Clearly, actors in talking pictures can't reveal character very well without dialog. Terrific write-up, and Im happy to see that you enjoyed Valdez as any red-blooded reader properly should. I used to think Kennedy came up with that line, and several other gems from the same film, but it turns out they were all from an Elmore Leonard short story called "The Captives," which Leonard sold to Argosy magazine for a hundred bucks in 1955, and which was eventually turned into this 1957 film. Selbst der Protagonist kann einen irgendwie nicht so richtig mitreien, was fr mich auch die grte Schwche des Films ist. Tanner and his men ride up. Still Frank will continue to underestimate Valdez who knows the entire country all too well. The town turns him down; too much money. Adapted from the famous novel by Elmore Leonard. Valdez asks Tanner for monetary help for the man's wife, but he is ridiculed and almost killed by Tanner's henchmen. You're almost there! and the Valdez is Coming? This western surpasses most if not all of the spaghetti's. Hombre? Valdez is told that a murdering black army deserter has holed up in a . What you say about True Grit seems right to me: it makes the moves but the tone is different. Cast & Crew Read More Edwin Sherin Director Burt Lancaster [Bob] Valdez Susan Clark Gay Erin Frank Silvera Diego [Luz] Jon Cypher Frank Tanner Coming Soon. And I think there's nothing more important in writing than getting it right, the way people sound. Valdez Is Coming boldly recreates America's western frontier, a place where life was sometimes cheap. When he heals from his wounds after returning home, he heavily arms himself and irrationally and stubbornly goes after Tanner for the compensation. Thank you very much for the response! ", The film was filmed in southern Spain in locales used by Italian filmmaker Sergio Leone in his European "spaghetti" Westerns. His lumbering presence, dead pan line delivery, and domineering stature all speak to a type of man that doesnt exist in movies much. Tap "Sign me up" below to receive our weekly newsletter Your email address will not be published. Terms and Policies once again hollyWOKE forces its politics into the story. Letterboxd Limited. No, it ends just like that. Of course, when he tries to do the honorable thing, he is treacherously dealt with, which leads to one of the most entertaining and compelling westerns ever filmed. Screen legend Burt Lancaster plays Bob Valdez, an ageing Mexican-American lawman who is called upon to assist in the apprehension of a supposed murderer. Now he has two hostages. Davis), Barton Heyman (El Segundo), Juanita Penaloza (Apache Woman), Werner Hassleman (Sheriff); Runtime: 90; MPAA Rating: PG-13; producer: Ira Steiner; MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc.; 1971). Hot off of reading the Elmore Leonard novel last night, I decided to give the film adaptation a watch since it's still fresh in my memory. Valdez recovers and summons up his days in the U.S. Cavalry in order to fight them. At the climax however I was left feeling a little let down. Valdez is freed by one of Tanner's henchmen (Richard Jordan) and, after convalescing, begins waging a one-man war against Tanner, picking off his men with his trusty Sharps rifle. and reveals that the cut on the left wrist of Valdez concealed under his glove came when his knife slipped as he cut the ropes off. Valdez is Coming is a strange Western with a simple enough premise taken to the extreme. I cut you loose!" Comments that contribute civilly and constructively to discussion of the topics raised on this blog, from any point of view, are welcome. I suppose you could argue that it leaves a dangling ending - what happens to Tanner, etc - but the main conflict is over. Fast & Furious 9 ending spoilers follow. Coming Soon. When Sergio Leone's Fistful of Dollars was released, with its uncompromisingly vivid characterizations, sparse, almost symbolic backdrops, and evocative, minimalist scores, the Western was changed forever. His side was hanging open and draining his life as he looked at the sky. