Difficult to watch this movie, Howard Hawks' last and not be reminded of Tarantino's comment about how in his own career he didn't ever want to make his own "Rio Lobo", his way of saying that with this movie, time had finally caught up with the great old director.
I suppose Wayne was hot after his Oscar-winning turn in "True Grit" but clearly the writing was on the wall too for old Duke. He lumbers through the picture, the only thing slower than his pace being his delivery. He's the only star name here but it's he who effectively slows down the action to a crawl and it just never picks up speed at any time.
Hawks selected Mexican actor Jose Rivero as Wayne's sometime side-kick but it's clear to see that his part has probably reduced from the original conception as, for all his good looks, it's evident he's lacking in charisma. Elsewhere Jack Elam too obviously indulges in attempting to steal his scenes by overdoing the "crazy old man" schtick while neither of the two female actresses prominent in the movie really makes a lasting impression.
With a second or even third-hand plot, rather unconvincing action sequences and lame "comfortable" humour throughout, I'm afraid I'm with Quentin on this one.
I suppose Wayne was hot after his Oscar-winning turn in "True Grit" but clearly the writing was on the wall too for old Duke. He lumbers through the picture, the only thing slower than his pace being his delivery. He's the only star name here but it's he who effectively slows down the action to a crawl and it just never picks up speed at any time.
Hawks selected Mexican actor Jose Rivero as Wayne's sometime side-kick but it's clear to see that his part has probably reduced from the original conception as, for all his good looks, it's evident he's lacking in charisma. Elsewhere Jack Elam too obviously indulges in attempting to steal his scenes by overdoing the "crazy old man" schtick while neither of the two female actresses prominent in the movie really makes a lasting impression.
With a second or even third-hand plot, rather unconvincing action sequences and lame "comfortable" humour throughout, I'm afraid I'm with Quentin on this one.