Macho Callahan

One of the darker examples within the American Western canon, MACHO stars David Janssen as a half White, half Mexican drifter gulled into enlisting with the Confederate States Army in 1863 by a con man (Lee J. Cobb) and subsequently sentenced for desertion to a year's solitary confinement in a Texas stockade. Ticketed for a substantial budget, the film lost some funding but endures as an example of a work influenced by Sergio Leone and other directors of "Spaghetti Westerns", most apposite in the opening scenes depicting an attempted widescale breakout from the wretched stockade by largely hapless prisoners. Shot in northern Mexico's Guadiana Valley, the work chronicles Macho's eventual escape and reunion with his former partner in crime Juan (Pedro Armendariz, Jr.), his killing of a Confederate officer, and the pursuit of the outlaw pair by those hoping to benefit from a cash reward tendered by the slain officer's widow (Jean Seberg). The lowered budget proves not to be a major burden, although there are some embarrassments, notably a poorly edited scene wherein a charging black bear is obviously a man in an ursine costume, but very fine contributions from Gerry Fisher behind the camera and Ted Marshall's production and set designing more than balance the scales. A lack of continuity results from confusing moments when motivation for actions seems to be lacking, but here also strong performances from most of the cast offset this to a large extent, and director Bernard Kowalski properly focusses upon the relationship between the characters portrayed by Janssen and Seberg. A self-consciously moody affair, MACHO profits from ambiguity of motive in the performances of Janssen, Seberg, Almendariz and Bo Hopkins, with the efforts of all involved combining to create what well may be an anti-feminist classic, and one largely devoid of symbolic trappings.

This is defiitely a pure western from the seventies: gloomy, disenchanted, and also an excellent vehicle for David Janssen. You have obviously the Spaghetti western influence but who cares? THE WILD BUNCH had it too. Bernie Kowalski gives here one of his best films for me, with also STILETTO made one year earlier. Most of today's audiences won't like this kind of film. Yes a pure product of the early seventies, enjoy or leave.

Another "spaghetti" style Western, a victim of its time.

It's pretty much just routine formula Hollywood. "Spaghetti" was actually just the same Hollywood formula and set of clichés set to extremes.

There are many problems with such movies, and this movie is a prime example. We never care about any of the multitude of dull "demi god" characters thrown at us. They're so self righteous and unmotivated in their "demi god" status that they just bore us.

Don't bother trying to watch it in one sitting. It isn't possible, unless you are one of the "Beavis and Butthead" types. It's too ordinary, too Hollywood, too much into its own relentless hate and boredom.

We can't relate to any of this, and only the most hate filled Beavis and Butthead bubble boys can't feel the deliberate alienation. Mature people, educated people, people who aren't crack heads, all of these are totally alienated by the writing here, and that's because of the stereotypical characters that are impossible to relate to.

It's like watching demi gods decide to make the world into crap, for no reason.

And what in the world was Lee J Cobb thinking, being a part of this garbage?

Dirty Western concerns about Macho Callahan (David Janssen) , he is a Confederate inmate in horrible concentration camp called Hooks during American Civil War , 1864 . Macho organizes a mutiny and gets the getaway . As Macho reunites with his old colleague and sets out to murder the person who was responsible for his being in the hard camp . After that , Callahan arrives a town , when in a discussion he murders a man (David Carradine) over a bottle of champagne , the man's wife (Jean Seberg) seeks vendetta . Meanwhile Macho accompanied by his partner (Pedro Armendariz Jr) looks for the man (Lee J. Cobb) who deceived him for killing . Later on , they are pursued by a posse (James Booth , Bo Hopkins and several others) .

This gritty Western produced by Joseph E. Levine contains thrills , action , violence and some blood and gore . The POWs breakout at the beginning result to be the best scenes , they're spectacular and impressively filmed . Offbeat point of view of West , but dialog and situations are bit believable and badly paced with some flaws and gaps . Good main cast as David Janssen plays a soldier hardened by his confinement and enjoyable Jean Seberg who is miscast as spouse seeking revenge against man killed his husband who turns out to be Callahan . As with many of his co-stars throughout his career, Jean Seberg enjoyed working with David Janssen , she said in her book that he had proved very fun company . Prestigious supporting cast though wasted , such as Lee J Cobb, David Carradine , James Booth , Bo Hopkins, and Richard Anderson as Confederate officer , among others . Furthermore, it appears very secondary Diane Ladd as a prostitute , Matt Clark as a Confederate torturer , Anne Revere , James Gammon and the Mexican Hugo Stiglitz . It packs atmospheric musical score by Patrick Williams and mediocre cinematography by Gerry Fisher , as it's really necessary an urgent remastering because of the copy is worn-out . Shot in Durango and the Mexican state of Morelos had a major power outage during the filming of this movie . The motion picture was middling directed by Bernard L. Kowalski . He's an usual director of numerous television episodes from the 60s until nowadays and occasionally filmmaker for cinema as ¨SSsss¨, ¨Stiletto¨ and his biggest hit ¨Krakatoa : East of Java¨. The picture is only for Jean Seberg fans . Rating : 4.5/10 , average.

This is a story of someone who struggles with his behavior. Haven't seen it in a while but i REMEMBER now! The dude lives a misunderstood situation throughout and does a bunch of ignorent stuff to people. Mostly just points a shotgun at people and doesnt talk. It actually turned into a bit of a half loaded romance. Face off with the 2 snakes on either side of him was probably the best part. Guy did the splits and each snake took a boot to the face.