E Quatro Partiram a Cavalo

About the only thing interesting in this early '70's western is the soundtrack. Composer and performer Janis Ian had a long, distinguished musical career, frequently working in Hollywood on both features and indie projects. Other than an obscure short, this 1971 feature was Ian's first effort. Ian provides not only several songs, but also the guitar work for all tbe incidental music. A great first effort in an otherwise forgetable movie. Parnell Roberts leads?

This is an exciting film with thrills , go riding , fights , crossfire , and breathtaking outdoors from Spain . It's a thrilling western with continuous confrontation across the perilous and hot desert . U. S. Marshal (Pernell Roberts) sets out to bring in a Mexican thief (Julián Mateos) accused of killing his girlfriend's (Sue Lyon) father and starting an odyssey throughout a dangerous territory under a boiled sun , while water is running out . The third American results to be Mr. Brown (Leslie Nielsen) , a really strange role with dark secrets who is a Pinkerton man interested in recovering the bank money and the bounty as well . However , turning out that there's more to the story than there first shows up to be.

It's a mediocre Paella Western mostly produced with participation by Spain and USA Dick Miller , based on an original story nu actor/writer Dick Miller a s Richard Miller . It doesn't follow the Sergio Leone wake and being proceeded in American style more than European one . The film packs violence , shootouts and an intriguing story about ambition and treason . The picture scrutinizes the greed and paranoia that afflicts a misfit group of thirsty people , including their enormous difficulties to escape from a sunny desert and a strong taking on among four protagonists . Regarding a two-fisted sheriff on the trail of a Mexican robber who has just stolen a bank where a guard was murdered . The picture provides Pernell Roberts with a mediocre showcase as a tough marshal somewhat in a rough and adventurous mold . It was part of Pernell Roberts' unsuccessful run at movie stardom by showing a silly bravery and masculinity style , following his departure from the enormous TV hit Bonanza in 1965 . In fact , this Western ¨Four Rode Out¨(1969) was shot in Spain at the same time to ¨Tibetana¨(1970) with similar actors and director. It is a mostly shoddy film by displaying a murky script with betrayal , twisted events and disconcerting scenes This film in short budget blends thrills , intrigue , and violent confrontation , but it results to be slow-moving , a little bit boring and regularly made , being filmed in desert of Tabernas , Almeria, Andalucia , Spain . Charismatic performance for whole casting . This is a Chorizo/US Western with various American actors , boasting famous and top-of-the range players , such as : Pernell Roberts , Sue Lyon, Leslie Nielsen and the Spanish Julián Mateos and Maria Martin.

The musician Janis Ian composes a sensitive soundtrack , including catching and moody songs . It packs atmospheric cinematography by Rafael Pacheco , tough imperfect , being necessary alright remastering because of the film-copy is washed-out . The motion picture was regularly directed by John Peyser . This filmaker directed another Pernell Roberts vehicle in Spain along with Julián Mateos : ¨Tibetana¨ (1970) that was also a flop . Peyser directed as cinema as television movie . As he made occasional theatrical films, such as : ¨Undersea Girl¨ , ¨Massacre Harbor¨, ¨Tibetana¨ , ¨Four rode out¨ . But he usually shot episodes for notorious TV series , such as : ¨Man Without a Gun¨, ¨The Rifleman¨ , ¨The man behind the badge¨ , ¨Suspense¨ , ¨Danger¨ , ¨The Man from U. N. C. L. EÑ , ¨TheVirginian¨ , ¨Bonanza¨ , ¨The Rat Patrol¨ , ¨Switch¨ , ¨Shazam!¨ , ¨Mannix¨ , ¨Hawii 5 .0¨ , ¨Route 66¨, ¨ Warner Brothers Presents¨ , ¨Law of the Plainsman¨, ¨Crusader , ¨Perry Mason¨. ¨Four Rode Out (1969) rating : 5/10 . Average but passaable . The film will appeal to Spanish Westerns enthusiasts and Almerian landscapes lovers.

