Duelo de Gigantes

The Missouri Breaks gets its title from the fact that the scene of the action takes place in Montana at the head waters of the tributary streams that eventually flow in and make up the Missouri River. It seems like you have to cross a lot of streams in order to get any place in that country, no matter which side of the law you're on. And we do get to see it from both points of view.

Jack Nicholson heads an amiable gang of horse thieves who probably are no better or worse than a lot of those who might be deemed on the right side of the law. They've been stealing a lot from big rancher John McLiam and he's about had it. His answer though might be worse than the horse thieves.

It's to call in a regulator which is a fancy term for a bounty hunter. The guy he gets is Marlon Brando who it could be argued is in his most villainous role on the screen. This is a swaggering Irish brogue speaking gunfighter who really does love his work.

Brando's ways start to rub McLiam the wrong way not to mention his daughter Kathleen Lloyd the wrong way. She's on bad terms with her father and has taken a shine to Nicholson in any event.

A lot of the same issues are dealt with in The Missouri Breaks that were in the fine Kirk Douglas western, Posse. The difference is that Douglas operates with a professional posse and he's got career plans which call for him to bring in outlaw Bruce Dern and his gang by any means necessary. Brando's not got any plans other than to do what he does, kill people with a license which he thoroughly enjoys.

The final confrontation with Nicholson and Brando is a gem from director Arthur Penn. There's very little words, but the expressions on the faces of both men are absolutely priceless, worth 10 pages of dialog.

The Missouri Breaks is the last of three westerns that Marlon Brando did, One Eyed Jacks and The Apaloosa are the others. This is definitely the one I enjoyed best.

Marlon Brando died yesterday. I just got the news and felt compelled to comment on this flick specifically, because it seems that whenever I ask of self-professed Brando or western fans, "Have you seen Missouri Breaks?" the answer is, "No."

But what a great western! And what a great performance by Brando! Yes, it is 'quirky;' yes, Brando uses a different accent in nearly every scene; and yes, his performance seems at times almost improvised, shooting off in unexpected and rewarding directions. For all this quirkiness, however, I never once felt that the character's affectations were Brando's, or that Brando was somehow on-the-outside-looking-in, overly pleased at his own theatrical acrobatics. This is a brilliant man at work here, living in the moment, a vessel of the character. This has always amazed me about Brando's work: that working from the inside, he can so transform the outside--the physicality and mannerisms of his characters.

Good bye, Mr. Brando, and thank you.

Just watched it again. Fantastic movie…. time has done wonders for Missouri Breaks! Several scenes appear to be 'natural' (Like when a horse shakes for no reason, mid dialogue – but the acting keeps rolling) The film is also quite dramatic and eery. Really off beat and also quite art- house. Love it. great music score, and funnily enough, very realistic. Plus sides …. Movie Poster (Bob Peak art) wonderful poster. Lovely sparse film score by John Williams. Brando's eccentricity keeps you captivated. Jane Braxton character….very loyal. So many good things about this movie, things that you never see in to-days modern movie making. Missouri Breaks sure packs a punch, even today. A hidden masterpiece worth revisiting indeed.

Anyone who does not know very much about Marlon Brando may not enjoy this film.

Brando had made his reputation as a great actor years before. It was probably made just to put two of the best actors-- Jack Nickelson and Marlon Brando in a film together for the first and only time.

Brando and Nickolson together, beautiful photography of Montana and some standard cowboy movie script-- thats all. The story is not important. It's just fun to see Brando pulling out a bag of tricks and seeing him have fun.

One small trick is that he is always eating or chewing on something as he talks. This may have been an insider joke because at this stage in his life he was fat. Nickelson might have done better acting .

So if you want to see Brando having fun see this movie. If you are looking for movie with great story see something else.

This movie is on my list as one of the best.

I give it ********* an 8 of 10.

Maybe a bit disjointed, but I liked it, a lot, actually. Lead males were all great, but like so many westerns The Girl was a let-down. With most of the cast playing it pretty straight Brando doesn't seem over the top at all, it works well and is not too silly at all, reminds me of a eccentric uncle combined with Hannibal Lector, without the, you know.... Otherwise a film you should definitely consider watching, if only to see how Brando, Nicholson, and Harry Dean Stanton do a western. I loved it, Brando stole the show. See it to decide for yourself whether you like the direction Brando takes it. There's nothing like it, and this is not a run-of-the-mill western.