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of serviceapply. All Albuquerque's Billy Ray Valdez knows is that, since then, he's wanted to be a professional MMA fighter. When challenged to get the first $100.00 from Mr. Tanner (Jon Cypher) the rich landowner, the task become an impossible quest as Tanner has no intention of giving Valdez anything, but contempt, torture and pain. Still Valdez has a problem when RL tells Frank of Bob's friend's helping him and this act of betrayal proves once and for all that RL is a greedy lowlife simply desiring to be one of the guys. Although the Title, in 2016, could be a Warning coming out of a Donald Trump Rally, in 1971 it was from the Pen of Elmore Leonard's Social Consciousness along with Soul Traveler and Actor Burt Lancaster. Learn how your comment data is processed. I still can't feature Burt as a Mexican, though. Old Mexican-American sheriff Bob Valdez has always been a haven of sanity in a land of madmen when it came to defending law and order. Director Edwin Sherin, working from an engrossing script by Roland Kibbee and David Rayfiel, brings a plausibly gritty aesthetic as well as a provocative moral complexity to this simple, yet strong and compelling tale of justice, principle, and revenge. By the end of the novel Valdez has killed over a dozen men, but even though by then things are more complicated than they seemed at first, theres no doubt that hes in the right, that we are rooting for him as he picks them off one by one in defense of himself but also of the code he cant quite articulate but follows without equivocation. The resulting confrontation was instigated by thoroughly nasty land baron Frank Tanner (Jon Cypher), who turns out to be a very bad guy indeed. Exciting formulaic revenge Western (made in Spain) as directed by Edwin Sherin (helmed The Great White Hope on Broadway) in his debut feature film that is adapted from a novel by Elmore Leonard. To ease that sorrow, I'm going to read and re-read some of his books and stories. For some reason, friends that are fans of both Burt Lancaster and/or westerns have not seen this movie. By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Great unexpected ending! In such knowledge also lies one source of possible identification; they should probably be proportional to the revenge being taken. Instead, a Regiment would have been commanded by a Colonel. Letterboxd is an independent service created by a small team, and we rely mostly on the support of our members to maintain our site and apps. Valdez shoots one of Tanners men and sends him back with a message. (765) 6.7 1 h 30 min 1971 PG-13. This is true: just a few weeks back, I happened to pick up another novel from Elmore Leonard called 'Valdez is coming'. We want to hear what you have to say but need to verify your account. Valdez demands $100 compensation from Tanner to pay the expenses for the wrongfully accused Negros pregnant Apache widow and the sheriff promises his boys will kick in a matching $100 if Tanner pays. I can only think of The Count of Monte Cristo as an example of its use in 19th century literature. Valdez Is Coming (1971) PG-13 | 90 min | Action, Western | 9 April 1971 (USA) A Mexican-American sheriff must resort to violence against a powerful rancher in order to get just compensation for the pregnant Indian widow of a wrongly killed black man. You wanna go check it out? He dons his old cavalry uniform and sends Tanner a message via one of the rancher's wounded men (Hctor Elizondo): "Valdez is coming.". I think the essential climax of the revenge plot is the moment of recognition of the avenger: the guilty one realizes both that he (all examples that come to mind have guilty males, though the avenger is sometimes a woman) is doomed and at whose hands the doom has come. Lancaster is a favorite of mine. Still, Icant imagine reading a lot of books like this not in a row, certainly. Posters are sourced from TMDb and Posteritati, and appear for you and visitors to your profile and content, depending on settings. This is a great movie, one that deserves watching by anyone interested in the Western, and any Elmore Leonard fan. Davis finds him and cuts the ropes, freeing the unconscious man. 'Valdez' is such an unusual Western and only someone of Lancaster's pedigree could have played the part of Bob Valdez and do it justice. 2) The Interest Of Love Episode 16 Recap, Review & Ending Explained. This is a very well respected movie and was directed with a deft touch by Edwin Sherrin. Valdez, while holed up in the mountain, kills eleven of Tanners hired gunslingers, and in the end faces Tanner down still demanding compensation as the remaining gunslingers refuse anymore to obey Tanners orders. Its fascinating to see the different implications of ending the story at two different points and to wonder whether Valdezs revenge is, in fact, inevitable just from that original act of violence. Valdez Is Coming features a grim, unadorned romanticism. This scene is missing in the UK version, you see them riding towards each other and suddenly they are down on the ground, rising up. He crotch filled the center of the frame. Ive never been able to read Leonards crime fiction, but Ive not tried his westerns. Show All, 91mins Then why does each ignore the warnings