Les comancheros

The scene where the Duke Wayne character (Texas Ranger Jake Cutter) meets the Joan O'Brien character (Melinda) after a long time away. The powerful Elmer Bernstein soundtrack combined with the beautiful cinematography of the Old Homestead make this scene one of the best of any Western. Also the scenes where The Duke is jesting with his real life son ("we didn't beat this boy enough when he was growing up") and where he lovingly takes his real life daughter in his arms (scene at Melinda's small farm) are first rate. I give the movie a 9 out of 10.

I Recently got The Comancheros on DVD and watched it last night. I believe that is the first time that I have seen this film completely. I must admit to having a preference for John Wayne's earlier films from Stagecoach into the late 40's. This was the period when the studios were stills casting John Wayne in assorted roles with greater for lesser degree of success(who could forget him as the Mongolian emperor?) So only recently, I have been rediscovering his great performances in his middle period. But this is about another actor in this film. I just read all the other user comments listed about this film. Several correctly praised the small part played by Lee Marvin. He is always reliable for standout performances. But not any of the comments mentioned the truly standout performance by unknown "Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams" in the part of Ed McBain, the gunrunner. It was a small role but to my thinking probably the best acting in this or many other movies. Well, that's my two cents. "Nuff sed"

The Comancheros" , Curtiz's last film , deals with a Texas Ranger named Jake Cutter ,a big man with soft heart , (the Duke John Wayne), assigned to bring a dandy gambler named Paul Regret (Stuart Whitman) for killing . Comancheros is a word that refers to those who favored or advantaged of Comanche Indians by selling weapons and alcohol . The relationship shared between the Ranger " and his prisoner" a dandy accused for murder in a duel to the son of an officer , gets enjoyable nuances and charm enough . Along the way confront bad boy (Lee Marvin) and a gang of liquor-and-gun running nasties of the title commanded by a villain ( Nehemia Persoff) whose daughter (Ina Balin) falls in love with Paul .

This actioner Western contains a wonderful friendship , thrills , adventures , rider pursuits , impressive attacks and loads of crossfire . ¨The Comancheros" Curtiz does the human touch including lots of nice moments , it is a very fine picture that could become another western worthy of any anthology. In the film "The Comancheros" the spectator enjoys because it has a lot of issues that make it agreeable . Even the female character played by attractive Ina Balin as "Pilar", reveals a woman who knows that she wishes and makes it irresistible. Large support cast formed by Western usual players as Edgar Buchanan , John Dierkes , Michael Ansara and special mention to big Lee Marvin . Breathtaking and lively musical score by Elmer Berstein , one of the best of Western genre along with ¨The Magnificent Seven¨ soundtrack. Colorful and spectacular cinematography in Cinemascope by William Clothier , John Ford's ordinary .

This well-paced film is stunningly directed by Michael Curtiz . He does the human touch and full of insight that accompanied him during most of his films and the story develops pleasantly in a large frame with an interesting plot and fully adjusted to the requirements of the action, which had to be shot in long part by specialist Cliff Lyons . Even in a time of filming, Curtiz had to be briefly hospitalized and the actor John Wayne, a character who gets very nice here, had replaced on the set. He was already sick, but accepted, perhaps because they wanted to die in a movie set . Michael Curtiz concludes a great legacy that included dramas, adventures, comedies, musicals, horror, historical films, police ... and a few westerns . He was an expert in strictly American film Noir genre and in drama as proved in ¨Bright Leaf , Flaming Road , Passage Marseille¨ and of course ¨Casablanca¨ . But also was specialist on adventure genre as ¨Adventures of Robin Hood , Sea Hawk ,Charge of the light Brigade , Private lives of Elizabeth and Essex¨ and Western as ¨Proud rebel, Dodge city¨and of course ¨Los Comancheros¨ . After directing about 180 films, the Hungarian director Michael Curtiz was already 73 years old, when he was called to lead what would be his last film and among all these pictures , many of them form already part of the great classics of cinema as ¨Angel with dirty faces¨ . .Rating : Good , above average . Worthwhile watching .

A thrilling movie that stands the test of time. Exciting, action-packed, chock-full of engaging characters, coupled with a lively and evocative soundtrack, all combine to make this a real treat.

One of those rare movies that you hate to see end...

I rate it a 9.9 out of 10.

...was this rousing action western starring John Wayne, who also directed many scenes uncredited when the ailing Curtiz was too ill to shoot.

It's a pretty good western overall, not terribly original or up to the best of the genre, but certainly a solid, entertaining production with a veteran cast and few good action sequences that should please most Western fans and Wayne fans. In his typical and well-loved manner, Wayne plays Jake Cutter, a Texas Ranger trying to bring in a charming gambler charged with murder after a fatal duel, and also to deal with a band of outlaws who are trading in guns and whisky with the hostile Comanche Indians. Stuart Whitman plays the gambler, who meanwhile has fallen for a mysterious and independent-minded beauty he met before being arrested (Ina Balin), and later discovers she's the daughter of the ruthless head of the Comancheros (Nehemiah Persoff).

There are brief but memorable roles played by Lee Marvin, Bruce Cabot, Edgar Buchanan, Henry Daniell, and even Guinn "Big Boy" Williams, among others.