Joe Kidd (1972)

Save your money for something good and enjoyable

A Brilliant Conflict

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Dear John Sturges,you had Elmore Leonard writing your movie. Lalo Schifrin scoring it. Clint, Duvall and Saxon facing off against each other. Yet you still managed to make an average film.I don't know what went on behind the scenes. Leonard did come up with some great dialogs especially at the beginning. The film was off to a great start with Eastwood running circles around the judge, mouthing some tongue in cheek responses to his questions. And then Duvall and his gang make a great entry at the train station, decked up in suits. But it sort of fell apart after that. Some of the plot resolutions were quite uninteresting. The ending was nonsensical.Lalo Schifrin's tense electronica tinged main theme was unlike anything composed for a Western. But its variations used over the rest of the film were quite tuneless. The title sequence was also quite unimaginative.Clint had some great scenes but his character was quite badly etched. I mean, he is introduced as a hard drinking ruffian. But he soon turns into an upholder of the law. I guess you selected John Saxon to play the Mexican revolutionary after watching him in The Appaloosa. He was damn good in that one.The film looks great on blu ray. And it does get over pretty soon. But so much more could have been done with it.Best Regards, Pimpin.(6/10)

Joe Kidd is probably the least of Clint's westerns. That does not mean it is bad, it just is not exceptional. Joe Kidd does have a lot going for it though with Clint Eastwood, a good score, good support cast and tight direction by John Sturges. The film looks sharp in Technicolor and the locations/sets look great as well. Clint is Joe Kidd, a former bounty hunter caught in a range war in New Mexico. Robert Duvall is a solid antagonist and John Saxon appears against wealthy land owner Duvall. Clint, of course is great and delivers his usual uber macho performance as he drops many suckas. Of all of Clint's westerns, Joe Kidd is probably the least essential. It still is a solid production and a very entertaining western that should be good enough to please Clint's fans and fans of the genre.

Perhaps it's expectations regarding the talent assembled here that make one feel somewhat underwhelmed: the screenplay is by Elmore Leonard, the direction by John Sturges, and genre veteran Clint Eastwood is the star. Ultimately, the story never really catches fire, and there's not much in the film that's memorable - save for one amusing bit of business with a train. Overall, "Joe Kidd" lacks distinction, which is too bad. Eastwood is a typically low key and efficient hero, and he's backed up by a strong supporting cast. The film has the look of quality, with lovely scenery, sets & photography. Fans of the genre will find that this kills an hour and a half fairly easily.Clint plays the title role, a former bounty hunter who's sprung from jail by a ruthless land baron, Frank Harlan (Robert Duvall). Harlan wants a man eliminated: Mexican revolutionary Luis Chama (John Saxon), who wants to dispute land ownership. Joe reluctantly saddles up with Harlans' associates, only to have a change of heart when he sees how cold blooded they are. He and Chama reach an understanding and begin to do battle with Harlan and company.Duvall is a worthy antagonist, and he does a nice job of underplaying his role. Saxon has a commanding presence, and Stella Garcia is delightful as the feisty Helen Sanchez. Don Stroud, James Wainwright, and Paul Koslo are all great fun as Harlans' goons, especially Stroud as he gets increasingly flustered. It's also nice to see other familiar faces such as Gregory Walcott as the sheriff, Dick Van Patten as the hotel manager, Joaquin Martinez as Manolo, and Ron Soble as Ramon.Bruce Surtees's cinematography is noteworthy, and Lalo Schifrin contributes an excellent score.While this doesn't measure up to classic Clint Westerns, it's still reasonably engaging.Seven out of 10.

Joe Kidd (Clint Eastwood) is an ex-bounty hunter and a malcontent. There is a land dispute between small Mexican landowners and the powerful Frank Harlan (Robert Duvall). When the court denies the Mexicans, their leader Luis Chama (John Saxon) and his group take to arms. Joe Kidd kills one of his men. Initially Joe Kidd has nothing against the outlaws and refuses to join the hunt for Luis Chama. But when Chama attacked Joe's friends, Joe Kidd joins the cruel Frank Harlan.This is a slow moving movie at times punctuated by lots of shooting. The editing needs to be much tighter. The worst thing is the muddy morality of Joe Kidd. Frank Harlan is undoubtedly evil and yet he helps him. The blood feud with Luis Chama is more a misunderstanding started by Joe Kidd himself. After all, Joe drew the first blood. But Chama isn't an angel either. The whole thing is a mess that you'd rather walk away from.