One-Eyed Jacks (1961)

Self-important, over-dramatic, uninspired.

Highly Overrated But Still Good

Clever and entertaining enough to recommend even to members of the 1%

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

The ending leaves me with lots of questions regarding the consequences of Rio's escape. We cut to Rio in the jail cell awaiting execution. Lon is sitting near the cell with a shotgun. Louisa comes to the jail to bring Rio some dinner but Lon objects to this but finally relents when Louisa threatens to tell her father. Suspicious, Lon looks thru the dinner and finds a Derringer hidden in a pot. Seeing this, Louisa runs wildly to Rio's cell screaming that she loves him, in reality, her goal was to give Rio 2 bullets for the Derringer. She ultimarely fails to give Rio the bullets as Lon drags her downstairs and out of the jail. During this time, Rio has managed to get hold of the Derringer that was sitting on a table during Lon's absence. As Lon returns, Rio pulls the empty Derringer explaining that he will shoot Lon if he doesnt open the cell. Rio escapes, Kills Dad Longworth, & rides off telling Louisa that he must leave the area but promisees to return after the baby is born. The flaw is this; Since, Louisa is left behind, wouldn't Lon expose her as an accomplice in Rio's escape and subsequent killing of Doc? How could she defend herself? Especially against the testimony of a bitter & jilted Lon?

Brando's western is a cut above & significantly more thoughtful than a majority of westerns in the same time period as this was made. It's title 'One Eyed Jacks' & reference to it within the film really goes deeper than first interpreted, by this, I mean to say, every character in the film has an agenda & they show only the face they want to show in order to get what they want or to conceal what they need to conceal.This is of course human nature but in the course of this film it really plays out in an interesting & oft tragic manner. This film is really Brando's but Malden is awesome to behold here as his Dad Longworth is one major SOB & he plays it to perfection. Everyone on screen is superb from Ben Johnson to Slim Pickens all the way down, just excellent throughout.Special mention to the soundtrack by Hugo Friedhoff? it is superb! I hope I got his name correct.Not much to fault about this western, it's more psychological than constant action but it builds & has a lot of tension & the action scenes are excellent & well worth the waits; near perfection on every level! Highly recommended!

This movie has it all and then some. One-Eyed Jacks will trick you in a lot of ways as it will come off as a one dimensional western revenge story(which wouldn't have been a bad thing at all) but as the layers keep getting peeled away as the movie progresses, the viewer will find out that there is much more to this movie than meets the eye. It is a story about finding ones self and finding the best, most longing true love one can imagine. The chemistry between Brando and Pina Pellicer is one for the ages. It's as if you're waking up from a dream where you had a great romance and you long to go back to sleep to find that romance again. That's exactly how the longing feels with Brando and Pellicer(especially when Brando is in jail). And that Jail scene where Pellicer is pulled away by the deputy is one of the best scenes I've ever seen, it was so real, passionate, in your face and gritty. Pellicer fights for Brando in all his flaws in that scene. And Brando has a great scene where he's about to blast away Ben Johnson's character as Brando fights for Pellicer's honor. A great character study, a great love story and a great western. Brando and Malden are in top form. After watching this movie I thought I would find Pina Pellicer to have been nominated for at least 2-5 academy awards with winning one or two. I was very sad to learn she died only just a few years after this movie. In some way, I feel Pina Pellicer was the female version of James Dean without the fame. She was a fantastic actress, and what she could have done on the screen, oh what she could have done, she was unbelievable. This is a must see for her and Brando.

I love this movie very much.It doesn't have those clichés of most of the western movies.The momentum is gradually built up.The characters, every one of them, are believable.Marlon Brando's intensity is nuanced. His rendition wins audiences' sympathy.The love story is moving.Many sceneries are very beautiful.It should be called a master piece.I only hope the DVD could have a better quality.Marlon Brando is a national treasure. All his work should be properly preserved for the future generation to appreciate.(I feel bad if Brando's work is not well-preserved because he is such an unusually talented actor.)