Les Bravados

The Bravados (1958)

Unlike John Wayne Westerns (especially the John Ford ones), a lot of Westerns from the 1950 like the Anthony Mann films are a little edgy and psychological. This one, starring a laconic Gregory Peck, is big and beautiful and classic, and it has some of that darkness to it that makes it more contemporary.

To be sure, it's still a product of the clichés of the genre. A loner is on the trail of some bad guys, and for much of the movie he hunts them down across some astonishing landscape. A woman from his past gets in the middle of it, at times, and the townspeople aren't sure what to make of him.

Peck is a great lead, and he's got a strong, if predictable, supporting cast. The woman in question is a young Joan Collins, more famous for her "Dynasty" years. Also of note is the sets and lighting--if sets is the right word. There are so many gorgeous scenes, both in town and in the wilderness, and they are filmed with such great light, it's actually worth watching just to watch. And many of the night scenes are filmed with a bold darkness, the color stripped down and everything hard to discern. This isn't actually Technicolor, but a new competitor, DeLuxe, and the restoration (at least on the Netflix streaming version) is superb.

If you like Westerns, this is one not to miss. If you don't, I think it's still really enjoyable, and might just get you looking for more. The director here, Henry King, is a Hollywood stalwart who took his hand at almost everything (from 1915 into the 1960s). And so you see a pro at work here, working within the genre, but intelligently.

I think I saw this movie many years ago as a youngster ( I was born in 1952). I also, during the course of the movie on AMC, read a few reviews on IMBd and either due to one or two of the reviews or my previous viewing, I knew what was coming at the end. But it was still an emotional jolt. I agree with a couple of reviews, that the very end seemed sweetened up somewhat, but I went through a period in my 20's and 30's when I had grown overly cynical and didn't like 'unrealistic' endings. I have changed somewhat. I can enjoy both 'types' of movies and endings now, I believe. I am more discerningly cynical now, I hope. Where something really smells like manipulation for the wrong reasons or for greed, I trust my doubts and cynicism to kick in. 'The Bravados' deserves your trust simply because it shows a universal human weakness among terrible, heart-wrenching circumstances in a somewhat 'realistic' setting. Luck plays too big a part at times for the hero (Gregory Peck with great screen presence) during the chase. But if you disagree with his conclusions about his own actions at the end...think again.

Pleasant classic Western with magnificent Gregory Peck who steals the show as a merciless revenger gunfighter . He is relentless in his vengeance , deadly in his violence but he learns that he has become no better than those he hunts . A Hollywood production full of action , exaggerated characters , shootouts and lots of violence . For revenge, he doesn't care why he kills or how ¡ ... . An errant Jim Douglas (Gregory Peck) sees the atrocity over his family and executes a single-handedly revenge, as he ravages and murders each person involved in his vendetta . Douglas has been relentlessly pursuing the four outlaws (Albert Salmi , Henry Silva , Stephen Boyd and Lee Van Cleef) who killed his wife, but finds them in prison about to be hanged . But the prisoners escape and villagers enlist Douglas' aid to capture them . The conflict is a simple one between avenger Douglas and oppressors, nasties bandits commanded by cruel Bill Zachary (Stephen Boyd) . Douglas along with a posse set out in pursuit the outlaws and he faces the vicious bandits.

It's an exciting western with breathtaking showdown between the protagonist Gregory Peck against four heartless bandits . In the film premiere attained success , nowadays is well valued and I think it turns out to be a good classic Western. The picture is fleshed out with a marvelous cast as Gregory Peck who is excellent as a good father turned revenger . Nice too is Henry Silva as the brash Mexican young gun and Andrew Duggan as the amiable Padre . Joan Collins gives a good performance as Jim's former girlfriend , she does a well measured portrayal of a woman who still loves her previous sweetheart and who promises to leave with him which ultimately can never be . Stephen Boyd as a cruelly baddie role also is terrific . The film packs violence , gun-play , high body-count and it's fast moving and quite entertaining. There is plenty of action in the movie , guaranteeing some shootouts or stunts every few minutes . This is a dark downbeat story of an avenger gunfighter perfectly performed by Gregory Peck told with genuine realism and honesty . Stylishly written by prestigious by Philip Yordan-Johnny Guitar- , the screenplay was based on an original story by Frank O'Rourke. The movie was directed with a positive flair by Henry King . There are many fine technicians and nice assistants as Lyle Wheeler and Walter Scott in charge of Art Direction and Set Direction respectively . Good production design creating an excellent scenario with luminous outdoors, dirty and rocky landscapes under a glimmer sun and a fine sets on the Mexican landscapes . The musician Lionel Newman composes a nice soundtrack and well conducted , being helped by the maestros Hugo Friedhofer and Alfred Newman , tough uncredited ; it's full of agreeable sounds, and a haunting musical leitmotif . Sharply photographed with striking cinematography by Leon Shamroy in Technicolor, Techniscope with negative well processed and outdoor sequences filmed in Jalisco, Mexico Morelia, Michoacán,St Jose Perua mountains, Mexico.

Henry King 's direction is well crafted , here he's less thought-provoking and broody and more inclined toward violence and too much action , because he's a expert on compelling Adventure/Western genre . Henry King directed other classic Western as ¨ Jesse James(1939)¨and ¨The gunfighter(1950)¨ with Peck again . Koster was specialist on Adventure genre as proved in ¨Untamed , Captain King , Captain of Castilla , Black Swan , Stanley and Livingstone ¨and many others . Rating : Better than average . Worthwhile watching .

It's very odd that Gregory Peck is not often associated with Westerns--even though many of his best movies stand among the finest examples of the genre. Considering the number of Westerns he made, most of them were highly successful and entertaining. Remember, this is the same man who starred in THE BIG COUNTRY, THE GUNFIGHTER and YELLOW SKY--yet he is more commonly seen as an actor in contemporary dramas. THE BRAVADOS is yet another in a long string of hits, as it somehow manages to transcend a genre that often seems derivative.

In this film, Peck plays a complex character--neither a villain nor a hero. He has been on a relentless pursuit to kill the men who he is convinced killed his wife--and like Captain Ahab, he won't give up or consider and options other than their deaths. Along the way, he stumbles up a young and very beautiful Joan Collins--in one of her better screen roles.

I really don't want to tell you more, as it would spoil the plot, but rest assured it is masterfully made like other Peck Westerns and one not to be missed.

This is an interesting Western which, as is often the case in this genre, is a tale of revenge. This time, however, there are a few ironical twists. Under the solid hand of director Henry King, this film takes further the point made in OXBOW INCIDENT in 1943, about lynching.

In this case, you have the main character, Jim Douglas (Peck) seeking revenge for the rape and brutal murder of his wife. Peck, in one of his finest performances, portrays a generally balanced and good man driven somewhat over the edge by a desire for revenge. The four "baddies" are all played with considerable zest by Stephen Boyd, Henry Silva, Lee van Cleef and Salmi. The weakest part of the film is Joan Collins. Tough for me to understand why and how she got this role.

Silva, portraying an Indian, correctly identifies Douglas as a hunter. It is Douglas' sad failing that he gets the wrong culprits, and even more so that he thought the real rapist and murderer a good man, who would not hurt anyone.

Douglas ends the film with a tormented conscience for killing three men who were innocent of his charges, but he receives great applause from the local community, grateful to see the town rid of a gang of thieves. The irony of the situation is put across without any moralizing, which adds to the film's virtues.

There are a few unnecessary touches along the way, such as Boyd raping an abductee, but by and large it is a tightly told story, helped by very good cinematography.