when they arise before hand? By creating an account, you agree to the The closest I came was meeting the writers of the show, two of whom were coincidentally named (Taylor) Elmore and Leonard (Chang). This western is gritty, tough, bloody, and believable. At the summary states, this film truly made an unusual casting decision by casting Burt Lancaster as a Hispanic man. He gives new meaning to the word authentic. Even if his books look calm as Sunday on the outside, inside they're wild as mountain scenery. Drama A Mexican-American lawman seeks revenge against a rancher who tricked him into shooting an innocent man and then left him in the desert to die alone. Frankenstein. He orders ranch hand El Segundo (Barton Heyman) and his men to tie Valdez to a heavy wooden cross and drive him into the desert. I pray that very few readers identify at any level with the narrator of The Cask of Amontillado.. While the monster is portrayed sympathetically at times, I think his murders of the innocent put him beyond most readers willingness to identify and confirm his status as the fiend that Frankenstein terms him. with updates on movies, TV shows, Rotten Tomatoes podcast and more. All right, you pay for the man and you get your woman.. But it is also a great credit to Leonard's own clarity of intent as a writer. Valdez Is Coming is a 1971 American Western film directed by Edwin Sherin and starring Burt Lancaster, Susan Clark, Richard Jordan and Jon Cypher. Valdez sneaks into the compound and, during the ensuing gun battle and his escape, kidnaps Tanner's woman, Gay Erin (Susan Clark), for whose favors it is rumored that Tanner had her husband killed. Dialog that tells one story with words while telling a correlative story with the sounds of those words is rare and precious. Leonard's characters talk the way real cowboys and ranchers and trainmen and schoolmarms would talk if they were poets. Ranked 52nd of 72 movies on our UMR Burt Lancaster Movie Ranking Page. In Frankenstein, though the monster aims his vengeance at Frankenstein, he does it by the murder of innocents. Copyright 2023 - Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews. ", Another Memorable Elmore Leonard Western Adaptation, Often Overlooked Modern Western and Burt Lancaster Film. The woman doesnt have a man, so she needs money. May 19It might have been the 2007 fight between Georges St-Pierre and Matt Serra, won by Serra in a monumental upset, that lit the fire. Directed by Edwin Sherin. "I had me a quiet woman once. With all the computer generated garbage being put in theaters today, it's good to be able to turn on the western channel and see some real acting again. Other examples would be Paul Newman as "Hombre" (1967) and Chuck Connors as "Geronimo" (1962). It has great action, good acting, a superb plot, and a satisfying ending. A Mexican-American sheriff (Burt Lancaster) must resort to violence against a powerful rancher (Frank Tanner, played by Jon Cypher) in order to get just compensation for the pregnant Indian A Mexican-American sheriff (Burt Lancaster) must resort to violence against a powerful rancher (Frank Tanner, played by Jon Cypher) in order to get just compensation for the pregnant Indian widow of a wrongly killed black man. 1971 The proclamation, "Valdez is coming," is the beginning of the end for a cold-hearted American gunrunner who crosses the line when he humiliates a Mexican-American lawman (Burt Lancaster) in this raging action western. He should have remembered the way the man got up with the cross on his back and was kicked down and got up again and walked away. The desert-like terrain of this isolated region of Spain resembles the U.S. southwest and parts of Sonora, Mexico, though the vegetation is not the same. Adapted from an Elmore Leonard novel (as was Martin Ritt's Hombre - a superior western with some similar themes). It is also stylish: the prose is terse, repetitive, and epigrammatic in ways that reminded me of hard-boiled detective fiction which makes sense, of course, as the two genres are closely related. Today, many guitarists sound something like Jimi Hendrix, possibly without even being aware of it. He would say to Tanner, You see how it is? Now I know. The movie Valdez Is Coming In 1971, Burt Lancaster starred in the Edwin Sherin-directed western Valdez Is Coming. Valdez tries to negotiate a peaceful settlement, as the hunted man says hes innocent. was Bob Valdez's reply when he was asked when he used to hunt and shoot down Indians to eradicate them from rangeland. This is an insult to Frank who is a racist pig who loathes the sight of "greaser" Valdez. Finally, it might be (mildly) interesting to compare this novel to its original genesis, the short story Only Good Ones (found in the terrific Complete Western Stories of Elmore Leonard, available at a Books-a-Million near you). 