O Filho do Pistoleiro

I watched the trailer for this film and figured it would be good, and it is. I'd set my timer to tape it during the night. I should tell you that this is the first western film I ever reviewed.

The film starts when a local sheriff and his men are on the trail of an outlaw known as Ketchum, who has busted a few coharts out of prison. They soon encountered a 19-year-old named Johnny, who is pursuing Ketchum for personal reasons. Suddenly, Ketchum's men ambushed them, prompting Johnny to quickly pursue Ketchum after the skirmish. Johnny stumbled and then found several Mexican cattle farmers under attack by banditos. Johnny came to the aid of the ranch owner, Pedro Fortuna, and received thanks, but one of Ketchum's men (I think) soon shot Johnny in the arm. Fortuna and his men led Johnny back to their hacienda so that the residents, including Fortuna's daughter, Pilar, could treat him. That is all I could tell you, guys. You'll have to see the film to find out how it ends.

Overall, this is one of my favorite westerns, loaded with action and a little humor.

Along the Mexican-American border, outlaws rob a bank then attack a stagecoach and find themselves defeated with the help of an ace gunman who seems to be looking for the group leader. After being injured in a shoot-out with bandidos, the young man continues his quest, aided by the Mexican rancher the bandits were trying to rob.

Russ Tamblyn, who bears a slight resemblance to Audie Murphy, switches from dancing to shootin' in this action-packed western that has great cinematography, stunning Spanish rugged locations and an engaging plot. In a change of pace, Tamblyn plays a gunman called Johnny. He is the traditional, clean cut American hero, and during the shoot-outs he is always trying to save anyone who is injured or dying, which is a far cry from the Spaghetti westerns. Son of a Gunfighter is an American western at heart, with US-Spanish productions. It's not violent, but lively and has well-staged action sequences, some nice romance and a good twist at the end.

Produced near the tail-end of the western cycle, this is a handsomely photographed movie that -- in its many outdoor scenes -- makes good use of the wide-screen process. It also has a rousing musical score, though at times this score drifts too far into modern territory. However, the movie's weakened by the miscasting of its two top-billed actors. Russ Tamblyn simply isn't "tough" and "hard" enough for the kind of character he's asked to play, (such was also the case with Bobby Darin in "Gunfight at Abilene"), and Irish-born Kieron Moore can't seem to find the right accent for the half-Texan, half-Mexican character he's asked to play. (On the other hand, Fernando Rey is just right as a wealthy landowner.) What's more, there seem to be too many plot elements squeezed into this script. You have Tamblyn and his outlaw father, you have a Mexican bandit, you have Fernando Rey and his daughter, you have Tamblyn and the daughter, you have the bandit versus Rey, you have the bandit versus the outlaw father, you have ... Well, this is one of those movies in which it's hard to determine the key relationship, the key conflict. Something leaner and less cluttered would have been preferable.

A small point of interest: a bare-chested Kieron Moore winds up being staked out in the desert, spreadeagle style, and left to die. This time, though, a strip of wet rawhide is tied around his neck. As the rawhide shrinks in the hot sun, it will slowly strangle him. A similar fate befell another Moore in the movies. In "Gold of the Seven Saints," Roger Moore was also staked out, but in that case the wet rawhide strips were tied around his chest. Kieron was about 40 years old at this time and he still looks in good shape, physique wise, but one wonders: why was it necessary for the bad guys to remove his shirt in order to tie that rawhide strip around their victim's neck?

I switched on today before coming to work and saw the listed film 'Son of a Gunfighter' - never heard of the actors involved but stuck around to watch the adventure roll out. Bit of a giveaway film title though as it becomes apparent during the telling as to who is who and who is going to kill who. There could have been more chemistry in the blooming romance between Johnny and Pilar. But the music was really surprising - shades of the Rawhide them and when the action built up, so did the music. But what became of the bad guy laid out in stakes under the hot sun with a wet hide tied round his neck - i assume he met an inevitable agonising death as the hide dried and choked him quite slowly and painfully. Scenery was great and is the first time I have seen Maria Granada - quite a honey. For a movie now well over 40 years old, I found it quite entertaining genre wise.

Now this was a movie that looked promising, but it didn't deliver. It is very handsome in its look though, the sets, scenery, costumes and photography still look absolutely beautiful, the score is suitably rousing and fitting, I loved the film's idea and out of the supporting Fernando Rey is by far the most consistent. However, the film is too short and I think rushed too. The idea of the story is great, but it is lacking in emotion and at the end of the day it is the case of too much going on. The dialogue can be silly too, the direction is ambitious but it tries too hard and Russ Tamblyn(who I really like) and Kieron Moore are bland in the lead roles. Overall, disappointing but worth a peek I guess. 4/10 Bethany Cox