A Bela e o Renegado

Even though it's not great, Quinn's performance is memorable and he really looks - and plays - the part.

I'm also intrigued by a couple of brief scenes in this film - a wide shot of a cavalry fort and the shot of mounted troopers riding out look awfully like they came from "She Wore A Yellow Ribbon". Did John Ford help the producers fill a couple of small gaps?

Howard Keel looked much more at home in "Pagan Love Song".

Robert Taylor looks like he wore his "Billy the Kid" duds again.

It's difficult to find a good, crisp copy of the film, but worth the effort.

Maybe even better than John Wayne's HONDO, at least for my taste. And Anthony Quinn has a role, a character very close to the one he will have in LAST GUN FROM GUN HILL or WARLOCK, the hero's "best friend" against whom he will have to fight in the end. And remember the late Tony Quinn's film REVENGE, from director Tony Scott, still the same kind of character place in the story. I don't mean his characters look the same, but only I think that Quinn always plays the same kind of roles. He was not the only one though. Many actors were like him, always the same position in a scheme. And Robert Taylor is so ambivalent, ambiguous, as an Audie Murphy at his best, or Brian Keith in SIERRA BARON. He and Ava Gardner are absolutely awesome.

If shoot 'em up westerns are to your taste, this is probably not your cup of tea.

The theme of Civilization vs. Barbarism is nicely explored in this very unusual western. The dialog is light years beyond the dialog in most westerns. Specifically, Rio's dialog is some of the best ever written for any character in any film of this genre. Whoever wrote it must have been bi-lingual. From his syntax, it is clear Rio speaks English as his second language. It is as if he is speaking Anglicized Spanish proverbs half of the time. Very Spanish.

The gay subtext is unmistakable in the scenes between Rio and Esqueda, yet it is fairly subtle. Rio's beautiful horse and its livery, and his attire all summon up images of early cinematic western heroes. Rio looks like the Cisco Kid's dark alter- ego!

It is difficult to accept Cameron's faith that Rio is honorable enough not to kill him once he turns his back. This issue really has two aspects: One is the credibility of Cameron's trust; the second is Rio's actual trustworthiness. Today we find it difficult to believe BOTH that Cameron would be so trusting of Rio and that Rio actually would turn out to be trustworthy. Our credulity is again stretched by Cameron's entrusting Rio with his ranch and wife.

But Cameron is a newcomer to the territory, and he values Rio's savvy - about horses, ranch hands and probably survival! Cameron tells Rio that he wants him to help acquire horses for the ranch. Later Cameron's wife asks Rio about the sudden abundance of ranch hands which Cameron wasn't able to hire on his own. These things validate Cameron's motive, implausible as it may seem. I just accept that Cameron is pretty desperate and that he is a good judge of character.

Regarding Rio: There was a time when a man felt like he owed his life to someone who had saved (or spared) it. Perhaps most men still lived by that code of honor at the time the movie is set. Or perhaps this was preserved longer in Hispanic culture - Rio's culture. Or perhaps Rio is simply a throw-back in his adherence to such a code. Anyway, the issue did not ruin the movie for me.

Delia seems particularly naive (or stupid) for getting Rio to take her to plead Cameron's case with Esqueda.

Despite these weaknesses, I enjoyed the film. It never really made me feel excitement, but it generated palpable tension among several characters. However, its uniqueness and dialog were what kept me interested throughout. I found Rio to be one of the most fascinating characters in this entire genre. One of my favorite scenes is when Esqueda is kicked back in his chair in the saloon with his filthy, bare feet thrust toward the camera. Nope, not your typical western!

While Western is not my favourite genre, it is a genre much appreciated by me and there are quite a number of classics in it. A big reason for seeing 'Ride Vaquero!' to me was the cast, most playing in very atypical roles apart from perhaps Anthony Quinn. Howard Keel's role being especially against type, being a rare non-singing role (have always loved his voice on a brief side note) and it sounded interesting as to whether Robert Taylor would fare well, did have my doubts, in one of his darkest roles.

'Ride Vaquero!' had a lot of well done elements and a lot to recommend. It is worth watching for any fans of Westerns and ones not very well known, also worth watching if you want to see something different from those starring John Wayne and those directed by John Ford and Howard Hawks for example. 'Ride Vaquero!' for me is not really a must recommend and is more a mild recommendation and a little above mixed bag level out of curiosity.

