his brother Frank and their cousin Cole Younger migrate home to find out their home-town of Liberty is Union-occupied territory where, if identified, ex-Confederate soldiers (like them) are executed.

Worst part of all, a corrupt railroad baron is coercing farmers in Liberty to sell their land to his railroad company at ridiculously low prices. Those that refuse to sell have their houses condemned by the U.S. Interior Department and the occupants subsequently kicked out by Federal troops.

The James household is paid a visit by the plutocrat's representatives but Frank and Jesse give them their walking papers. Only later is the James house paid a visit by Alan Pinkerton's henchmen and the results are not pretty.

The James-Younger gang is then formed to take the fight to the railroad President and Liberty's Federat occupiers. When the James-Younger gang is formed, this movie only gets better.

Despite this film's Historical inaccuracies, I liked it because of the good acting, humor, well-written script and decent music score. Prior to seeing it I thought it was going to be a copy of Young Guns. But it certainly isn't that at all and it keeps you interested the entire time.

The movie is made for entertainment and it certainly delivers!

All-in-all "American Outlaws" is a very well-made Western that, as one reviewer points out, is a showcase for some promising actors who obviously had a great time making this film. Thats all the more reason to see it and add it to your DVD collection.

Jesse James? no! Colin Farrell? YES!.......2006-08-30

I bought this DVD to see young Farrell in action, and I had a nice run for my money! This well made film is no attempt at showing the real story of Jesse James. It's more a showcase for Colin and a bunch of young promising actors who apparently enjoyed themselves a lot doing that movie. Colin Farrell is gorgeous and does not yet display those hideous tattoos that have mared his skin lately. Tim Dalton and Kathy Bates are great too as mature characters. Never a dull moment even if the plot has no surprises! Very enjoyable western movie not to take too seriously. The DVD transfer is spectacular on a wide screen.

Average customer rating:

I know this place. It's Shaking Rock..no gold around there
Great Western
MacKenna's Gold
MacKenna's Gold
A curious serial-like Western melodrama packed with stars and pretensions above its situation...

MacKenna's Gold
Starring: Gregory Peck , Omar Sharif , Telly Savalas , Camilla Sparv , and Keenan Wynn
Director: J. Lee Thompson
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00004TJJU
Release Date: 2000-07-11

Amazon.com

Attempting to do for Westerns what his Guns of Navarone had done for World War II action epics, director J. Lee Thompson crafted Mackenna's Gold as a lavish, absurdly ambitious variation on Erich Von Stroheim's Greed, resulting in a last-gasp Western so eager to encompass the genre's traditions that it turns into a big, silly, wildly entertaining mess. Gregory Peck surely had more serious intentions when he signed on, and he brings prestigious gravitas to his glum role as Marshall Mackenna, who gets shanghaied into searching for the gold-filled canyon of an elusive Apache legend. The rest of the 1969 film labors to undermine Peck's respectable demeanor; how else to explain Omar Sharif as a Mexican villain, Julie Newmar as a hot-blooded Apache temptress (with underwater nude scenes that were celebrated in Playboy magazine), and a jaw-dropping finale that's so ridiculous it's impressive in spite of itself?

Formerly blacklisted screenwriter Carl Foreman and composer Dimitri Tiomkin joined up to coproduce the film, and one can only imagine how Anthony Mann or Howard Hawks might've handled Foreman's sensible script. Thompson goes for scenic splendor, heavy action, and heavier emotions, casting everything at a fever pitch that's wildly enjoyable without betraying his "serious" intentions. A stable of Hollywood veterans (Eli Wallach, Raymond Massey, Edward G. Robinson, and others) appear in lively supporting roles--they're all dispatched in a garish Apache ambush--and Camilla Sparv is an ingénue with plenty of fighting attitude. Gold fever reaches its peak, along with some awesome special effects, and divine intervention reaches new heights of intensity. Top it off with José Feliciano's theme song, and you'll be in zany Western heaven. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

I know this place. It's Shaking Rock..no gold around there.......2007-06-28

Gregory Peck and some of the biggest names in the movie industry saddle up in search of the 'Lost Adams' or 'Canyon del Oro' mine. This is one action packed western. Jose Feliciano's `Old Turkey Buzzard' plays background score to scenic desert cinematography as everyone rides off in search of gold. Just keep in mind that the film was shot in 1969 and so to my knowledge has no CGI's (Computer-generated imagery). There are some modeling and interesting editing in some of the action shots (crossing the bridge sequence, etc). Look past this and enjoy the adventure as gold fever strikes everyone in this very entertaining movie. Wonderful panoramic visual treats combined with a great story make this a must for action and western lovers. Well worth the ride to Shaking Rock.

