Verified reviews are considered more trustworthy by fellow moviegoers. Hombre? The only negative about this is that the film is in many ways about race prejudice and you wonder if maybe casting an Anglo in such a role that it might be undermining the central message. western, outlaw, cowboy, shootout or gunfight, western, cowboy, outlaw, wild or frontier, historical, epic, battle, historic or fought, racism, african american, powerful, hatred or slavery, www.ultimatemovierankings.com/burt-lancaster-movies/. Revenge is widely used as a theme in popular culture of the 20th century, well beyond the Western genre, though from my own reading I cant come up with any examples of it in more serious works of literature. Second, a Brigadier General would not have commanded a regiment (let alone a company or troop). The grandeur of revenge might as well be the title of a doctoral dissertation on Western fiction, and maybe on the works of Elmore Leonard in particular. Your email address will not be published. 6) Crash Course in Romance Episode 9 Recap & Review. The image is an example of a ticket confirmation email that AMC sent you when you purchased your ticket. But even the greatest of copyists, of Leonard as with Van Gogh, surely find that it's easy to make the copy look like the original from across the room, but on close inspection, there is a not so readily achieved magic imbedded in the ridges and hollows. Valdez wins and Tanner loses everything. At the summary states, this film truly made an unusual casting decision by casting Burt Lancaster as a Hispanic man. The aliens' " whispering " is a form of selection, and only the chosen get a ticket off-world (Caleb and Abby . I wont spoil the fun by giving away any more details. He said to himself, What is the sky to me? Frank Tanner is the perfect villain, and Jon Cypher resembles those old villain with his turfy eyebrows and mustache. While I try to divorce myself from the source material since I'm not reviewing that, Valdez Is Coming comes out as barebones with the story feeling incomplete or perplexing as they let out several scenes out that would've given the actions the necessary context they deserved. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . ", When the film was released to video, Ty Burr of Entertainment Weekly wrote that, "Slow and choppy, Valdez manages an astounding feat: It drains Lancaster of personality."[5]. Unsatisfying, for sure, if what you want or expect is closure. An incident involving a black man who is holed up in a shack with his native American woman escalates after the man is killed by the town constable, a Mexican who had served in the US Cavalry chasing Apaches. He is the last gentleman, and to remain that he must often fight. It is also stylish: the prose is terse, repetitive, and epigrammatic in ways that reminded me of hard-boiled detective fiction which makes sense, of course, as the two genres are closely related. This is a moderated subreddit. Today, Elmore Leonard is primarily known for his crime fiction. Thank you very much for the response! Tanner won't hear of it, however, and punishes Valdez by driving him into the desert with a cross strapped to his back. Before it's over, Frank will, without a doubt, know that..Valdez is coming. My experience of Westerns is mostly cinematic, but the revenge plot seems pretty common to it, from straightforward versions like 7 Men from Now to more subtle variations like the ending of The Furies. Tanner turns out to be a coward one-on-one. The advertisement that I saw had the sun blazing behind Burt Lancaster. He finds an oasis blocked by two trees that he repeatedly tries to ram with the ends of the cross. By creating an account, you agree to the In any event, it is through the movies made from his work, "The Tall T," "3:10 to Yuma," "Hombre," "Valdez is Coming," that I came to know and love Leonard's writing. Copyright Fandango. I used to think Kennedy came up with that line, and several other gems from the same film, but it turns out they were all from an Elmore Leonard short story called "The Captives," which Leonard sold to Argosy magazine for a hundred bucks in 1955, and which was eventually turned into this 1957 film. This scene is missing in the UK version, you see them riding towards each other and suddenly they are down on the ground, rising up. With all the computer generated garbage being put in theaters today, it's good to be able to turn on the western channel and see some real acting again. High Noon, Part II: The Return of Will Kane, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Valdez_Is_Coming&oldid=1135047210, Short description is different from Wikidata, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 22 January 2023, at 08:31. Unfortunately for Tanner, he has picked on the wrong man: Valdez is a wily, experienced Indian fighter and a marksman with a rifle. When Valdez persists, in kindness and gentle-care, Frank to pay $100, he is is attacked and roped to a wooden cross..they send him into the desert this way to perish. Third, the 7th Cavalry was stationed on the Great Plains, and was never further south than the Indian Territory (present day Oklahoma), when it was at the Battle of the Washita in November, 1868. Valdez Is Coming (1971) PG-13 | 90 min | Action, Western | 9 April 1971 (USA) A Mexican-American sheriff must resort to violence against a powerful rancher in order to get just compensation for the pregnant Indian widow of a wrongly killed black man. He gives new meaning to the word authentic. The black man, the Native American woman, the Mexicans, the Anglos, and then the rancher's not so faithful mistress, give this movie a lot of great subplots to think about, but the central story of Valdez first asking and then demanding money for the dead man's woman is simple yet effective as it draws out into chases and ambushes while revealing the characters for who they really are. The text on the photograph states it is of "Brig. An angry Valdez has had enough, and is prompted to dust off his old army