El renegado de Arizona

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

His raiders are broken up and Quantrill dies in an army hospital. Audie Murphy is sentenced to death, but the sentence is commuted to 20 years on the recommendation of Buster Crabbe, who led the attack on them. Crabbe winds up leading the Arizona Rangers. There the remnants Quantrill's forces have retreated, to become outlaws. The government can't figure out where they are, where they will strike, but he comes up with a plan: release Murphy, induct him into the Rangers and set him after the bad guys.

Audie Murphy had moved surely into westerns after he became the most decorated American soldier in the Second World War and had prospered. He was getting on in years, and the genre westerns were beginning to disappear. This movie was an attempt by him and director William Witney to produce something epic and mythic. It begins with a recitation of Quantrill's history, and moves in action. There are many nice touches: Murphy's conflicted position, the beautiful Indian girl played by Gloria Talbott, the importance of oaths, the stalwart Crabbe, and the savage Indians who carry their victims away like demons. It's a B western on a grand scale, and Witney was the man who ld bring it off if anyone could. Ford had abandoned the trappings of B productions four decades earlier. Witney had begun in the Bs, the youngest director around when he began, and he had reformed the genre, the fights, the stories, always constrained by short budgets and shooting schedules. Now, with a color camera and three decades of experience, could he save the traditional western?

Alas, no. The western was passing out of the mythscape of the world, gradually being replaced by the new frontier of science fiction. But he makes a good try here, and there are some lovely moments that recall when the west was the endless frontier, before civilization closed in. Now the West was a landscape in which everyone was corrupt, where the good, the bad and the ugly fought endlessly without any sense of right or wrong.

But Witney certainly gives it a shot. There are some lovely moments and good, canny work here. It's just that not enough people cared any more.

A remake of 1951 The Texas Rangers, Arizona Raiders faithfully follows its general plot,however, there's some differences. The conflicted persona of the lead character, as played Audie Murphy, who is asked to choose sides between the rangers and heading over the border, is better played and distinctive. The other characters are finely etched too, such as George Keymas, who plays the outlaw like a maniac. Sure there is that narration in the opening, and the fact Quantrill never travelled to Arizona, but it's not meant to be historically accurate ( which western is?), but it's a rousing, fast-paced western that marries the B-western with the elements that you would find in paella westerns. I.e. a little more blood, the cactus used as torture. There's an air of comic book style going on, especially with the action and the Native Americans fleeting in and carrying away the bad guys like wreaths. The cinematography and location is really eye catching. Buster Crabbe and Ben Cooper adds to the fun. This is a fun and an exciting western that I first saw on UK Television ( channel 4)in 1991 and i was really looking forward to watch it. I was corresponding with western writer J.T Edson, who based his character Dusty Fog on Audie, at the time, and he was looking forward in watching it, too

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.

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.