The Comancheros (1961)

Disappointment for a huge fan!

Blending excellent reporting and strong storytelling, this is a disturbing film truly stranger than fiction

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

The tone of this movie is interesting -- the stakes are both dramatic and high, but it's balanced with a lot of fun, tongue and cheek dialogue.

. . . throughout THE COMANCHEROS. As part of his Anti-Firearms Crusade, Wayne's Texas Ranger "Captain Jake" spends most of this flick riding around with 72 modern (by 1840s standards) rifles in the false bottom of his covered wagon. (Since guns provide bullies with a false Security Blanket, Jake feels false bottoms are a fitting place in which to shove your guns.) These 72 rifles suffer further outrages at the hands of Ranger Jake. At one point he buries all of them in a grave in the middle of nowhere that looks to be 10 feet deep. After their good long rust, Jake disinters these rifle bones and mutilates all of them by removing their firing pins. A shooting iron disfigured in this fashion is akin to a geezer after prostate removal: women have little to fear from the business end of either one. As THE COMANCHEROS closes, Jake sees that the 72 lethal weapons are put out of their misery through cremation. Obviously, the hard-drinking Jake is telling us that he's no more a fan of the U.S. Constitution's Second Amendment Armory Musket Clause than he would be of The Prohibition Amendment, thinking its silly to have either one of these on our books.

I recently replaced my tired old TV with a hi-definition TV and this was among the first movies I watched and I must say the Duke in hi-definition is awesome. This is a great western with some comedy thrown in to keep it from being too dark. The story focuses on Wayne's character as he brings a wanted fugitive from Louisiana in for justice only to be hit over the head with a shovel and losing the fugitive. Stewart Whitman is the heartthrob in this one with Duke playing more of a fatherly role. Plenty of action and a wonderful soundtrack from Elmer Bernstein leaves nothing to be desired after viewing this film. I've watched this movie too many times to count and can never get enough of it. Word is Michael Curtiz was ill during filming and the Duke took on a lot of the directors duties but refused a co-director credit showing just how honorable the Duke really was. Thanks Duke and company for providing me with many of my favorite films including this one.

This movie starts off with "Paul Regret" (Stuart Whitman) killing a man in a duel in Louisiana. What he doesn't know is that the man he killed is the son of a powerful judge who willingly disregards the honor of a duel and charges him with murder. Having little choice but to flee the state, Paul boards a steamboat to Galveston, Texas. On the way there he meets a mysterious lady by the name of Pilar Graile (Ina Balin) who he falls in love with. However, upon the ship's arrival into port he is arrested by a Texas Ranger by the name of "Jake Cutter" (John Wayne). Although he is intent on taking Paul back to Louisiana for trial, Jake encounters problems with the Comanches and their trading partners, the Comancheros. At any rate, rather than give the entire story away I will just add that this is an old-style Western movie which flourished at drive-in theaters across America during this period. John Wayne gives his usual top-notch performance. Additionally, Stuart Whitman and Lee Marvin (as the Comanchero named "Crow") are also quite good. Unfortunately, the rest of the cast don't necessarily distinguish themselves and the plot at times lacked realism. For example, the marksmanship of the Texas Rangers was too incredible to be believed--especially since their targets were riding at full speed on horseback. But again, this an old-style western which requires a little bit of latitude in that regard. All in all though it was entertaining and definitely worth a look for those who enjoy Westerns.

(6.5/10) I have Mixed feelings about this movie. It had great cinematography but poor period detail. Movie had some great action scenes and humor between Duke and Mon-SEWER, but also wore on when the film got off track such as the brief scene with Wayne's love interest who surprisingly never surfaced again after a small scene developing Wayne's backstory. Lee Marvin had a great cameo but Stuart Whitman and Ina Balin didn't do much to impress me. Well made but nothing too memorable to take away after a viewing. Decent but unspectacular entry in John Wayne and Michael Curtiz's filmographies. Good editing and writing with another amazing Elmer Bernstein score.