uniform, take up his musty Buffalo Rifle,his battered Shotgun and his haggard Winchester and raise Cain on Tanner and his men. If you are a Burt Lancaster fan, this is one of his last kick ass westerns. A personal revenge that carries suspense, drive and grim realism. His lumbering presence, dead pan line delivery, and domineering stature all speak to a type of man that doesnt exist in movies much. The woman doesnt have a man, so she needs money. On second thought, perhaps, it's not quite that harmless. The action scenes are pretty good. That, should be the premise of this story. Burt Lancaster plays a Mexican in this one. its the same stories as always except their forcing the heroes to be POC like burt lancaster. But it is also a great credit to Leonard's own clarity of intent as a writer. What ensues is a noble saga worthy of the former Indian scout and tracker. Are there anti-detective novels out there? "My momma taught me to remove my hat and my cigar in the presence of a lady. Davis backs off, showing he has no gun, and El Segundo calls his men aside, refusing to obey orders. To ensure that Tanner will pay he takes as hostage his trophy girlfriend, the beautiful Gay Erin (Susan Clark), the widow of the aforementioned dead man that sparked the ongoing tragedy. The desert-like terrain of this isolated region of Spain resembles the U.S. southwest and parts of Sonora, Mexico, though the vegetation is not the same. I guess it was customary for the era, and for the most part the actors made it work, but the idea always jolts me just a little bit. Occasionally, a film arrives with little or no fanfare and surprises many who expected just another film. But now there was more to it. It told the story of Valdez, no first name, a Mexican-American who works as the town constable because he's able to get along with everyone and gives the impression that he knows how to take orders. James, Ive tried Leonards detective fiction but always given up as I just didnt enjoy the atmosphere or voice of it (and I hated the film version of Pulp Fiction so much I started a whole new academic research project as a result but thats another story). I am not 100% sure revenge accurately sums up what he wants, though: that sounds petty, but what he wants seems almost grand. He automatically looked at him as a weak peasant instead of a great gunfighter and that theme works greatly here in this short and satisfying western. Burt Lancaster shows he is an actor of such quality and class plus almost perfect as the quiet man; on a mission for bloody revenge. The UK DVD has at least one horse tripping edited. Valdez is the missing link between the wild frontier and the civilized west. No, it ends just like that. By what name was Valdez Is Coming (1971) officially released in India in English? But dialog that tells one story for the actor while the actor is telling another story is the richest of gifts for a performer. 5) 10 Movies Like Knock at the Cabin. Comments that are not civil or constructive will be deleted. Valdez tries to negotiate a peaceful settlement, as the hunted man says hes innocent. TMDb Instead, a Regiment would have been commanded by a Colonel. When rancher Frank Tanner (Jon Cypher) hoodwinks local lawman Bob Valdez (Burt Lancaster) into shooting an innocent man, Valdez is remorseful and tries to take up a collection for the widow. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. False Positive offers a different ending: Lucy refuses to mother the twin . Valdez Is Coming 1h 30m 1971 Overview Synopsis Credits Film Details Articles & Reviews Notes Brief Synopsis An honest marshal is the only man willing to stand against a powerful but ruthless rancher. He was shown from underneath, like a giant with a shotgun in each hand. Moby-Dick. Vincent Canby of The New York Times praised Lancaster's on-screen presence but wrote that, "A lot of fancy flourishes, which I associate with Mr. Sherin's stage work, are apparent in the film, as in its picturesque groupings of picturesque characters, and in a musical score that's much given to comment on the action. First of all, Crook, in 1883, was the head of the Department Of Arizona, not the 7th Cavalry. The fine acting by the able cast constitutes as another major plus: Lancaster makes for a credible and sympathetic reluctant man of action, Susan Clark gives her role as Tanner's fed-up mistress Gay Erin a substantial amount of class and depth, Frank Silvera does well as Valdez's loyal friend Diego, Barton Heyman likewise impresses as the shrewd El Segundo, Richard Jordan positively oozes as despicable sniveling weakling R.L. Davis), Barton Heyman (El Segundo), Juanita Penaloza (Apache Woman), Werner Hassleman (Sheriff); Runtime: 90; MPAA Rating: PG-13; producer: Ira Steiner; MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc.; 1971). *****. Leonard's characters talk the way real cowboys and ranchers and trainmen and schoolmarms would talk if they were poets. No Name. Your AMC Ticket Confirmation# can be found in your order confirmation email. But in every case, deep down, the cathartic fantasy of unrestricted payback fuels the fantasy. Its most certainly at the center of nearly everything in the genre whether characters are willingly giving themselves over to the gory release of it (e.g. 1971 #jolly exciting sequence# - YouTube 0:00 / 4:24 Valdez is coming! While hiding from Tanner's posse, Valdez realizes that Gay Erin knows who killed her husband. this book), balancing it and/or disguising it with idealized notions of justice and fair play (e.g. Now its not just about justice for the woman: its also about his own honor and the need to turn this humiliation and defeat into victory. Old Mexican-American sheriff Bob Valdez has always been a haven of sanity in a land of madmen when it came to defending law and order. I've read more of his Westerns than any of his other stories, and I find him one of the most astonishing purveyors of authentic-sounding . That leaves Tanner to do his own dirty workif he can. A few racial epithets