Goldtransport durch Arizona

This mid '60s western has the look of a mid '50s release. After being sentenced to 20 years hard labor for crimes while riding with the Quantrell's Raiders, a young confederate hero(Audie Murphy)is offered an unconditional pardon if he will help round up the remnants of the notorious gang that is still terrorizing Arizona Territory. The gang has kidnapped an attractive daughter of an Indian Chief. The Chief and some of his braves help Murphy capture and break up the renegade Raiders. With the mission completed, Murphy rides away continuing his new career as an Arizona Ranger.

No real surprises, just feel good cowboy shoot 'em up. And its good to see the Indians team up with the good guys this time out.

Supporting cast includes veteran actor Buster Crabbe along with the attractive Gloria Talbot, "Red" Morgan, Ben Cooper, Michael Dante and Fred Graham.

The Over-Saturation of Movie and TV Westerns in the 1950's caused the Genre to Fade Fast around 1962.

With the Notable Exception of Sergio Leone's Imports the Western became a Box-Office Gamble. So this 1965 Audie Murphy Western was Bucking the Trend.

Not that Critics paid much Attention to Murph beforehand. He was always Overlooked and Ignored during His Career.

So this one was given the Usual Dismissal, came and went Without Fanfare as was Par for the Course for Most of the War Hero's Movies.

But it's an Above Average Western with an Epic Feel some Brutal Action, with Complex Alliances and Characters.

It's also a Treat for Movie Buffs to See Buster Crabbe, Looking Rugged and Fit during the Late Stage of a Long Career in the B's. He Played Flash Gordon, Buck Rogers, and Tarzan.

Gloria Talbot is Good as a Yaqui and Her Tribe's Action weighs in Heavily and Adds some Native American Flavor to the Film.

This one will Not Disappoint Western or Audie Murphy Fans. It is one of His Better 1960's Movies.

Note...Don't let the Tacked-On for TV opening of a dull presentation turn you off. Just wait 7 minutes and it will be gone. Thank Heaven.

Despite an unnecessary prologue in which we are treated to a history of the life and career of William Quantrill, Arizona Raiders concerns us with the efforts of former Quantrill members Audie Murphy and Ben Cooper to capture a large band of former Quantrill men led by Michael Dante and George Keymas who are now operating in Arizona.

The man who captured Murphy and Cooper is Buster Crabbe former Army captain and now in charge of the new Arizona Rangers. He's offering Murphy and Cooper a Dirty Dozen like mission, get them and there will be a pardon awaiting. What Crabbe doesn't know is that Murphy is both one unreconstructed rebel and he's got a younger brother in the Rangers already played by Ray Stricklyn. That fact cuts several ways before the film is over.

Arizona Raiders is a decent enough western. Murphy was still going strong in doing these second feature B films. But it was certainly nothing you couldn't see on television where westerns ruled at that time on the small screen.

Have appreciated Westerns for a long time now, even if the Western genre is not one of my favourite film genres and more a "appreciate rather than love" one. Not just the famous ones of John Wayne, Randolph Scott, Anthony Mann and John Ford, but there are also some worthwhile lesser known modestly budgeted ones. Audie Murphy is not a favourite of mine, but he was amiable enough and it is sad that he died so tragically at the young age he was.

'Arizona Raiders' was one of those films where time spent watching it was not regretted and it is worth a one-time watch. Murphy himself comes over well. There are though far better and more inspired Westerns about, from before and since 'Arizona Raiders', and it on the whole didn't have me jumping out of my chair or have me exclaiming "must see". It looks good and the casting is better than average, but the script and story never quite have the wow factor.

Murphy is an amiable presence and is a long way from charisma-deprived in his role, he may not fit the part of a Western hero physically if we are to stereotype a bit but he is just right dramatically. Have nothing to complain about with the performances overall, with menacing George Keymas giving the other standout turn. 'Arizona Raiders' looks good, a lot of time and care went into the scenery clearly and the photography is both atmospheric and attractive.

The music is not the most memorable there is but it at least fits with the tone of the story, is not at odds with the atmosphere and sounds appealing. Did appreciate that the characters weren't too stereotyped, if not meaty, including portraying characters that can be portrayed stereotypically and negatively with tact. What there is of the action has some excitement and tension.

Which generally in 'Arizona Raiders' come too far and between, for me the story was fairly by the numbers, sometimes dull and could have done with a lot more tension and surprises. The first half an hour agreed is not always easy to sit through, with the film getting off to a weak start. Particularly with agreed an overlong and quite corny opening scene, further ruined by an overused and over-explanatory voice over that for some may not have been needed. The direction is competent but undistinguished.

Furthermore, the character writing generally could have been much meatier. Motivations are either under-explored or don't make sense and in the case of some of the conflict both. Especially between Clint and Brady, which is introduced out of the blue and not really that well developed. Michael Dante does his best as Brady but was not menacing enough, which did dull the conflict. A lot of the writing is silly and indifferent, it could have done with a lot more edge and had a more natural flow. Also felt that this aspect was rather sketchy with not enough fleshed out enough.

Bottom line, alright film but nothing special. 5/10

I saw this recently on cable and, admittedly, I'm a bit biased due to the fact that I have lived in Arizona for 33 years. Looks to me that special attention was paid to the scenery in this film and it's a terrific shoot-em-up. I also applaud the defensive use of cactus in this film, quite painful as I've experienced in person :)

Lots of great action and like a previous poster said, the Indians are on the side of the "good guys" this time out and are not the enemies. Looks like it was a great time while filming!

They've been showing it on cable recently and it's worth your time if you happen to stumble upon it.