Great Western.......2007-06-27

MacKenna's Gold is a great old color western about a hunt for a canyon of treasure. Well known actors and a great story that holds your attention.

MacKenna's Gold.......2007-05-21

Excellent scenery throughout the movie, a refreshing movie to watch at any age.Great score of actors.

MacKenna's Gold.......2007-01-09

I advidly enjoy the classical movies made in the 60's,70's, and this one was a particular favorite of mine. I hope more classics will be put on DVD
to be enjoyed now.

A curious serial-like Western melodrama packed with stars and pretensions above its situation..........2006-11-06

The film opens with a narration by Victor Jory about an Apache legend: a hidden canyon, guarded by the Apache gods and rich with gold... As long as the Apaches kept the canyon a secret and never touched the gold, they would be strong and powerful...

Marshal Mackenna (Gregory Peck) wasted three years chasing that wild goose... He immediately knew the place and identified it as 'Shaking Rock' but insisted to the old Apache dying chief who was keeping the map that there is no gold around there: "The only dust I found was prairie dust!"

Before the chief dies, Mackenna destroys the map, confident it is a myth...

When the ludicrous Mexican bandit Colorado (Omar Sharif) appears on the scene with his gang, and discovers the useless burned map, he took Mackenna--his living map--to his hideout in a little box canyon and forced him to lead him to the legendary canyon...

Colorado's gang includes Hesh-Ke (Julie Newmar), an attractively jealous Apache woman who was once involved with Mackenna, Hachita (Ted Cassidy), a strong and deadly Apache warrior, and a captive girl called Inga (Camilla Sparv), daughter of a murdered judge who put a price on Colorado's head...

Along the way, the group is joined by 'good' citizens, dirty scheming ambitious men, a lot of bronco Apaches on the prowl, and the U.S. Cavalry after anybody and everybody... Probably after the gold too...

"Mackenna's Gold" remains a curious serial-like Western melodrama packed with stars and pretensions above its situation... The script completely wastes the fine cast... On a lower level, it is quite enjoyable... Julie Newmar is a delight, a natural beauty and a distinct "presence" that immediately captivates the audience... There are scenic location shots of the vastness of the desert, exciting action scenes, pretty spectacular scenes of danger but all hampered by frustrating special effects...

Average customer rating:

Comuncheros
I'M GONNA GO OUT WEST AND WRESTLE ME A GRIZZLY BEAR
Comancheros editing
A cheerful and solid action - buddy film with Wayne and Whitman filling the screen
Wow, This is a Bad Western

The Comancheros
Starring: Michael Ansara , Phil Arnold , Ina Balin , Don Brodie , and Edgar Buchanan
Director: Curtiz, Michael
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
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ASIN: B00008MTW5
Release Date: 2003-05-20

Amazon.com

Nobody made a fuss about The Comancheros when it came out, yet it has proved to be among the most enduringly entertaining of John Wayne's later Westerns. The Duke, just beginning to crease and thicken toward Rooster Cogburn proportions, plays a veteran Texas Ranger named Jake Cutter. When we first see him (in a tongue-in-cheek delayed entrance), he's catching up with a New Orleans dandy (Stuart Whitman) who killed a judge's son in a duel just after that gentlemanly practice was banned. Monsieur Paul Regret--or "Mon-sooor," as Jake insists on calling him--is not a bad fellow, let alone a badman, and it only follows that, after the requisite number of misunderstandings, he and Jake will join forces to subdue rampaging Indians and the evil white men behind their uprising.

