El Texican

You can tell by the actors (minus Audie Murphy and Broderick Crawford) and the pretty fake gunshot sound effects that this movie is a low-budget production, but in fact, it's quite an enjoyable movie. A rather decent plot (back in 1966, which this film was made, almost all Westerns, even the big-sellers, had simple plots), somewhat believable dubbing for those who spoke Spanish, and a few very enjoyable gunfights. I can't really say which is my favorite part, since, in my opinion, none of the scenes were dull. I just simply like this Western. I haven't seen a whole lot of Audie Murphy Westerns, but enough to say that this is my favorite out of all of them.

This is a good Audie Murphy western for one reason only; it is a spaghetti western. The writers didn't know Audie Murphy and did not write a western script FOR him. They wrote a western script. Unlike anything Hollywood ever did for Murphy,this script has a plot, a story, some depth and real characters. The only distractions, and they are not small, are the ridiculous whistleing sounds made by 45 Long Colt revolvers and the nagging, irritating background music. Where the Italians came up with the ridiculous idea that a 45 Long Colt revolver makes a whistling sound beats me. I know the sound of a 45 Long Colt. I own several. It is triple the sound of a Dodge 440 Magnum backfiring. They do not whistle. And the asinine, continuous, nagging, dragging music that is supposed to be dramatic but is just a pain in the butt. Whoever dreamed that up should have been sentenced to listening to railroad cars coupling and uncoupling continuously for twenty years and then forced to listen to their own "music" for another twenty. The only Audie Murphy western I think comes as close to being enjoyable as The Texican is Ride a Crooked Trail. And only because of the outstanding work done by Walter Matthau.

Although this movie was made in Europe with a predominately Spanish cast, you can tell this movie was made with stateside distribution in mind.Especially when you have Audie Murphy and Broderick Crawford in the leading roles.Good story about a fugitive who crosses back into the United States from Mexico to avenge his brother's death and clear his own name.This movie was directed by one of my favorite western directors, Lesley Selander.It has great widescreen photography. The dubbing of the supporting actors is better than usual.Far from original, but fast moving and well acted.Not as good as "No Name On The Bullet" or "Night Passage", but worth a look.

A good example of Latino western genre from Spain. Wanted ¨Dead or alive¨ north of the border, Jess Carlin (Audie Murphy) lives safely in Mexico. Then he hears his brother was murdered in a gun-down . Knowning his brother never carried a gun he heads north to encounter his brother's assassin. Jess goes out to avenge his brother and trespasses Rio Grande frontier and after battling bounty killers ( Aldo Sambrell and Antonio Molino Rojo) . Jess arrives in Rimrock, a little town dominated by Luke Starr (Broderick Crawford) and his underlings. Escaped goes back to his old home town pursued by bounty hunters . Starr is owner of ¨Silver Ring Saloon¨ , furthermore is the man Jess wants but he unable to encounter some proof until he is given by Sandy (Luz Marquez), former brother's girlfriend, an item found on his brother's body . As Jess seeks vengeance against Luke , while his hoodlums kill , mistreat and harass townspeople . Meanwhile Jess falls in love with a Saloon-girl (Diana Lorys).

Offbeat Chorizo-Spaghetti Western co-produced between Spain and US and doesn't follows the Sergio Leone wake , but it is proceeded in American models . It's an exciting western with breathtaking gunfight between the protagonist Audie Murphy against the heartless Broderick Crawford and his hoodlums . Audie Murphy is fine, he ravages the screen, shoots, hit and run and kills . This movie is a lot of fun to watch. It's an acceptable story with a touch of peculiarity, some great characters, and an amazing music score. The picture also titled ¨The Texican ¨ is a tale of justice and revenge, as a man returns home to a little town after his breakout and looks for vendetta. The basic plot is typical spaghetti western fare, but what makes this movie stand out is its style . Broderick Crawford's performance in the movie is a bit wooden for the role of such an interesting character, but the fantastic performance by the always great Aldo Sambrell as the slimy, menacing outlaw make up for , here in his ordinary role as bandit and in a cruelly baddie character , he is terrific, and bears a hysterical and mocking aspect , subsequently he would play similar characters . Appears as secondaries the habitual in Spanish/Italian Western such as Victor Israel , Gerad Tichy , Antonio Casas, Antonio Molino Rojo and Frank Braña , both of them usual in Leone films.