There are a lot of good things here, good things so more than good that it seems unfair and not plausible to rate the film below mixed bag level. A good starting point would be Robert Sutee's cinematography, which is pretty gorgeous. Sweeping and atmospheric. Another big plus is Bonislau Kaper's (another main interest point, have always liked him a lot as a composer) music score, that adds a lot to the atmosphere and rouses and moves in distinctive Kaper style.

On the whole, the cast were pretty good. Quinn comes off best, the role suits him really well (had no doubt that it would though) and he is deliciously unhinged. Keel is very charismatic and has a good deal of intensity. Ava Gardner is as lovely as ever. John Farrow's direction is accomplished enough and is above the material, he does direct the more action-oriented scenes thrillingly. Especially at the end.

However, 'Ride Vaquero' could have been better. Its main problem is the script, which came over as bland and underdeveloped and the dialogue could be stilted. The story was at times routine and could have done with more tension and tautness, some parts don't make much sense either or suspend disbelief (others have cited the biggest culprits).

Character motivations could have been a lot less vague, as you are left in the dark as to how some characters come to what they do and why they did it and it doesn't ring true as a result. Am not sure whether this is going to be a popular opinion, but Taylor didn't work for me in his role. Personally found him too sullen and stiff, and the role required a lot more dark intensity and charisma than what Taylor gave.

In summation, worth a look but only as a mild recommendation. 6/10

Two outlaws , Rio (Robert Taylor) and Esqueda (Anthony Quinn) , raised together as step-brothers , are reluctant adversaries in this fiery Western . Esqueda's mother raised Rio as her own , but this mutual fraternity will be modified in arriving a strange couple whose vision from law and justice differs quite from them . As the brothers will have a showdown when Rio defends an untameable owner (Howard Keel) and his wife (Ava Gradner) . Each owed the other their circumstances but is now the moment of reckoning . Then , there happens a real battle of wits among two siblings .

The movie gets Western action , shootouts , a love story , thrills , an impressive town raid and results to be quite entertaining . It's an enough budget film with good actors , technicians , production values and pleasing results . This is a trigger-taut drama of the strangest brotherhood and facing off between the West's most upright man and his deadliest half-brother . Their brotherhood and friendship to break up when both of whom confront over the issue of whether to evict new settlers from their territory . The picture is a tale of justice , redemption and about a particular relationship between two brothers and a brave as well as pacific marriage . The basic plot is typical classic Western fare , but what makes this movie stand out is its style . The movie displays crossfire , love and hatred , fighting , round-up and exciting duels . It is plenty of violence and contains effective action sequences such as the ending when the cutthroats get together themselves and going through spectacular landscapes and go on riding until the trilling attack on the small town raid . The rousing climax as Taylor fights to make justice at the saloon , is justly exciting . Anthony Quinn is good as brutal bandit , he is excellent though sometimes overacting , his character bears remarkable resemblance to subsequent Spaghetti villains , as killing relentlessly enemies in cold blood . Robert Taylor gives a sober and sad acting as the good brother . And Ava Gardner is gorgeous , and wonderful , as usual . Support cast is frankly nice , such as : Kurt Kasznar , Ted de Corsia , Frank McGrath, Rex Lease , Monte Blue and the regular Jack Elam .

Blazingly shot in Angiocolor by prestigious director of photography Robert Surtees . Moving and appropriate musical score by Bronislau Kaper . The motion picture was professionally directed by John Farrow in steamroller style . Here filmmaker John Farrow delivers a decently-paced film , though it has a few flaws and gaps . Farrow was a good craftsman who directed all kinds of genres , such as Drama : ¨Unholy wife¨ ; Historical : ¨John Paul Jones¨ ; Adventures : ¨Wake island¨ , ¨The years before the mast¨ , ¨Botany Bay¨ , ¨Back from eternity¨ ; Wartime : ¨Commandos strike at dawn¨ , ¨Sea Chase¨; Crime drama : ¨The big clock¨, ¨His kind of woman¨ , ¨The Saint strikes back : Criminal court¨ ; and Western : ¨A bullet is waiting¨, ¨Hondo¨, ¨Copper Canyon ¨and this ¨Ride vaquero¨ also titled ¨Una Vida Por Otra¨ or ¨Viva vaqueros¨ . Rating 6.5/10 .