The Comancheros was the last credit for Michael Curtiz, who, ravaged by cancer, ceded much of the direction to Wayne (uncredited) and action specialist Cliff Lyons. With support from Wayne stalwarts James Edward Grant (coscreenplay) and William Clothier (camera), the first of many rousing Elmer Bernstein scores for a Wayne picture, and a big, flavorful cast including Lee Marvin (the once and future Liberty Valance), Nehemiah Persoff, Bruce Cabot, and Guinn "Big Boy" Williams (in his last movie), they made a broad, cheerfully bloodthirsty adventure movie for red-meat-eating audiences of all ages. Even the liberal-pinko Time magazine had to second the salute from leading lady Ina Balin at film's end: "Take care of yourself, Big Jake ... we've sort of gotten used to you." --Richard T. Jameson

Description

John Wayne is Capt. Jake Cutter, a Texas Ranger determined to crush a powerful outlaw gang that's selling guns to the Indians. Cutter is also trying to bring in gambler Paul Regret (Whitman), who's wanted for murder. Both missions get entangled when Cut

Customer Reviews:

Comuncheros.......2007-01-11

I am a John Wayne fan so it goes with out Quwstion that this was another great movie.

I'M GONNA GO OUT WEST AND WRESTLE ME A GRIZZLY BEAR.......2006-12-24

Texas Ranger, (John Wayne) enlists the aid of wanted fugitive, (Stuart Whitman), to bust gunrunning operation. Everything you can expect from a Wayne western, with eye-popping Cinerama,(or whatever they called it in 1961), rousing musical theme that becomes a little less so by the fourth or fifth ride into the sunset, dancing skirt sashaying senioritas, (hoochie-koochie, anyone?), standard western stunts, (falling horses, especially), and a still cloudy distinction of the American Indian as being either 'wild', (bloodthirsty scalpers of white people), or 'tame', (sell their soul for a cheap bottle of whiskey and a good cigar). Love interest Ina Bolin, (dark, mysterious, like you can picture a whip in her hand), adds some Mexican zing to the mix, but man, those are some nasty wigs she wears.

Comancheros editing.......2006-11-16

Good action buddy movie. If you buy the movie, be forewarned that editing takes out some scenes. This version from foxhome video does not show John Wayne coming aboard the steamboat, but is referenced later on. The version shown on AMC-TV channel is a different full version. Just be aware there is an edited version.

A cheerful and solid action - buddy film with Wayne and Whitman filling the screen.......2006-05-18

This is a kind of movie that is not made any more. It is an action movie with a gentle heart and a happy spirit. Even the bad guys are somehow awful, but we don't hate them. One interesting thing about this movie is John Wayne's role in the movie. Yes, he is the star, whenever he is on screen anywhere he dominates it, but the story is really more about Paul Regret (wonderfully played by Stuart Whitman) and Pilar Graile (glowingly done by Ina Balin). John Wayne's role, while central, isn't the guy who gets the girl, and plays more as the protector and guide to Paul Regret, who ends up saving Jake more than once. Jake's a widower and more than friends with the widow of his best friend. Not too subtly, Melinda Marshall (the beautiful Joan O'Brien) has fences that need mending, and Paul Regret asks Jake for a good reason why he doesn't marry her.

How Paul and Jake meet each other and how they become friends is a big part of the movie and a very enjoyable part. In fact, this is really a buddy film and a darn good one, even with the wiseacre line when they are hanging by their arms and helpless in the bad guy camp, "I wonder if they know how much trouble they are in."

The head bad guy and leader of the Commancheros is Pilar's father who is also a paraplegic (superbly done by Nehemiah Persoff) and he rules his society of ne'er do wells with intelligence and a great political sense. It is his right hand henchman, Amelung, who is the most sinister character in the movie and played to a turn by Michael Ansara.

This is a movie with a plot that chugs along like the cheery Elmer Bernstein score that supports it. It has its interesting moments, but mostly it is a lot of fun. If you enjoy John Wayne, and I do, you get a good story for him with all the fine performances of the other stars plus some fire, Indian battles, and even a duel.

Not great, but a very worthwhile entertainment.

Wow, This is a Bad Western.......2006-01-17

The Comancheros follows the typical early John Wayne western formula, a big bawdy rollicking western full of colorful good old boy western characters. Unfortunately that formula also includes a severely fractured, incoherent plot, a rambling-babbling pointless story, factual errors, and Native Americans portrayed by Caucasians and stereotyped as inhuman idiots and drunks. The Comancheros starts out with John Wayne, a Texas Ranger, apprehending Stuart Whitman (Regret) somewhere between New Orleans and Texas (but looks a lot like Utah or Arizona). It seems as though the point of the story will be the return of Whitman (Regret) to Louisiana to stand trial for murder, but that initial plot is long forgotten about halfway through the movie when The Comancheros takes on multiple, disjointed and disconnected subplots, pointless fight scenes, and aimless shootouts with indians that have little or nothing to do with the original theme established in the movie's opening scenes. The best thing about The Comancheros is the stirring opening theme music by Elmer Bernstein. John Wayne's best western is the Cowboys, take time to watch it instead of the god awful Comancheros.

