I saw from George Kennedy in this pale and inconsequential sequel to The Magnificent Seven? I can't make up my mind on this.
Kennedy had a shallow but pleasant repertoire of gimmicks in his acting. He radiated a pensive, pent-up fury that would boil over when he played a good-guy. His words would tumble out when provoked, and you knew the baddie would be taking a light shower when he got in the antagonist's face.
I think that made him very believable. Unfortunately, it doesn't (he doesn't) seem to fit in this lazy, quiet Seven Samurai Go to Mexico Again outing. When confronted with one atrocity after another, perpetrated by evil Mexican soldiers against virtuous Mexican peasants, you're waiting for that fire to light.
It probably fits the story of the character Chris, but you want some evil-doer to suffer a bit while Kennedy clenches down on his cigar.
Director Paul Wendkos is no John Sturges, but he understands the basics of what made the Seven so appealing, and he keeps the movie moseying along to its inevitable shootemup climax.
Lots of great old character actors here. Monte Markham does a Steve McQueen impression and fails (but we forgive him). Bernie Casey and Joe Don Baker bring along their respective backstories, and they do their The Defiant Ones shtick (more forgiveness). James Whitmore is an old knife-fighter, and I appreciated his yearning to drop all this killing stuff and go home.
Michael Ansara is bad (behavior), Reni Santoni is worse (performance), and I'm sorry, I loved the little part of the worthless bandito leader, Frank Silvera. What a sleezoid!
I kept wondering where I had seen him. It dawned on me--Hombre! "I wud like to know hees nay-ame."
For all its not-even-a-a-blip-on-the-radar-ness, I liked the movie. Kind of like the way I like Mrs. Freshley's Honey Buns from the Dollar Tree.
Totally devoid of anything other than some satisfaction.
Kennedy had a shallow but pleasant repertoire of gimmicks in his acting. He radiated a pensive, pent-up fury that would boil over when he played a good-guy. His words would tumble out when provoked, and you knew the baddie would be taking a light shower when he got in the antagonist's face.
I think that made him very believable. Unfortunately, it doesn't (he doesn't) seem to fit in this lazy, quiet Seven Samurai Go to Mexico Again outing. When confronted with one atrocity after another, perpetrated by evil Mexican soldiers against virtuous Mexican peasants, you're waiting for that fire to light.
It probably fits the story of the character Chris, but you want some evil-doer to suffer a bit while Kennedy clenches down on his cigar.
Director Paul Wendkos is no John Sturges, but he understands the basics of what made the Seven so appealing, and he keeps the movie moseying along to its inevitable shootemup climax.
Lots of great old character actors here. Monte Markham does a Steve McQueen impression and fails (but we forgive him). Bernie Casey and Joe Don Baker bring along their respective backstories, and they do their The Defiant Ones shtick (more forgiveness). James Whitmore is an old knife-fighter, and I appreciated his yearning to drop all this killing stuff and go home.
Michael Ansara is bad (behavior), Reni Santoni is worse (performance), and I'm sorry, I loved the little part of the worthless bandito leader, Frank Silvera. What a sleezoid!
I kept wondering where I had seen him. It dawned on me--Hombre! "I wud like to know hees nay-ame."
For all its not-even-a-a-blip-on-the-radar-ness, I liked the movie. Kind of like the way I like Mrs. Freshley's Honey Buns from the Dollar Tree.
Totally devoid of anything other than some satisfaction.