Pernell Roberts
Julián Mateos
Leslie Nielsen
Inventory
- Dead horses
- $120,000
- A wedding dress
- Two canteens of water
Summary
This clearly is not going to be the typical movie that we have seen so far. Instead of the protagonist being introduced by killing someone or being released from jail, this one begins with a man sneaking through a window into the bedroom of a young woman. She peels off his boots, belts, and other assorted items and then crawls under the sheets with him. Just as they are about to get started on a detailed discussion on the virtues of romantic love, an enraged man storms into the bedroom. Before anyone can say a word, the first man uses a right jab to the second man's face as an opportunity to grab as much of his hardware as possible before defenestrating himself. After his departure, the second man slaps the woman, and repeatedly cries, "You're just like your mother." After a few repetitions of this anguished phrase, he rushes from the room and we hear him shoot himself.
The next scene begins looking up from a grave at the woman and a priest. Soon, Marshall Ross shows up to ask the woman, who we learn is named Myra, about the window-climbing gentlemen, who we learn is named Fernando Nuñez. The marshall claims Nuñez is a bank robber and a murderer. Maya proclaims his innocence and appeals to Ross, who tells her that he will find Nuñez, no matter what.
Leslie Nielsen then appears as Mr. Brown, a Pinkerton agent, also pursuing Nuñez, but with more concern about recovering the stolen money than about any abstract notions of justice. The two men join forces, although not by the marshall's choosing. Before long, they're joined by Myra. Brown is determined to kill Nuñez on sight, while Ross wants to bring him in for a trial. Myra is desperate to save his life, so Brown offers Myra a trade, Nuñez's life for her favors. A friendlier threesome has never ridden together.
When they catch up to Nuñez, the movie turns into a taut psychological thriller.
This is actually a paella western, as it a Spanish-American production. The DVD version is strangely censored, with the word "whore" blipped out repeatedly.
Dialogue
"You like girls, Mr. Brown?"
"Wa-well, what do you mean?"
"Well, the way you talk about hunting down Nuñez. You talk about every man you hunt down that way?"
"What way?"
"You know, the way some men talk about the women they've had. You strike me that way about this boy."
Story
This is a western for grown-ups. It's not a shoot-em-up and good and bad are all very relative. The plot is nuanced, the characters are detailed and not stereotypical, and the dialogue is rich and realistic. I cannot understand why this movie is not part of the Western canon. I consider the fact that I have never seen it before to be truly remarkable.
Music
The movie opens with a woman (Janis Ian) playing guitar and singing the theme song. Her playing and singing pop up again from time to time. There is nothing wrong with the music, but it doesn't play much of a role in this movie.
Acting
Leslie Nielsen does a wonderful job playing a dirty, low-down, scum-sucking bastard. It's a reminder of why he got leading man roles long before he turned to comedy. Pernell Roberts reminds me of Henry Fonda in There was a Crooked Man, a tired lawman who has seen too much. He brought major western credentials to the movie, having played Adam Cartwright on Bonanza. There was something about him and his beard that looked awfully familiar. Although I didn't realize it at the time, I was recognizing him from his time as the title character on Trapper John M.D. Julián Mateos is more than passable and Sue Lyon looks and acts like Lindsey Lohan, minus the stints in rehab. Ironically, much like Lohan, Lyon ruined her career through a series of bad decisions.
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