Duello a S. Antonio

"San Antonio", directed by David Butler must have been a vehicle for the handsome, and debonair Errol Flynn, who could do nothing wrong during that period of his career. Warner Bros. went all out to make this film that has a little bit of everything to please the fans of the Western genre.

The surprise of the film was Alexis Smith, who was at the height of her beauty at the time. She makes a wonderful Jeanne Starr, an entertainer, who is the center of attraction among the men one sees in the film. Not only was she a gorgeous woman who blended well with her screen partners, in this case with Mr. Flynn.

The supporting cast does good work under Mr. Butler's direction. The adorable S. Z. Sakall is wonderful as the conductor of the orchestra in the saloon where Jeanne plays. Also, Glorence Bates, an accomplished character actress appears as Jeanne's maid, Henrietta. Also in heavier roles Victor Francen and Paul Kelly do wonders with their evil roles.

"San Antonio" has kept its wonderful colors. Max Steiner's musical score also helps the action.

San Antonio is directed by David Butler and written by Alan Le May and W. R. Burnett. It stars Errol Flynn, Alexis Smith, Paul Kelly, S.Z. Sakall, Florence Bates and Victor Francen. Music is by Max Steiner and cinematography by Bert Glennon.

It's always interesting to compare Errol Flynn's Westerns, his work in a genre he was not overly fond of. Depending on your Western genre proclivities of course, there's a mix of the old fashioned type, where Errol flirts and is heroic, or the more serious ones where his heroism is underplayed. San Antonio is the former.

Plot has Flynn as Clay Hardin, who is the man who can prove that town impresario Roy Stuart (Kelly) is the man responsible for the rampant cattle rustling going on in the state. There's agendas gnawing away in the plot, romantic dalliances that bring the delightful Alexis Smith into prominence, and of course there's frothy comedy light relief - the proviso here is if Sakall and Bates' thing doesn't irritate you?

Flynn is ace, athletic with a handsomeness that's rarely been bettered in Hollywood, to which here he's on lovable rascal form, playing off of Smith with appealing skill. Smith is a strong foil for her leading man, holding her end up in both stern characteristics and comedy angles. While it's always great to find Kelly in a villain role, here getting his teeth into it for much viewing reward.

Unfortunately this really could have done with a better director, the blend of drama and comedy seemingly uneasy in Butler's hands. The big denouement between hero and villain is a damp squib, which is a shame as we are in the ruins of The Alamo, a poignant piece of architecture that positively demands a more extended and vigorous finale. Elsewhere, Glennon's photography is pleasing if lacking in exterior splendours, and Steiner's score will sound familiar to anyone already familiar with his work.

Gloriously pretty, vibrant and colourful, it's well weighted with good production values and a solid cast, but as fun as it is it does lack some urgency ingredients to be great. 7/10

After a layoff of four years from the American west, Errol Flynn returns to the western genre in a stylish film about post Civil War Texas and a man looking for some justice for himself and his fellow cattle ranchers. Errol's been in exile in Mexico, but he's back now with the evidence against cattle rustling Paul Kelly who is the local boss of the San Antonio area.

Flynn makes it to San Antonio and in the process hooks up with entertainer Alexis Smith and her two retainers Florence Bates and S.Z. Sakall, a pair of the biggest scene stealers that the movies ever had. Smith is appearing at Kelly's saloon there, courtesy of his partner Victor Francen for whom she worked back in New Orleans. Francen's an ambitious sort and wants to cash in Kelly's other businesses besides the saloon. So we've got two villains working their own agendas at cross purposes whom Flynn has to deal with.

Errol Flynn did a total of eight westerns, but only San Antonio got any kind of recognition from the Academy. San Antonio was nominated for two Oscars, for Art&Set Decoration for a color film and for Best Song with Some Sunday Morning which Alexis Smith sings in a saloon scene. The song is a good one, Dick Haymes had a record of it that sold quite a bit back in the day.

All the cast had to keep on their toes with both Florence Bates and S.Z. Sakall in the cast. Especially 'Cuddles' Sakall. Part of the plot involves Sakall witnessing the murder of Flynn's friend and ally John Litel and being intimidated by the bad guys. With his eye rolling and fractured English, Sakall is at his best in San Antonio.

For the traditional western fan there's enough gunplay and fights to satisfy anyone. Flynn has a nice triangular shootout with both Kelly and Francen at the Alamo ruins, each man trying to get the other two for their own reasons. I say ruins because the chapel had not been restored yet as a historical monument as it is now in downtown San Antonio.

As for the film, San Antonio is a most satisfying western for both fans of the genre and Errol Flynn.

