MovieChat Forums > Warlock (1959) Discussion > Similar to 2008's Appaloosa

Similar to 2008's Appaloosa

posted 11 years ago by scheelj1
3 replies | jump to latest

There’s a reason Henry Fonda wasn’t in many westerns. He never made a great cowboy, and this is no exception. This isn’t a bad movie, it just isn’t a great action movie. It’s basically the “Law and Order” of westerns. The setting is pretty similar to the more recent “Appaloosa,” only this town’s called “Warlock.” But it’s another example of a movie that may have had too many famous actors in it. This one’s got Anthony Quinn and Richard Widmark as well. It doesn’t work when they’re all competing for screen time. It’s lacking in excitement and action. 2.5 action rating

(actionrating.com)

[–] Bilwick1 11 years ago

"He never made a great cowboy, and this is no exception."

I suppose that since he doesn't play a cowboy in this movie--or in any other movie I know of, with the possible exception of MY DARLING CLEMENTINE (in which Wyatt Earp starts out as a cattleman driving a herd with his brothers, but soon goes back to being a lawman)--you might say that.

[–] sul-4 10 years ago

He's a great cowboy in The Rounders

He's a similar comedic character in Cheyenne Social Club. In more serious cowboy roles there was "Ox Bow Incident". Cowboying is a small part of his total acting work, but he was good at it.

[–] amikelhenry 9 years ago

With all due respect..I just cant grasp what you mean about Henry Fonda not being in many westerns...and not being exceptional in the roles he played..From early roles in Jesse James and The Return of Frank James..to the Ox-Bow Incident and My Darling Clementine..Under-rated films like Fort Apache, The Rounders, My Name is Nobody, Stranger on the Run and The Tin Star..some of my favorite films of this genre, Warlock, Firecreek, Welcome to Hard Times, A Big Hand for the Little Lady and Epic Films like How the West was Won and Once Upon a Time in the West.....Man, that is a body of work that any actor would have a hard time matching..He worked with John Wayne, James Stewart, Glenn Ford, Richard Widmark..Many people consider OUTTITW to be the best western film ever made..where he played the lead and the bad guy to boot.1 of the few actors who could play both roles adeptly..Far from not being a big Western star..i think he is deserving in any conversation to be the best Western star covering 40 years of work..