Average customer rating:

Best "Western" Ever Made
Classic western-John Wayne
classic Duke
john ford and john wayne bring the western to the adults in this great movie
ford and wayne team for the first time to reinvent the western

Stagecoach
Starring: Claire Trevor , John Wayne , Andy Devine , John Carradine , and Thomas Mitchell
Director: John Ford
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: 6304696582
Release Date: 1997-10-29

Amazon.com essential video

This landmark 1939 Western began the legendary relationship between John Ford and John Wayne, and became the standard for all subsequent Westerns. It solidified Ford as a major director and established Wayne as a charismatic screen presence. Seen today, Stagecoach still impresses as the first mature instance of a Western that is both mythic and poetic. The story about a cross-section of troubled passengers unraveling under the strain of Indian attack contains all of Ford's incomparable storytelling trademarks--particularly swift action and social introspection--underscored by the painterly landscape of Monument Valley. And what an ensemble of actors: Thomas Mitchell (who won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar as the drunken doctor), Claire Trevor, Donald Meek, Andy Devine, and the magical John Carradine. Due to the film's striking use of chiaroscuro lighting and low ceilings, Orson Welles watched Stagecoach over and over while preparing for Citizen Kane. --Bill Desowitz

Customer Reviews:

Best "Western" Ever Made.......2007-05-28

It's only a "western" because it takes place in a western setting. It's a drama, like "Lifeboat" is a drama. You wouldn't call "Lifeboat" a war movie.

I have nothing to add to the praise that so many others have given "Stagecoach." Instead, I'll add a few observations, pro and con.

The characters are stereotypes. But they are beautifully defined and superbly acted stereotypes. It's not important whether they are "realistic" or not. The point is, they serve the dramatic story, which is the whole point of having characters at all.

The army officer's wife is a wimp. She's supposed to be army, for crying out loud. If I were that officer, I'd dump her.

There's also something strange about the movie not telling us she's pregnant until she actually gives birth.

In the chase scene, the Clair Trevor character gets to do a little shooting, rather than standing by and screaming while the men do the fighting, as is so often the case in films.

But earlier in the movie, after she has sat up all night with the ailing officer's wife, the sleeping men awake and immediately ask HER to make THEM some coffee. Pul-eeze! Was the script writer asleep, too?

And then of course, there are the Apaches, beautifully portrayed by Navajo extras from the Monument Valley area. No whites in darkface here.

But alas, the usual one-sided battle ensues, with the cowboy marksmen effortlessly picking off the pursuing Apaches. Come on!

First of all, though John Wayne uses a rifle, the others use handguns. It's almost impossible to hit anything accurately at a distance with a handgun, not to mention when firing from from a jouncing stagecoach at rapidly shifting targets.

Second, real Apaches of that period, exceptional fighters and tacticians, would never have chased the stagecoach from BEHIND and exposed themselves so stupidly. They would have intercepted it from in front, and the whites would have been easy pickings.

Another reviewer asked why the Apaches didn't simply shoot the horses to stop the stage. The film doesn't deal with that question, but the right answer would have been that the horses were more valuable to them than the stage or the people in it. Shooting the horses would have rendered the attack itself a bit pointless.

The cavalry coming to the rescue is an embarrassing cliché, but it is somewhat saved by the beautifully framed deep shot, a John Ford trademark, of the stage slowly coming to stop as it approaches the camera, while the soldiers recede into the distance chasing the Apaches.

I never tire of watching this film. I can say that of few others.

