Représailles en Arizona

Despite an unnecessary prologue in which we are treated to a history of the life and career of William Quantrill, Arizona Raiders concerns us with the efforts of former Quantrill members Audie Murphy and Ben Cooper to capture a large band of former Quantrill men led by Michael Dante and George Keymas who are now operating in Arizona.

The man who captured Murphy and Cooper is Buster Crabbe former Army captain and now in charge of the new Arizona Rangers. He's offering Murphy and Cooper a Dirty Dozen like mission, get them and there will be a pardon awaiting. What Crabbe doesn't know is that Murphy is both one unreconstructed rebel and he's got a younger brother in the Rangers already played by Ray Stricklyn. That fact cuts several ways before the film is over.

Arizona Raiders is a decent enough western. Murphy was still going strong in doing these second feature B films. But it was certainly nothing you couldn't see on television where westerns ruled at that time on the small screen.

This mid '60s western has the look of a mid '50s release. After being sentenced to 20 years hard labor for crimes while riding with the Quantrell's Raiders, a young confederate hero(Audie Murphy)is offered an unconditional pardon if he will help round up the remnants of the notorious gang that is still terrorizing Arizona Territory. The gang has kidnapped an attractive daughter of an Indian Chief. The Chief and some of his braves help Murphy capture and break up the renegade Raiders. With the mission completed, Murphy rides away continuing his new career as an Arizona Ranger.

No real surprises, just feel good cowboy shoot 'em up. And its good to see the Indians team up with the good guys this time out.

Supporting cast includes veteran actor Buster Crabbe along with the attractive Gloria Talbot, "Red" Morgan, Ben Cooper, Michael Dante and Fred Graham.

A remake of 1951 The Texas Rangers, Arizona Raiders faithfully follows its general plot,however, there's some differences. The conflicted persona of the lead character, as played Audie Murphy, who is asked to choose sides between the rangers and heading over the border, is better played and distinctive. The other characters are finely etched too, such as George Keymas, who plays the outlaw like a maniac. Sure there is that narration in the opening, and the fact Quantrill never travelled to Arizona, but it's not meant to be historically accurate ( which western is?), but it's a rousing, fast-paced western that marries the B-western with the elements that you would find in paella westerns. I.e. a little more blood, the cactus used as torture. There's an air of comic book style going on, especially with the action and the Native Americans fleeting in and carrying away the bad guys like wreaths. The cinematography and location is really eye catching. Buster Crabbe and Ben Cooper adds to the fun. This is a fun and an exciting western that I first saw on UK Television ( channel 4)in 1991 and i was really looking forward to watch it. I was corresponding with western writer J.T Edson, who based his character Dusty Fog on Audie, at the time, and he was looking forward in watching it, too

His raiders are broken up and Quantrill dies in an army hospital. Audie Murphy is sentenced to death, but the sentence is commuted to 20 years on the recommendation of Buster Crabbe, who led the attack on them. Crabbe winds up leading the Arizona Rangers. There the remnants Quantrill's forces have retreated, to become outlaws. The government can't figure out where they are, where they will strike, but he comes up with a plan: release Murphy, induct him into the Rangers and set him after the bad guys.

Audie Murphy had moved surely into westerns after he became the most decorated American soldier in the Second World War and had prospered. He was getting on in years, and the genre westerns were beginning to disappear. This movie was an attempt by him and director William Witney to produce something epic and mythic. It begins with a recitation of Quantrill's history, and moves in action. There are many nice touches: Murphy's conflicted position, the beautiful Indian girl played by Gloria Talbott, the importance of oaths, the stalwart Crabbe, and the savage Indians who carry their victims away like demons. It's a B western on a grand scale, and Witney was the man who ld bring it off if anyone could. Ford had abandoned the trappings of B productions four decades earlier. Witney had begun in the Bs, the youngest director around when he began, and he had reformed the genre, the fights, the stories, always constrained by short budgets and shooting schedules. Now, with a color camera and three decades of experience, could he save the traditional western?

Alas, no. The western was passing out of the mythscape of the world, gradually being replaced by the new frontier of science fiction. But he makes a good try here, and there are some lovely moments that recall when the west was the endless frontier, before civilization closed in. Now the West was a landscape in which everyone was corrupt, where the good, the bad and the ugly fought endlessly without any sense of right or wrong.

But Witney certainly gives it a shot. There are some lovely moments and good, canny work here. It's just that not enough people cared any more.

This movie is a remake of the 1951 movie "The Texas Rangers", same plot, same storyline, same lines. Only the locale and the actors are different. I take that back, this time it wasn't just a couple of men who were removed from prison, they were moved from state to state.

Having said that, I did enjoy the movie. There were enough changes to make it interesting. Audie Murphy did a wonderful job in the lead role. The location was beautiful. The director did a good job in making this movie stand on it's own.

If you liked the earlier movie, you will enjoy this remake. Audie Murphy fans should enjoy seeing him in this.