later and we realize the man is (a) black and (b) possibly innocent of the crime he is accused of. Report this film, smh another WOKE western. Sometimes he must kill. "It's my life's goal. Maybe I underestimate the grandeur of revenge. But R.L. The humiliations suffered by Valdez early on, as well as the ruthlessness of the villains, are of such unequivocal nastiness that the film's ultimate satisfactions come not from the triumph of honor, but from the scope of the revenge. Elmore Leonard's crackerjack western novel "Valdez Is Coming" served as the inspiration for this lively western lensed on location in scenic Spain with Lancaster in top agile form for a 58-year old guy. In such knowledge also lies one source of possible identification; they should probably be proportional to the revenge being taken. I just get the impression that he knew deep in his soul how hard-bark people sound. Bearing the cross, Valdez becomes a modern-day Christ figure seeking martyrdom. When Lancaster's aging lawman,. And a film I watched just last month, Last Stand at Saber River, and it would seem that Leonard had a liking for delivering Western themed stories? Overlooked underrated gem of a western!!!! Some movies should only be seen once, some such as this one, many times. Valdez ends up killing the innocent man and desires all who fingered him to pay for the man's pregnant squaw to have passage home. He was a highly successful black actor/director in the 1950s and 1960s who - because of his light-skinned appearance - transcended race and ethnicity in his performances. 1971 He is not of the people; he is alone. Probably. If you use material from this blog, please give proper credit to the author. Regardless, the film is several notches above the usual Western. But the weapon smuggler Frank Tanner is greedy and impulsive. Indeed, the African-American had been trapped in a small cabin at the foot of a rise, and several rifleman had kept him pinned down in the structure. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. this is why the genre is dying. Tanner and his men ride up. So he goes to Tanner to appeal to him to pony up half of the needed dough ($100) but Tanner and his men laugh at Valdez and humiliate him instead, tying him to a cross. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. His work seems devoid of arcane mechanics, and it lends itself to imitation the way Van Gogh seems easy for students to copy: the brushstrokes are clear and distinct and bold. Inside, she was wild as mountain scenery.". Highly recommended. Valdez is freed by one of Tanner's henchmen (Richard Jordan) and, after convalescing, begins waging a one-man war against Tanner, picking off his men with his trusty Sharps rifle. Great unexpected ending! "I don't know. Its enough to quote the pitch-perfectcover blurb: They were still laughing when Valdez came back. By the end of the novel, he can barely even recall the ostensible motivation for his actions, let alone care about her welfare. Dialog that tells one story with words while telling a correlative story with the sounds of those words is rare and precious. Kudos are also in order for Gabor Pogany's crisp widescreen cinematography and the rousing dramatic score by Charles Gross. Although, Tanner is the main obstacle, Valdez is also challenged by Tanner's formidable collection of professional gunmen assembled by his experienced right-hand man, El Segundo (Barton Heyman). "The Tall T," "3:10 to Yuma," "Hombre," "Valdez is Coming," that I came to know and love Leonard's writing. This film reminded me somewhat of Charles Bronson's first big box office hit, "Chato's Land". Still Frank will continue to underestimate Valdez who knows the entire country all too well. After reading it, I said to a close friend, 'Hey, this is a great story and it'd be another great movie" So, when he told me it already was, I just had to get it and have a look. RL, in his only moment of kindness in the film, releases Valdez from his ropes after an incident when Bob tried to break the wood roped to his arms. Coming Soon, Regal Marvel Movies Ranked Worst to Best by Tomatometer, Jurassic Park Movies Ranked By Tomatometer, The Mandalorian Season 3 First Reviews: Still the Best Star Wars TV Show, Critics Say. Directors. Ive never been able to read Leonards crime fiction, but Ive not tried his westerns. Valdez himself is an interesting character: though he feels no ambivalence about his specific conflictwith Tanner, he is less certain about his own role in life more generally, and the relationship he develops with Tanners fiance Gay (whom he kidnaps as leverage) adds more nuances. Now I know. with updates on movies, TV shows, Rotten Tomatoes podcast and more. The men are ordered to shoot, but R.L. Burt Lancaster is terrific in this well directed movie.Even with his pale blue eyes, he comes across as a believable character of the results a mixed relationship. The film opens with a town gathering in the desert led by local Frank Tanner (John Cypher) to which the stage coach carrying Valdez arrives. While a Leonard character is telling plot stuff, the very shape and rhythm of the words as Leonard has framed them reveal the character's biography. "How old are you?" The opening scene begins like a Sunday picnic/Turkey shoot: well-dressed couples in period costumes milling around, young boys plunking away with their new rifles. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, or Moment of Vengeance, another Leonard story from that plump Complete Western collection). is not allowed, Heathcliff wont work. After taking out one rider with his shotgun, he tells him to send the message to Tanner "Valdez is coming". More than that, I hoped his involvement with the show meant I might get to meet him. Bob Valdez (Burt Lancaster) is the principled Mexican-American constable, who despite being discriminated against and referred to as a greaser works for the local sheriff. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright .
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