Santee

I spoke to Ed Platt in early 1974, not long before his death. If he was troubled by the financial failure of "Santee," he didn't show it; he was warm and unpretentious. We had a common interest in video production, which probably helped him open up. In any event, I didn't see "Santee" for more than 35 years; I must say, Ed's innovative use of video to film hurt the movie; and, as a relatively novice producer, Ed should have played it safe and stayed with film. The interior shots appear horribly lit, and the initial scenes are cluttered and almost tedious. However, after Glenn Ford shows up, the movie loosens up, and we get a pretty well written, expertly acted movie. The casting, particularly of Ford, Michael Burns, Harry Townes and Jay Silverheels is especially inspired. Dana Wynter seems an odd choice, especially since the reddish lighting makes her look Native American, and she can't completely disguise her British accent. However, Wynter's chemistry with Ford and Burns is downright terrific, and she dominates every scene.

"Santee" needs more fleshing out, and the money spent on the flashback could have been been spent building Ford's relationship with Burns. The ending comes too soon and too abruptly. Nonetheless, "Santee" is one of Ford's better westerns, certainly better than "A Time for Killing," "Day of the Evil Gun" and "The Last Challenge." As Ford's last starring western it is a flawed, if fitting tribute to one of the great cowboy actors.

I give "Santee" a "6".

This unknown movie Western deals with a relentlessly obstinate bounty-hunter named Santee (Glenn Ford). He's the best tracker in the west, but sometimes justice can be hard to find . As the bounty hunter takes in the son of a man he killed . Santee develops a paternal relationship with the son named Jody (Michael Burns) of a man (Robert J. Wilke) he killed . Santee takes him for his ranch named Three Arrows where live his wife (Dana Wynter) and his Indian foreman (Jay Silverheels). Santee and his wife take Jody in and a father-son relationship begins to grow . But bandits led by a nasty villain named Banner (John Larch) arrive in the little town killing and robbing bank , then Santee helped by Jody take the law on their own hands .

This average Western contains action , drama , shootouts , riding pursuits and an enjoyable father and adopted son relationship with tragedy included . Fine acting by veteran Glenn Ford supported by attractive Dana Wynter and a newcomer Michael Burns . Good support cast such as Robert J Wilke , Robert Donner , John Larch and Tonto's Jay Silverheels . Colorful cinematography with glamorous landscapes by cameraman Donald Morgan . Catching musical score with agreeable song at the beginning and the ending . Spectacular final gunplay plenty of shooting and death with dramatic final . The motion picture was middlingly directed by Gary Nelson . He's an usual TV director as episodes (Disneyland) as long time television movies (Murder in Coweta County , his best film) and occasionally cinema director (Allan Quatermain in the lost city of gold) ; his most known and successful film was 'The black hole' .

The best features of this film are the scenery and Jay Silverheels in a part where he can show some emotions, compared with his stonefaced Tonto. In fact it's Ford who is bland for much of the film, despite the tragic loss of his son which is meant to have shaped his character; only in the very last scene does he convey real emotion - without saying a word.

The plot is unconvincing several times over. At the beginning one would have thought four tough guys could have stood and fought rather than flee from Santee, renowned bounty-hunter he may be. After a brief wish for revenge, the orphaned Jody seems to too readily accept Santee as a surrogate father, and in the version of the film I saw I never noticed any evidence that he had become a gunman competent enough to accompany Santee against six more tough guys.

A disappointment.

Santee is directed by Gary Nelson and written by Brand Bell. It stars Glenn Ford, Michael Burns, Dana Wynter and Jay Silverheels. Music is scored by Don Rand and photography is by Donald Morgan. Plot finds Ford as seasoned bounty hunter Santee, who after killing the outlaw father of young Jody Deaks (Burns), takes him under his wing at his Three Arrows Ranch. With both of them nursing loses in their lives, they both come to be great for each other, but just as harmony is abundant at the ranch, news comes that the outlaw gang responsible for Santee's pain is back in town.

No country for empty pockets and a flat stomach.

Primarily shot on location in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Santee is notable for a couple of things. Firstly it was the last time that Western legend Ford would play a lead role in the genre, secondly is that it was filmed on video tape. Some debate exists as to if it was the first film to be shot that way, but certainly the research suggests it was definitely the first Western. Santee is a strange film in many ways, for sure as a film it's not a great lead role send off for Ford, but he is actually very good in it. The story is a good one from Bell, full of emotional worth and maintaining interest throughout, while there's plenty of action and blood shed within the plot. The dialogue, too, often has some intelligence about it. But it's so poorly put together it becomes a frustrating watching experience.

The video tape filming doesn't work, the colour is often dull and the night interiors are lifeless. While a couple of close ups appear to suddenly become pan and scan! Other problem comes with there being no truly great villain to underpin the destinies of Santee and Jody Deaks. The Banner (John Larch) gang exist, get a couple of small scenes, but that's about it until the bloody finale. The cast around Ford are OK, Wynter doesn't quite look right for a ranch gal lover, but makes a mark as a loyal wife and surrogate mother. Burns has the youthful naivety just right, but isn't helped by the screenplay having him become a killing man too quickly, and Silverheels turns in a good one as the wise ranch hand at Three Arrows. The film is very 70s in look and feel, something that can take you out of the period setting, more so with Rand's foot tapping music accompaniment. Bonus, though, on the music front, is the feature song in the picture, "Jody," that is song by Paul Revere and The Raiders, it's a beautiful ballad and carries with it the requisite emotional heft.

An enjoyable Western with one or two tricks up its sleeve, but the problems are evident and stop it from being a must see for anyone other than Western and Glenn Ford purists. 6/10

A bounty hunter (Glenn Ford) takes in the son (Michael Burns) of a man he killed.

I have never been a huge fan of the western genre. Some are incredible, but most seem to be rather blah. One could say that about any genre, I suppose. I mean, heck, I love horror and I would be the first to admit that most of it is garbage. But it is garbage that still generally entertains me. The western, for the most part, is not something I understand.

This one is alright. Adopting a kid (who is really more of a young adult) in the west is a good story, and Glenn Ford is a decent actor. As far as the genre goes, this is very much middle ground.