Unusual American-made, filmed-in-Spain melodrama that for intents and purposes can be considered a "Spaghetti Western", bearing many notes common to that genre.

Pernell Roberts is a Marshal hunting a wanted Mexican man. Leslie Nielsen is a bounty hunter of sorts after the same man. Sue Lyon is the wanted man's white girlfriend. These three disparate characters head out to the desert where the wanted man is hiding. After his capture, the four must make their way back to town, all the while battling the elements and each other.

The setup of the film reminded me of JAWS, with an initial setup followed by a long, protracted, isolated showdown. Not much happens after the first 20 or so minutes (the fugitive is captured rather quickly), so the drama of the pic comes out of the various tensions and shifting allegiances between the four people.

Pernell is solid as an honest-to-a-fault lawman. Despite a lack of charm, he is a good foundation to lay the picture on. Julian Mateos has the least to do here, but brings a Tomas Milian-style empathy to his bandit. I wish we had heard more from his character, rather than him being somewhat of a device to move the story along. As Myra the girlfriend, Sue Lyon is appropriately lovestruck, defiant, and impetuous, leaning toward shrill overacting at times.

By far the standout among the cast is the handsome, devilish Leslie Nielsen, whose Mr. Brown turns more and more creepy and craven as the story moves along. Early on, he is merely a callous and smug bounty killer; later in the show we are given reason to question his true allegiance.

I might have found a way to trim 10 minutes of desert walking out of this; at times the film does drag its feet. However, these instances are contrasted by sequences of intense drama as the cast fight over water, hidden weapons, saddlebags of cash, etc.

Not a hidden gem by any stretch but a solid C+, with special mention again of Nielsen's fine performance.

Also of note is the title music performed in 1970s folksinger fashion by Janis Ian. A very unusual choice, adds to the unique character of the film.

6/10 stars

FOUR RODE OUT (1 outta 5 stars) Kind of a pathetic excuse for a western starring Pernell Roberts who gave up his role in TV's "Bonanza" to star in this... a movie which isn't even as good as an average episode of that classic series. Sue Lyon (mostly known for starring in Stanley Kubrick's "Lolita") plays the loyal girlfriend of a Mexican bandit (Julian Mateos) being hunted for the murder of her father. It wasn't really murder... the father killed himself after discovering that his daughter was sleeping around with a Mexican. Regardless, Pernell is determined to bring the bandit in for a fair trial. Leslie Nielsen also appears as a nasty Pinkerton agent with dollar signs in his eyes. Somehow they all wind up in the middle of the desert with little water and not much hope of making it back to the nearest town. Still, they find time for plenty of bickering, an impromptu wedding and even a strip show by the curvy Ms. Lyon. Looks like the kind of movie that could have been shot over a long weekend.

"Four Rode Out" could have been titled, "Four Walked Out,"since the quartet of characters spent most of their time on foot. The horses were done with one by one in scenes that looked almost too real.

It is, to say the least, a very stark movie - slow-moving, yes, but constantly engrossing. The clown critics who gave it one star were probably affected by the hot desert sun coming through their screens, affecting their minds. Whoops - almost said brains.

As to the acting. Young Mateos as the b.f. was convincing. Sue Lyon, accused by one critic as over-acting, was quite good handling a rather complex character, one almost as naive as Lolita. (Had to get that in).

Leslie Neilsen sandwiched between his early near-fame days, to steering the Poseidon into near oblivion, to good-sized stardom, seemed to have a blast as a baddie - a real baddie.

Pernell Roberts, Bonanza's maverick, was excellent portraying a very questionable character.

The silent ending wrapped the story beautifully. The minus was Janis Ian's contribution - totally unnecessary, totally dull.

The rest of the music was justifiably sparse. For a change, it did not blast out at you.

All in all, "Four Rode Out" is worthwhile. Fie on the naysayers. Give it a chance. It is sometimes frighteningly captivating.