Couldn't disagree more with the review/reviewer on the main page. I'm midway through watching this dreck...Lancaster's mexican 'accent' is embarrassing, he looks terrible (what's with the blue eye shadow and mascara?!!! -- is that suppposed to make him look more mexican?) -- and the "action" and "supsense" are almost nil.
What a complete waste of time and talent.
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For the time it was made, it was pretty interesting, but it's hardly awards material. Burt Lancaster was really a stiff actor - a product of his time, he'd never do much today. I'm watching it now on TCM, and it does have elements I like. The relationship between Valdez and the woman is good because they never let it get to love, just respect. Slimy R L Davis is a lot of fun. And I love the ending.
shareYou're all - or mostly - wet your assessment of this film, denbeck. This is a very good film, actually, one of Lancaster's best. Although you are dead on about the accent and the make up of Lancaster, still, to get bogged down into thinking that because of those the film is no good is artistically infantile. Like I say, sure, they should have left out a pound or two of the Maybaline products, and Sherin should have gotten a coach for the accent problem, or dropped it altogether if Burt couldn't pull it off, but beyond that, it was a wonderful film.
www.joekeck.com
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Regarding Burt Lancaster being a stiff actor. Quoting from The New York Times Vincent Canby (part of the film review), "Mr. Lancaster himself is simply beyond criticism, an enduring star whose screen personality—decent, liberal, tough, well-intentioned—provides the shape of the movies that are constructed around him".
I think that Lancaster could have more than held his own against the small handful of decent actors today...
Burt a stiff actor? a lot of those hard men in those days played tough roles
the Duke, clint eastwood, etc.. I mean most actors just play themselves,.
still there are plenty of early stuff from Burt which shows his diversity.
Watch him in The Rainmaker or Elmer Gantry. He is not playing himself.
I keep reading such remarks from what I assume must be young viewers who never got to see actores like Burt Lancaster and others in the wide variety of roles they played in the movies. You might also try The Crimson Pirate or The birdman of Alcatraz. Please, before you judge an actor's ability, see at least 15 of his movies to get the range of those abilities.
And as for stiff, no one can beat Christian Bale or Keanu Reeves.
My husband who was born and partially raised in Mexico thinks Valdez is Coming is one of the best westerns ever made and it is his favorite movie. He doesn't mind the blue eyes because green eyes run in his family and he doesn't object to the accent either. All of his older brothers and sisters speak with accents - if they speak English at all. He does know what an autentic Mexican accent sounds like. Even if his accent isn't perfect, my husband loves to see that old Mexican man beat the sh!t out of that arrogant gringo's army, especially since my husband is now an old Mexican himself.:~)
Sometimes being a bitch is the only thing a woman has to hold onto.
In the novelization of the screenplay also by Leonard, romance blooms between Valdez and the woman.
shareI don't think this was a particularly good role for Lancaster, but one adjective I would never use to describe him is stiff. Generally, he was quite flamboyant in his portayals. Witness larger-than-life roles like Elmer Gantry, J.J. Hunsecker in Sweet Smell of Success, or Starbuck in The Rainmaker.Everyone's entitled to an opinion so if you want to knock Burt Lancaster call him a ham, but stiff he was not.
shareCould not disagree more, its not the makeup that makes the story interesting, its the story, the dialog that tells the story, and the way the dialog is delivered, the acting. An example: The Pawnbroker with Rod Steiger, one of the worst makeup jobs in history, that skull cap looks atrocious, but is it a good movie, yes it is, why, becaus of the story, the dialog and the acting. Is it the greatest western made, no. Is it interesting and worth a watch every year or so, I do and enjoy it each time. JMHO.
Anyone notice the mexican rider/tracker in Valdez, same guy as the tracker in Chato's Land. Both made in Spain, so not really spaghetti westerns, more a chorizo westerns.
His accent was good enough. Maybe Meryl Streep can be brought in to re-dub the accent...
shareHe sounded French.
I had a hard time watching this because of it, waaay too distracting.
I remember seeing this thing when it was first shown and thinking, what a stink bomb. It is bad, and he was a stiff actor. Always seemed to be trying to make some flaming liberal point in most of his films, but this thing is so bad that even "his message" is garbled. Probably better that it is. From what I've read about this guy, he was full of crap. Took himself way too seriously. Should've taken a few acting classes while he was at it.
shareCan we compare his body of work with yours? Or is it as shallow as your analysis of the film?
My ignore list is much too long for a sig line.
I First saw this Movie in Army Basic Training at Fort Polk, Louisiana in 1973. Everyone in the Place Loved this Movie. The One Man Tactics against a Numerically Superior Force were outstanding. Burt Lancaster, aside from any accent & makeup carrys it off. It works, for Me & a lot of people. If You don't like it then there's no way for Me to convince You otherwise. But this one is on My Top 100 Westerns to See. Not to mention I've always been a fan of Burt Lancaster, one of the Studio Actors with Classic Training. He was an Actor & Knew His Craft. The Scene I like the Most is when He's picking them off at Long Range with The Sharps Buffalo Gun from the top of the Mountain. They can't see where the Fire is coming from so they ride in all directions to try & escape. The Army Cheered when He used the Ladder Sight! Snipers & Expert Marksmen do know their Trade! Those Shots are possible with the technology He was using!
shareI don't think his accent is that bad.
the accent is suppose to be Mexican American in those times. it's not an EAST LA accent like today..
he is not suppose to be a MExican straight from Mexico .
LOL @ the OP. One of the truly great westerns, very under rated.
The thorn defends the rose, yet it is peaceful and does not seek conflict.
I saw this, during its original run---& loved it. I loved the drama & the 'one man against an army' aspect--as described. I loved the examination of racism. I loved Segundo's obvious distaste for Tanner & growing respect for Valdez.
Lancaster was, and is, one of my favorite actor's.
Beyond all that---it's Elmore Leonard's story--as are 'Hombre', '3:10 to Yuma', '52 Pick-up', 'Out of Sight', 'Jackie Brown' (Rum Punch) & 'Get Shorty'.
Not to mention---'Justified'.
Carpe Noctem!
I just watched it for my first time, never got around to it for some reason, I thought it was a good western revenge movie. I will definitely watch it again.
shareAs an ex-military member, I really have to give praise the tactics and harps rifle scenes in this movie.
Also, I really liked the horsemanship and stunts in this movie.
The horse stunt sequence at the end of the film took my breath away. I really would have liked to have seem them setting up and filming the stunts. As for the bay that Lancaster was riding for the final fall, did it break its neck? I really felt sorry for that horse.
The short horse chase in the canyon was well done. After Valdez fired at the horseman coming head on, the horse, seemed to be expecting a fall, twisted and rolled on its rider. As the horse went over the rider and righted itself, the look on its face seemed to say, “Rider, I got you first!” Afterwards I reached for my ribs, wondering if any of mine were broken. That was a great ride.