7) The Whale Ending Explained. Ive suppressed the plot of Wuthering Heights and havent yet read Collins, but I did consider and reject the other two. 5) 10 Movies Like Knock at the Cabin. The only one he shows mercy to is Davis, after the gunman screams, "I cut you loose! The conclusion amounts to something of a letdown, but everything up till then is pretty good. I don't get the impression that Leonard had a lot of hard bark on him. That Leonard grew up in Detroit and not Santa Fe or Laramie or Yuma is a bit disconcerting, because it seems impossible that he could write so well of those people without having been one of them his whole life. I havent read the Leonard novel, but Zachs comments reinforce the impression I got from your description that, while an idea of justice may be the initial motivation, the plot eventually turns into a story of revenge. I havent seen a Western section in a new-book bookstore for some time, though they do occasionally show up in used book stores and sales. An angry Valdez has had enough, and is prompted to dust off his old army uniform, take up his musty Buffalo Rifle,his battered Shotgun and his haggard Winchester and raise Cain on Tanner and his men. Talk softly and carry a big gun -- a really big gun! Might have been better with a more experienced director. It isnt the language that made me think it could be considered more pulpy than True Grit more that it seems more unabashedly thrilling, if that makes sense. The money is to go to the black man's pregnant Apache woman. Report this film, smh another WOKE western. The murder suspect ends up dead, and Valdez believes that his Indian wife should be compensated. Auch das Schauspiel ist eben nur solide, die wahren Schauwerte liegen definitiv in den Schusswechseln. Burt Lancaster is terrific in this well directed movie.Even with his pale blue eyes, he comes across as a believable character of the results a mixed relationship. Gen. Crook and Staff 7th Cavalry Troop A. Apache Territory 8 May 1883. It takes a minute or so to realize that this is stand-off with a man sealed inside a log cabin. Filmed in parts of southern Spain previously utilized by Sergio Leone, this is not a spaghetti western. What was wonderful was how well these writers captured the essence of Elmore Leonard: the clarity, the boiled-down-to-its-primary-ingredient precision, the humor to be found in the worst possible circumstances, the ability to flip a familiar phrase around to make it new and better. These plans failed to materialize when Lancaster got involved in the 1970 movie Airport. "Within the first half-hour of the movie, Bob Valdez (Lancaster) is humiliated, called a greaser, shot at and mock-crucified, all because he wants to raise $200 from the white men responsible (along with himself) for the killing of a black freed-man, a murder-suspect later known to have been innocent. Playing Valdez's friend is Diego, (Frank Silvera), in addition there's Tanner's wife, Gay Erin (Susan Clark) who is taken hostage, but ends up anything but. So when I became, for a time, part of the cast of "Justified," the FX TV series based on Leonard's work, I hoped that I would actually get to say some real Leonard dialog. Largely seen as a revisionist western, it's actually fairly traditional for the most part until an ending that was so surprisingly low-key I thought the last couple of minutes had been cut off.. Burt Lancaster plays a Mexican in this one. Valdez is freed by one of Tanner's henchmen (Richard Jordan) and, after convalescing, begins waging a one-man war against Tanner, picking off his men with his trusty Sharps rifle. The grandeur of revenge might as well be the title of a doctoral dissertation on Western fiction, and maybe on the works of Elmore Leonard in particular. That being said, Lancaster is the best part of this western. I am not 100% sure revenge accurately sums up what he wants, though: that sounds petty, but what he wants seems almost grand. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Like many film fans I suspect, I didn't realise just how many of Elmore Leonard's novels and short stories had been adapted for the screen. But the whole definition of pulp remains a problem that isnt going to get solved in the context of my class, thats for sure, since (as previously noted) the official description simply conflates pulp and genre fiction. His adventures are solitary statements. Unsatisfying, for sure, if what you want or expect is closure. No, it ends just like that. Cinemark He said to himself, What are you doing here alone? At first, this made me groan, but after a short time I realized that he did a pretty good job with the accent and there are many light-skinned Mexicans, so it wasn't too hard to believe this. Like he said at the ending of Get Shorty "Endings are hard.". Please click the link below to receive your verification email. By the end of the novel, he can barely even recall the ostensible motivation for his actions, let alone care about her welfare. This 10-digit number is your confirmation number. Leonard's splendid way of inventing odd turns of phrase and similes and making them sound as though there were no possible better way to describe something made him, in my opinion, one of the great wordsmiths of the past century. He had no feeling in his left side, from his chest into his legs. Learn more. Townsmen and friends alike, know little of him or his background, until an uneventful day when a rich and powerful land Baron, incites all to chase and corner an ex-army soldier because he "looks familiar." Gay's lover is Frank Tanner(Jon Cypher), the leader of a band of cutthroats who lead the crusade to take out the black man who was mistaken for being the one who killed Gay's husband. Its been a while since I read Auster, but I dont think his books constitute satisfying detective stories. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, or Moment of Vengeance, another Leonard story from that plump Complete Western collection). I mean, isnt this exactly the sort of situation that Steve Donoghue is *here* for? The text on the photograph states it is of "Brig. If his dialog isn't the way real Westerners talk, it ought to be. If you are a Burt Lancaster fan, this is one of his last kick ass westerns. Be the first to contribute! To ensure that Tanner will pay he takes as hostage his trophy girlfriend, the beautiful Gay Erin (Susan Clark), the widow of the aforementioned dead man that sparked the ongoing tragedy. If you use material from this blog, please give proper credit to the author. I like this idea about the similarity between detective fiction and western fiction. A rebel explosion hurls the train off its track, killing Helen and compelling John to take his own life in the. And then he thought, You should know when youre going to die. What ensues is a noble saga worthy of the former Indian scout and tracker. Most actors have to rely on dialog that only reveals plot or consciously explained back-story. He imbues natural dialog with rhythms that aren't found in nature, but which speak louder and more powerfully than nature. I wont spoil the fun by giving away any more details. This is just a crackerjack movie, compelling from start to finish without losing a carefully crafted artistry that any movie lover would appreciate. This is what I get for watching a movie based solely on the poster. The photograph of Valdez with the 7th Cavalry has a several errors. Your Ticket Confirmation # is located under the header in your email that reads "Your Ticket Reservation Details". Privacy Policy Frank Tanner is the perfect villain, and Jon Cypher resembles those old villain with his turfy eyebrows and mustache. In 1883, the 7th was stationed in the northern plains. "It's my life's goal. His history makes him a very dangerous man, although he now only wants to live in peace. Valdez (/ v l d i z, v l d z /; Alutiiq: Suacit) is a city in the Chugach Census Area in the U.S. state of Alaska.According to the 2010 US Census, the population of the city is 3,976, down from 4,036 in 2000. I'm sorry I never got to meet him, to tell him how those lines in "The Tall T" inspired me in my own writing, to tell him how proud I was to be part of a show he was at the heart of. Dont worry, it wont take long. The opening scene begins like a Sunday picnic/Turkey shoot: well-dressed couples in period costumes milling around, young boys plunking away with their new rifles. The men are ordered to shoot, but R.L. By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie. We want to hear what you have to say but need to verify your email. a mexican sheriff versus a racist posse? I also have some hesitations about teaching it: it is full of racial slurs, for one thing, and while I think its pretty clear not just that they are historically and contextually appropriate but also that the novel as a whole rejects the attitudes they express, that does create some pedagogical challenges. It told the story of Valdez, no first name, a Mexican-American who works as the town constable because he's able to get along with everyone and gives the impression that he knows how to take orders.
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