Classic western-John Wayne.......2007-02-12

Wonderful movie. Too bad only made it black and white. Classic for the nursing home.
Received promptly.
Thank you.

classic Duke.......2006-12-05

Very entertaining, action-packed adventure. Makes an important social comment as well regarding respect.

john ford and john wayne bring the western to the adults in this great movie.......2006-04-18

this is "the one" the movie that saved and brought the western back for near death and the film that made john wayne a star for the rest of his life.
john ford's stagecoach is one of his best works and the template for all westerns to follow. it might feel like you have seen all this in a million other movies,but this was the first.
the story of a group of people on a stage to the town lordsburg is a great character study of people under stress and how the good in people is on the inside and that some people who look nice are just the opposit in real life. the action is fast and the story is just the best. won oscers for music score and for thomas mitchell as the drunken doctor who is quick witted and quick drinking man who finds himself again as the trip goes along. belongs in every collection of the greatest movies ever made

ford and wayne team for the first time to reinvent the western.......2006-01-23

this is the one,the film orson welles used to get ideas for "citizen kane", the movie that made john wayne a star, the film that won thomas mitchell an oscar as a drunk doctor who knows people better than you would think, and the film that brought the western back from "kiddie" films to the adult side of films. not one false note in this western that set the bar for what good westerns should be. if it looks a little like some other movies you have seen rember this one was first.

Average customer rating:

A Misfire from the 60s
Message received, invitation declined
Jules Garpard d'Estaing - Bast@rd with a Heart
A Deep and Very Dark Western with a Message
Yul Brynner is Magnificent

Invitation to a Gunfighter
Starring: Yul Brynner , Janice Rule , George Segal , Alfred Ryder , and Clifford David
Director: Richard Wilson
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B0007O391Q
Release Date: 2005-05-17

Description

Oscar® winner* Yul Brynner turns in a "great performance" (Los Angeles Herald Times) as a smooth master gunfighter who must do battle with his most formidable adversary - his own conscience - in this gripping, double-barreled western full of blistering shootouts, surprise twists and colorful villainy. In a New Mexico frontier town, Jules Gaspard d'Estaing (Brynner) is hired by the town's boss (Pat Hingle) to kill Matt Weaver (George Segal), a Civil War veteran who returns to reclaim his farm and his woman. But when d'Estaing realizes that Weaver may be the only honest man left, the conflicted hired gun must either kill an innocent man - or destroy his own reputation - in a heart-stopping final showdown.

Customer Reviews:

A Misfire from the 60s.......2007-03-16

Although bold for its time, this film is nothing more than a rather unimaginative 1964 politically charged western. Apart from the novel idea of using the generic gung-ho western style of the day to advance a civil rights theme, this film is simply plagued with an unimaginative screenplay, poor direction, a script full of cliches, and terrible acting.

A small town of Yankees is angered by the return of former confederate Matt Weaver (George Segal) and decides to hire a gunman. Jules Gaspard d'Estaing (Brynner), a creole from Louisianna, is hired to do the job but he is soon found to be a man of conscience and principle. It so happens that the Yankees are the biggots and the southerner the victim with the colored man as the conscience of the film. A predictable love affair also springs up in a vain attempt to relieve the audience from its boredom. This is simply a terrible film with cliched dialogues and situations juxtaposed solely to make a blunt political statement as to diversity, equality, and justice. Yul Brynner is the only good actor in this film and even his performance suffers as a result of this simply atrocious production.

This film hasn't aged well and its subtle attempts at addressing the prevalent social issues of its day are as novel and moving as a Sidney Poitier film. This film is just too antiquated and poorly conceived to be worth owning or even watching.

Message received, invitation declined.......2006-07-18

A run-of-the-mill hired gun oater told from the hired gun's point of view. Yul Brynner stars in INVITATION TO A GUNFIGHTER, a western with a conscience from 1964, a bad time for westerns made in the lower 48. Brynner plays Jules Gaspard d'Estaing (Jewel, for short,) a silk-shirted top-notch gun for hire who's enlisted by a small southwestern town to shoot George Segal, a young man returning from the Civil War who, much to town owner and chief psychopath Pat Hingle's horror and disgust, fought for the Confederacy. Segal returns to town bereft of farm, stolen--- er, claimed and sold by Hingle while he was gone - and sweetheart Janice Rule, a New England lass who married a one-armed piano player out of pity. After Segal tries to take back his farm, rather forcefully and impulsively, Hingle's hatred for all things southern boils over and he hires one of the best guns in the lawless west.