Good and handsome Western , though trite script , it stars an excellent Errol Flynn , about usual conflict about cattlemen . Set in a post-US/Mexico war San Antonio de Bejar location from the freeway in which takes place a strong confrontation among leaders of the cattlemen . Here Hardin (Errol Flynn) is opposed by a local rancher as well as rich cattleman , Stuart (Paul Kelly) . While other cattle barons attempt to keep their cows from nubbing away at the far grass . Now Hardin as a tough person trying to calm the conflict between cattlemen and homesteaders . Gorgeous dance hall performer Jeanne Starr (Alexis Smith) along with her manager (S.Z. Sakall) arrive in San Antonio under contract to play at a Saloon as a singer for Stuart (Paul Kelly) and Legare (Victor Francen) but she is clearly smitten with the good-looking Hardin . When the army is called away , Hardin and his followers are left on their own to defend themselves . Meanwhile , Hardin has taken one of Stuart's tally books that clearly proves he was selling cattle that didn't belong to him .Strong Men . . . Brave Men . . . Real Americans - and their Women! Adventure of the Century ¡ America's most glorious adventure ¡

It deals with the classic cattlemen feud and it gets Western action , shootouts , a love story , street showdown gunfight and being quite entertaining . There is a love story when Flynn falls for an explosive girl working in a dance hall who turns out to be a domineering woman turning over a new leaf on meeting the good guy . This relationship between Hardin/Flynn and Jeanne Starr/Alexis Smith turns out to be very enjoyable romance and she quickly decides that Hardin has a much better name than other suitors but keeps them apart , then the violent conflicts emerge . It's a medium budget film with nice actors , technicians , production values and pleasing results . Including a breathtaking battle beween Errol and villain Kelly at the finish . The film is totally set in San Antonio territory , there took place The Alamo Battle , it was the first of the major territories in Mexico frontier , it was a booming depot , including cattle drives and shipping some Longhorns and meat markets . With the numerous presence of homesteaders the towns prospered , stabilized and grew , its lawabiding citizens decided to discourage the troublesome cattle trade with his transient cowboys and early requested the cattlemen to drive their herds elsewhere . Well played by Errol Flynn who starred various ¨Sword and Swagger¨ films and was superstar of Warner Brothers swashbucklers . Errol is still nearly at his most agile and deft style . This was Flynn attempting to pick up where he left off in 1941 when a series of war films succeeded the superbly organized Westerns and swashbucklers that made him his name . Errol Flynn was 40 when he made this movie , but his wild lifestyle had diminished his health and made him less able to perform his own stunts, as he had in earlier films . Previously , Flynn made his best swashbucklers and played successes as ¨Captain Blood¨ , ¨Adventures of Robin Hood¨, ¨The prince and the pauper¨ , ¨Sea Hawk¨, ¨The private lives of Elizabeth and Essex¨ , ¨Gentleman Jim¨ . Flynn also performed some Westerns as ¨Dodge City¨, ¨Virginia City¨, ¨Santa Fe Trail¨, ¨They died with their boots on¨, ¨San Antonio¨, ¨Silver River¨. And wartime movies as ¨Objective Burma¨, ¨Norhern pursuit¨, ¨Dive Bomber¨ , ¨Edge of darkness¨ , ¨Desperate journey¨. Flynn's subsequent vehicles at Warner Bros confirmed the beginning of his decline . Nonetheless , the hand of filmmaker Michael Curtiz who made almost all Errol's best films before their wrangling grew too much for either man to take , is sorely missed .Flynn is well accompanied by a good support cast , such as : Paul Kelly , Victor Francen , Florence Bates , Monte Blue , Robert Barrat , Pedro De Cordoba , Tom Tyler and special mention for the always likeable S.Z. Sakall .

It contains a glowing good Technicolor cinematography from two magnificent directors of photography : Bert Glennon and William V. Skall . It packs a thrilling and moving musical score by two greatest composers Max Steiner and Erich Wolfgang Korngold , the latter uncredited . The motion picture was directed in sure visual eye and with action enough . The yarn well produced by Robert Buckner/Jack L. Warner was professionally directed by David Butler . David was a craftsman who directed several Westerns . He was a good craftsman who directed all kinds of genres with special penchant for comedy , musical and drama . As he directed : April in Paris , Tea for two , Playmates , Doubting Thomas , Caught in the draft , The story of Seabiscuit , Lullaby in Broadway , The princess and the pirate , Captain January , The road to Morocco , and Westerns as : San Antonio and his greatest hit : Calamity Jane .

Clay Hardin (Errol Flynn) is returning to . . . Where else? San Antonio! And he has evidence to convict a crooked cattle boss. But will he live to present it to the cavalry?

Flynn, a Texan by way of Tasmania, does nothing to disguise his accent. Who cares? We paid to see Flynn, not some actor.

Typical western tropes are on display: a saloon, for instance, large enough to hold a political convention.

S. Z. Sakall rides along for comic relief. It would be nice to see a few of Flynn's old companions, but alas. Doodles Weaver, however, pops up as a dance caller.

By 1945 Flynn is no longer young. He fought a hard war on the Warner soundstages. But the old Flynn charm is turned up full-force against saloon singer Alexis Smith, a strange-looking actress but hardly repellant.

On the good side we see a genuine rarity, a cow poke with a parrot (used for one joke). Then there's the lovely standard "One Sunday Morning."

And we get a glimpse or two of the Alamo. In 1945, after a hard-fought war against Hitler and his ilk, when so many Americans had loved ones buried abroad in the fight for worldwide freedom (including brothers of both my grandmother and grandfather), such reminders of American bravery and independence were heartening. And Flynn's character exemplified the ongoing American defiance to all little Hitlers.

"San Antonio" is not on anyone's list of the greatest movies ever made. But it's no disappointment for Flynn fans.