Il grande gaucho

Gorgeous location photography of Argentina and the subtle, lyrical direction of Jacques Tourneur are the main reasons for watching this story of a gaucho who becomes first outlaw and then revolutionary, in an attempt to preserve his way of life from encroaching foreign influences and money. The acting is somewhat uneven - Calhoun and especially Tierney are somewhat miscast, though Richard Boone and others in smaller roles come off as more authentic.

A different kind of western, on Argentine's Pampas, an ill-tempered Gaucho Martin (Rory Calhoun) killed on a knife's fight a man who insulted is "brother" (Hugh Marlowe) his was sentenced to serve the Army, there he meets a tough Major Salinas (Pat Boone) the clash between them is matter of time, due the nature of both, he deserts and becomes an outlaw as Valverde, he gathered a bunch of all sort of the men, including his former inmates at prison, meanwhile he falling in love by the beauty Teresa (Gene Tierney), Major Salinas wounded on right hand was a crippled on fight on Martin's escape pursued him on the edge of the Pampas, however the sudden pregnancy of Teresa will change their destiny, it seems odd at first look, therefore has something magic on this unusual western, mainly by the priceless direction of the master Jacques Tourneur and the beautiful Argentine's landscape, compelling story with religious oriented!!!

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First watch: 2019 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 7.5

Exotic Technicolor western from 20th Century Fox and director Jacques Tourneur. In 1875 Argentina, the old ways of the pampas-roaming gauchos are being pushed aside for the more "civilized" ways of the city-dwellers and the European immigrants. Fiercely proud gaucho Martin (Rory Calhoun) reunites with his adoptive brother Don Miguel (Hugh Marlowe), only for Martin to learn that Miguel has adopted the modern ways. After a deadly knife fight, Martin is sentenced to army duty rather than imprisonment, putting him at the mercy of cruel Major Salinas (Richard Boone). Martin bristles under the yoke of conscription and soon goes AWOL into the wilderness, where he rescues damsel in distress Teresa (Gene Tierney). Romance blooms, but dangers lurk ever closer. Also featuring Everett Sloane, Enrique Chaico, Jorge Villoldo, Ronald Dumas, and Claudio Torres.

The excellent color cinematography and location shooting help elevate this above its occasionally uninspired screenplay. Leads Calhoun and Tierney, late replacements for Tyrone Power and Jean Peters, both look great. I watched this for Tierney, and while her role is on the small side, she handles it well. I usually like Richard Boone in everything I see him in, and this is no exception, bringing nuance to what could have been a one-note villain part.

Tyrone Power was probably right to bow out of doing Way Of A Gaucho. This would have been a great part for him ten years earlier, but by 1952 Power was 38 years old would not have been all that convincing any more as one wild and woolly gaucho who prizes freedom above all things.

So 30 year old Rory Calhoun got the part and he looked even younger than that. Calhoun plays a young man who was taken in by a large estancia owner and raised as a stepson along with his real son Hugh Marlowe. The film opens with Marlowe returning from getting a European education in Spain and Marlowe has adopted European ways.

Civilization is coming to the Pampas, a fact that a lot of the gauchos resent, none more so than Calhoun. When he kills a man in a brawl, he's arrested, but Marlowe goes to bat for him and he gets army service with Richard Boone trying to make a soldier out of him. Naturally Calhoun doesn't take to that kind of discipline and he deserts and becomes the notorious bandit leader Valverde. Along the way he meets Gene Tierney and the two of them get something going.

20th Century Fox starting in the early Forties did a whole slew of films with a Latin American setting, the idea being to promote a Good Neighbor policy with Latin American countries who all declared war on the Axis powers after December 7. In fact Argentina was the only country not to declare war, at least until 1945. Because of that the Juan Peron government had few post war friends outside of Franco's Spain.

So with that in mind they no doubt welcomed 20th Century Fox to do a film with a real Latin American location. The cinematography of the Pampas is first rate and the American players who also included Everett Sloane as Calhoun's sidekick blend nicely in with the Argentine cast. The first lady of Argentina Eva Peron who was a film star before she married Juan took a personal interest in this project even though she was dying during the shooting of Way Of A Gaucho.

For its exotic location and good performances Way Of A Gaucho is definitely worth your time for a look.

"Way of a Gaucho" is basically an American style western movie...but set in the pampas of Argentina. And, surprisingly, the studio chose to actually film it there on location. As a result, the scenery is lovely and shows up well in glorious Technicolor.

Rory Calhoun plays Martin, a gaucho who is intensely proud. This pride leads to his downfall, as he gets into a fight and he ends up killing a man. As a result, he's given a choice....join the army or get punished like any killer would be punished. However, Martin is undisciplined and soon he ends up running away and spends much of the rest of the film as a bandit with his own gang of gauchos. Is there ANY chance at redemption for this man? And, what about his lovely wife (Gene Tierney)?

This film is very talky and a bit slow in spite of the plot. Additionally, you have no idea WHO is the bad guy and who is good. It's never clear why the bandits fight with the army. Is the army corrupt or abusing its power? After all, the film seems to imply the soldiers are somehow bad. Regardless, it's an okay movie with lovely scenery....and isn't a bad time-passer. I must warn you, however, the ending is a bit vague and wasn't entirely satisfying.