Io sono Valdez

Screen legend Burt Lancaster plays Bob Valdez, an ageing Mexican-American lawman who is called upon to assist in the apprehension of a supposed murderer. The resulting confrontation was instigated by thoroughly nasty land baron Frank Tanner (Jon Cypher), who turns out to be a very bad guy indeed. The murder suspect ends up dead, and Valdez believes that his Indian wife should be compensated. So he goes to Tanner to appeal to him to pony up half of the needed dough ($100) but Tanner and his men laugh at Valdez and humiliate him instead, tying him to a cross. After Valdez is freed, he's ripe for revenge, abducting Tanners' woman Gay Erin (Susan Clark) as he gets ready for a final showdown.

While this entertaining Western does ultimately turn rather conventional, it's still an interesting and thoughtful look at bigotry in the Old West. Based on the novel by Elmore Leonard, and scripted by Roland Kibbee and David Rayfiel, it combines some complex character relationships and details with a tried and true revenge story. Lancaster hand picked Edwin Sherin to direct the feature, based on Sherins' success guiding "The Great White Hope" on Broadway, and Sherin proves up to the task of working in this genre. He gets solid performances out of a well chosen cast, and gives certain scenes just the right amount of tension. Lancaster is quietly authoritative and appealing as Valdez, and Cypher is just right as his snake-mean adversary. The latter gets an "introducing" credit here, as do the late, great actors Richard Jordan, as the cowardly R.L. Davis, and Barton Heyman, as Tanners' main henchman El Segundo. There's also a brief scene for the always excellent Hector Elizondo. Filmed on location in Spain, this features the expected dazzling scenery as well as a stirring - and sparingly used - music score by Charles Gross. But what folks may not expect is that ending. Sherin, Lancaster, and company definitely deserve some credit for doing such a thing.

If you're a Western fan, and always like discovering overlooked pictures, give this one a shot.

Seven out of 10.

I've watched this film over and over. There is perfection in it's brevity, assuredness in performance, outrageous make up, good costumes, peculiarly effective non-classical western camera-work and Burt! Perhaps one day I will write that piece on Burt's political stance demonstrated in his movies, but for now will add my name to the list of Valdez supporters. I particularly admire the taut structure and tone, the minimal but highly emotional exchanges between the players and the curious fact that none of the Mexicans are played by - Mexicans. I do not agree with the associations made by some commentators about the Leone connection. This film came from a completely different camp. This is Lancaster territory not Leone's. I would love to talk to Edwin Sherin about this film or any of the surviving cast and crew. Any offers?

A former Apache hunter, who has lost his taste for violence, becomes embroiled in a running duel across a scorched, rugged terrain with a gang of gunrunners...all over a lousy 100 bucks...and honor...and a woman. This film reminded me somewhat of Charles Bronson's first big box office hit, "Chato's Land". The band of thugs, unlike the group chasing Chato, were up to the job of killing Valdez, but found their quarry to be more elusive than they had bargained for. Very good western, right up there with Lancaster's film of the same year, "Lawman". I still can't feature Burt as a Mexican, though.

Valdez is Coming is a companion piece to Martin Ritt's HOMBRE. Both stories center on a single man's moral code, as does MR. Majestyk with Charles Bronson. Filled with incredible dialogue and a trailer that cried out,"Tell Frank Tanner, Tell El Segundo and the sixteen others, Valdez Is Coming.Valdez, a good old man tries to ask Frank Tanner for some money to support a widow that was married to a mullato Tanner forced Valdez to kill. Not only doesn't Tanner give the widow and money, after a second attempt of restitution Tanner throws Valdez to his men who tie him to a cross and leave him in the desert to die. A slimey Richard Jordon releases him and 'Bob' Valdez puts his old military uniform on and with his scatter gun and 'indian fightin' ways Valdez proceeds to kill all the men who don't recognize his code of honor, meanwhile stealing and wooing Tanner's woman. An absolute classic of the spaghetti western genre carried to a higher realm by Leonard's script and Lancaster's subtle acting.

The film concerns about the upright Bob Valdez(Burt Lancaster),an older Mexican-American constable,he accidentally murders someone accused by Tanner(Jon Cypher) of being a killer of the husband from his lover(Susan Clark).Then Valdez asks Tanner one hundred dollars for his spouse,it ignites the violence ,passions and ultimately deadly taking on with the local landowner baron and his henchmen(Hector Helizondo,Richard Jordan).A respectable Valdez recovers his uniform and weapons his days in the US cavalry and he goes killing one by one enemies.He's only helped by an old Mexican(Frank Silvera).

This Western revenge flick is plenty of violence,shoot outs and packs lots of action and excellent performances.Features a sensational acting by Burt Lancaster as an old but honorable gunslinger looking for justice. Appear famous secondaries with future and wide career as Hector Helizondo(Pretty woman,Turbulence,Princess diaries)embodies one of the underlings sent back by Tanner for killing him,besides Susan Clark(Showdown,Murder by Decree,Colossus),Frank Silvera((Killer's kid,Viva Zapata) and the early deceased Richard Jordan.The picture is based on Elmore Leonard novel, a prestigious writer with numerous scripts and books adapted to the cinema as Western(3.10 to Yuma,Tall T,Hombre,Joe Kidd)as another genres(Big bounce,Mr Majestic,Jackie Brown,Get Shorty).The motion picture is professionally directed by Edwin Sherin,posteriorly become in director of television(Law and order).The film was shot in Almeria(Spain)where were filmed by the hundred Spaghetti Western.