I saw this film years ago(mid late 1950's) in a B theater that was unable to handle "Superscope" and CinemaScope. The result was everyone was super tall and skinny making it at the time more laughable then it was enjoyable.
Flash forward to the present and I found myself on a kick to see some Robert Aldrich films. Since I love old westerns I thought this one might be pretty good given the director and the two stars. Basically I wasn't disappointed. It had good action and the story moved along quite crisply. Good start to the film in introducing the two protagonists Lancaster and Cooper and a tense standoff in a plaza. Great ending.
But the film also had its hammy moments although I suspect it was unintentional. Lancaster's white teeth constantly flashing became more of an annoyance then anything else. Boy great teeth for the 1860's. Some of his gang were comical more than anything else and one poor sap was given to dancing (sorry can't remember his name) and of course became a caricature. Grant you it wasn't unusual given the time. The love scenes were more hilarious then anything else as both love interests were mismatched to the men involved although at least Lancaster and Denise Darcel gave it a whirl. But Cooper who is stilted at the best of times was just plain laughable with his love interest in Sara Montiel. Best part was Lancaster slapping Darcel around.
Other parts that were unintentionally funny was that they were supposed to be headed to Vera Cruz which is on the Gulf of Mexico coast in the south of Mexico. At one point they had them headed north through the pyramids of Teotihuacan. Okay I guess it was for effect but anyone with even some knowledge of Mexico would find it just silly.
So what was there to like? Well it was noted that this film had an impact on Sergio Leone who did the spaghetti westerns. The setting in Mexico and the gunfight at the end between Cooper and Lancaster was great. Reminded me of course of the final gunfight between Charles Bronson and Henry Fonda in Leone's Once Upon a Time in the West. Even gave Lancaster and Cooper good face.
But they should have mentioned some clear influence on Sam Peckinpah particularly his classic The Wild Bunch. The village scenes and especially the assault on Maxmillian's forces by the Juaristas especially brought back fond memories of the final clash in the Wild Bunch. We even had Cooper and Lancaster grab a hold of the repeating machine gun ala Holden and Borgnine in the Wild Bunch. Great influence and a great scene.
Would have loved to have rated it higher than the 6 I gave it but the hammy parts and the stilted love scenes (kind of why bother) dropped the score.
Flash forward to the present and I found myself on a kick to see some Robert Aldrich films. Since I love old westerns I thought this one might be pretty good given the director and the two stars. Basically I wasn't disappointed. It had good action and the story moved along quite crisply. Good start to the film in introducing the two protagonists Lancaster and Cooper and a tense standoff in a plaza. Great ending.
But the film also had its hammy moments although I suspect it was unintentional. Lancaster's white teeth constantly flashing became more of an annoyance then anything else. Boy great teeth for the 1860's. Some of his gang were comical more than anything else and one poor sap was given to dancing (sorry can't remember his name) and of course became a caricature. Grant you it wasn't unusual given the time. The love scenes were more hilarious then anything else as both love interests were mismatched to the men involved although at least Lancaster and Denise Darcel gave it a whirl. But Cooper who is stilted at the best of times was just plain laughable with his love interest in Sara Montiel. Best part was Lancaster slapping Darcel around.
Other parts that were unintentionally funny was that they were supposed to be headed to Vera Cruz which is on the Gulf of Mexico coast in the south of Mexico. At one point they had them headed north through the pyramids of Teotihuacan. Okay I guess it was for effect but anyone with even some knowledge of Mexico would find it just silly.
So what was there to like? Well it was noted that this film had an impact on Sergio Leone who did the spaghetti westerns. The setting in Mexico and the gunfight at the end between Cooper and Lancaster was great. Reminded me of course of the final gunfight between Charles Bronson and Henry Fonda in Leone's Once Upon a Time in the West. Even gave Lancaster and Cooper good face.
But they should have mentioned some clear influence on Sam Peckinpah particularly his classic The Wild Bunch. The village scenes and especially the assault on Maxmillian's forces by the Juaristas especially brought back fond memories of the final clash in the Wild Bunch. We even had Cooper and Lancaster grab a hold of the repeating machine gun ala Holden and Borgnine in the Wild Bunch. Great influence and a great scene.
Would have loved to have rated it higher than the 6 I gave it but the hammy parts and the stilted love scenes (kind of why bother) dropped the score.