Le Californien

This is a fair movie to say the least. Not one of Charles Bronson's better movies. Only the die-hard Bronson fan might want to check it out. Look for a very young Kurt Russell in the film also.

Charles Bronson is not listed for "The Adventures of Jaime McPheeters," a September 1963-March 1964 series, but he played Linc Murdock in that show (with Kurt Russell in the title role and Dan O'Herlihy as his father) for the last 18 or 20 episodes after another actor left. I've seen snippets from this film and may have it on home video, but my cataloging leaves much to be desired.

Although the movie is in color at a time when color TV shows were relatively rare, I think it's either a two-part series episode given theatrical release or a movie feature quickly spun off from the series. Leonard Maltin's Movie and Video Guide doesn't list it. Perhaps someone can hunt down the show (perhaps I could do it myself from a source book I know) and put it into IMDb.

It starts with a wagon train heading for westward and leading a master called Murdock : Charles Bronson, as while guiding a wagon train he saves a colonist from a wild river. Shortly after, he along with his young helper , 14-year-old little boy named Jaimie : Kurt Russell, teaching him the riveting tricks of the trade while going to a small town. There Murdock runs in problems when he meets his old flame, Maria : Susan Oliver, at an abandoned little town, she is now married to Rance Macklin : Jan Merlin. Then the jealous Rance imprison Murdock at a livery stable, but Maria frees him, permiting Murdock to carry out a vendetta . At the end embarking on new adventures involving a lost gold mine from an old man : Douglas Fowley .

This is an agreeable Western with thrills, action , shootouts and a romantic love drama. A simple drama western about a wagon train scout who runs in difficulties when he meets old enemies, being developed by means of a long flashback in which during a troublesome time our starring reminiscences the old feud when worked at the Macklin ranch . It results to be a blending of two episodes of the TV series The Travels of Jamie McPheeters. Stars Charles Bronson in his usual tough style as a brave scout . Bronson subsequently to play a lot of notorious roles in Western genre as in "From noon till three", "Chato", "Red Sun" , "Villa rides" , "Valdez" , "Nevada Express" , "White Buffalo" and especially : "Magnificent Seven" and "Once upon the time in the West" . Co-star pretty Susan Oliver as the old beautiful flame and the very young beardless Kurt Russell in one of his first roles. And other decent secondaries as Jan Merlin as revengeful husband, John Fiedler as the saloon barman, Morris Ankrum as the ranch owner and Douglas Fowley as an old sick man.

It contains atmospheric and colorful cinematography by John Nickolaus. As well as thrilling musical score by Walter Scharf, Leigh Harline and Harry Jackman. The motion picture produced by Boris Ingster was professionally directed by Boris Sagal. He used to work for television, making Telefilms and TV series such as : Rich man poor man, Columbo, Diary of Ana Frank, Dial M for murder, Masada, Sherlock Holmes in New York and WWIII. And occassionaly for cinema directing the classic Sc-iFi : Omega Man. Rating 6/10. Enjoyable western. The flick will appeal to Charles Bronson fans.

During the Sixties MGM packaged episodes of TV series as feature movies for distribution in Europe. "Guns Of Diablo" represents two episodes of the series "The Travels Of Jamie McPheeters". Some comments note the daring love scene (for TV at the time). Actually sometimes MGM would add footage not in the original episode to make the feature more adult for European audiences. This was the case for "Guns Of Diablo".

This feature has been released on both video and DVD on budget labels. The print quality is fairly good under these circumstances.

When you consider its origins, "Guns" comes off as a reasonably entertaining western. It certainly showcases Bronson's talent and on screen charisma. For an example of how not to turn TV episodes into a feature check out "The Meanest Men In The West" also starring Bronson. It consists of two episodes of "The Virginian" with Bronson and Lee Marvin as brothers who do not share any scenes together but with editing appear to.

Guns of Diablo was originally a two part episode from the short lived series The Travels of Jamie McPheeters in which Charles Bronson was a regular.

The series was a juvenile that served to introduce audiences to young Kurt Russell who got his first real notice in the show though it only lasted a season. The Pulitzer Prize winning novel from where the series was adapted concerned a journey west on a wagon train seen through the eyes of young Jamie. Bronson was the wagon-master for the train.

Bronson and Russell goes into town for supplies and meets a part of his past he'd like to both remember and forget at the same time. The part to remember is a lost love in the person of Susan Oliver. The part to forget is three hard case brothers named Macklin, one of whom has lost a right arm, courtesy of Bronson and who is now married to Oliver.

I have to confess I was somewhat surprised at a flashback, scene where both Oliver and Bronson are in a state of semi undress by a creek. It's rather obvious even to juvenile viewers what's been going on and I can hardly believe it was allowed in a program aimed for kids.

The episodes were edited together and released as a feature film to take advantage of the growing popularity of both Russell and Bronson. Still it betrays it's television origin, although from this film you wouldn't know that Russell and not Bronson who was the star of the show.