At some point in the movie Brynner's character observes that this cowed frontier town is filled with hens (Civil War widows) and capons (injured vets of that war.) It can be ruled by anyone with enough moxie to take it over, and hence we're given the reason why Hingle's character is named Brewster - well, it rhymes with rooster, anyway, and his penchant for quoting and paraphrasing passages from the Bible is Hollywood's shorthand way of telling us he's either a fraud or criminally demented. In any event, the slave system Segal may (underline and italicize the word `may') have been fighting to protect and defend is clumsily contrasted with the Hingle-led town's treatment of women and resident Mexicans. Neither can vote in town councils, the Mexicans can't buy ammunition to kill game to feed their families, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

Which reminds me, Brynner ain't half-bad as the suave and conflicted gun slinger. It probably goes without saying that there was only one man, recently returned from the war, who treated the resident Mexicans with any respect. That fact doesn't escape Brynner's attention, anyway, and it sets up the Big Conflict - does a hired gun let outside factors interfere with his contract to kill? INVITATION TO A GUNFIGHTER would have been a whole lot better if it hadn't tried so hard to prove the town's moral hypocrisy, if it hadn't spent so much time developing a sticky romantic quadrangle between Rule, Brynner, Segal, and the One-Armed Man, and especially if it hadn't loaded a simple story with so much `message.' Westerns, and action movies in general, work best when the connection between motivation and action is simple and direct. In ItaG that connection is hopelessly, and needlessly, tangled. Brynner has a lithe intensity that rises above the material and almost, but not quite, carries this movie along with him.

Jules Garpard d'Estaing - Bast@rd with a Heart.......2006-05-22

This is one of Yul Brynner's best portrayals on the cinematic screen. He plays Jules, a cold-blooded hired gun brought in to snuff out the town's last rebel. Brynner's portrayal of this bast@rd-with-a-heart is electric. He commands the screen even from the shadows. Watch for the hilarious scene where he's introduced to the town boss:

Brewster: Is your name Jewel?
d'Estaing: No.
d'Estaing: My name is [writes his name on a blackboard]
Brewster: Jewels...Gasperd...Die-es-ting
d'Estaing: Jules...soft j, silent s...Gaspard...silent d...d'Estaing...just a touch of dipthong.

A Deep and Very Dark Western with a Message.......2005-08-26

Yul Brynner is a powerful and dynamic actor. He had donned the cowboy hat before in the 'Magnificent Seven' but quite arguably Jules was his greatest role ever.

In the film Brynner plays a mysterious gun fighter hired to kill a rebel who's property was sold in the war. The man demands answers but is shot. Forced to leave he refuses and returns to his farm where a gun is drawn upon him and he has to defend himself. In killing the man he has a bounty placed upon his head and a gunman is hired. But this movie is more than just a simple Western. It is much, much, much more.

In the town the Mexicans are treated as inferiors. The rebel is the only man that treats them decently. And they beg Jules not to kill him. Jules refuses yet Jules has a dark secret of his own that is similar to the Mexicans. Jules is a Creole from Louisana and is half French and African. His father was a slave owner and his mother was a slave. Because of this he was treated as inferior. When his mother argued with his father she was sold away because she was property. So naturally Yules is a cold and very dark because of the hardship and injustices of his past. And in Brynner, the Mexicans, and the Rebel there are three groups that are being discriminated against. The town claims to be against slavery but yet it stands by every injustice outside of it. And we see the conflict that surmonts between Jules, the Rebel, and the Town. So the film shapes into a morality play of sorts like 'High Noon' where the protagonist must choose between right and wrong. Brynner's role is very much like Eastwood's 'Man with No Name'. He is sort of an anti-hero or perhaps a divided one who has to make deep, difficult desicions. Does he do his job or does he do what is right? The film has romance, intensity, and passion and it all plays out well. The film is really a fine example of how great the past generation was in filmmaking. This film makes the viewer think, feel, and rationalize. The characters are very human and that is what I appreciate. Brynner's role is very realistic and intersting as he is more than just a hired cowpoke: he is a deep, complex, and intense. This film is truly a work of art and should be a part of any Western fans collection.

Yul Brynner is Magnificent.......2004-03-16

If you liked Yul Brynner in "The Magnificent Seven" you will love him in this movie. Brynner is cool as they come. This is a great western and should be on DVD.

Average customer rating:

MY FAVORITE JOHN WAYNE FILM
Perhaps the Ultimate Western.
GREAT JOHN WAYNE CLASSIC!
Early Duke Classic
Exciting, highly enjoyable, and beautiful!

She Wore a Yellow Ribbon
Starring: John Wayne , Joanne Dru , John Agar , Ben Johnson , and Harry Carey Jr.
Director: John Ford
Manufacturer: Turner Home Ent
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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