The film packs violence , shootouts , high body-count and it's fast moving and quite entertaining . There is plenty of action in the movie , guaranteeing some shoot'em up or stunts every few minutes. There is a very odd implementation of shots in the camera work during some particular scenes as the film approaches its climax , as in the final gunfights full of dust , wind and shots . The movie gets the usual Western issues, such as avengers antiheroes , violent facing off , exaggerated baddies, soundtrack with Morricone influence , among them . The sense of pacing is such that his film can be counted on to move quickly and smoothly . Good production design creating an excellent scenario with luminous outdoors, dirty and rocky landscapes under a glimmer sun and fine sets . The musician Nino Fidenco composes a nice soundtrack and well conducted , this turns out to be one of the most memorable parts of the movie; as it's full of enjoyable sounds and haunting musical background . The opening and ending songs are two of my favorites, and are of those unforgettable tunes that will play in your mind over and over long after the movie is realized. The soundtrack contributes tremendously to the atmosphere of the film, including an emotive leitmotif, the music score is perhaps the best part of this film . Striking cinematography by Francisco Marin , though is necessary a correct remastering . Interior scenes filmed in Spuglas De Llobregat , Barcelona outskirts and outdoor sequences with barren exteriors filmed in Spanish places located on Fraga (Huesca) , replacing Almeria . ¨Fraga¨ resulted to be the location where were shot lots of Western produced and directed by Catalan people as Alfonso Balcazar , J.J. Balcazar , Jose Antonio De La Loma , Juan Bosch, Ignacio F. Iquino and Julio Buchs , among others , because Almeria was too far and the landscapes bear remarkable resemblance . This motion picture is well produced by Alfonso Balcazar , being professionally directed by Lesley Selander . Selander is generally considered to be the most prolific director of feature Westerns of all time, with at least 107 to his credit between 1935 and 1967. He realized his first feature in 1936, a western , genre in which he would not only excel but one where he would spent much of the rest of his career. Although Selander couldn't be deemed an "A"-list director, his movies had a professionalism and a verve that many of those made by his fellow B directors lacked . He also filmed detective thrillers, action/adventure motion pictures and even a horror film or two . He finishes a close second with 106 horse operas helmed between 1917 and 1949. Rating : 5,5 . Acceptable and passable

Audie Murphy, the highest decorated U. S. soldier of WWII, gives a subtle and likable performance as Jess Carlin in the 1966 Spain-made spaghetti western, "The Texican", one of Murphy's last films.

Although Murphy was awarded every medal for valor available by the United States Army for his incredible bravery in combat (the Congressional Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, three Purple Hearts, among others) and is credited with the elimination of over 240 enemy soldiers, he was lightly regarded as an actor in Hollywood circles. Many of his performances were dismissed as "wooden" or "stoic". But in "The Texican", Murphy uses his two decades of action acting experience (almost exclusively as a Universal International contract player were he was a dependable money machine) to make this film entertaining and interesting to watch.

Performing all of his own stunts, Audie rides like the wind (bareback in a chase scene!), fights ferociously, and shoots (regarded as one of if not the fastest draw in Hollywood) his way to avenge the murder of his newspaper publishing brother, Roy Carlin. In some excellent casting concerning physical similarities to Murphy, Victor Vilanova gives a strong performance as Roy Carlin. He holds his own and then some opposite Best Actor Oscar Winner Brodrick Crawford, who delivers a rather pedestrian performance as the movie's antagonist, Luke Starr, the corrupt kingpin of the Texas town called Rimrock.

The movie's diamond in the rough is Diana Lorys, who plays bookkeeper Kit O'Neal, looking after her deceased father's interest in Starr's Silver Ring Hotel. Her acting is in fine emotional range from scornful to alluring, and as a result comes off as quite attractive. She is a definite plus for the film, and together with Murphy they generate a nice romantic electricity.

Notable acting comes from Aldo Sambrell as the hired gun, Luz Marquez as Sandy Adams, and Gerald Tichy as Boyd Thompson.

The script by John C. Champion and Jose Antonio de la Lama is tight and usually doesn't lag. It is somewhat choppily directed by Lesley Selander in a hurried fashion (not enough close ups as used so effectively by Sergio Leone), but he captures some fine steely-eyed looks from Audie during confrontational moments. More focus on the avenging aspect concerning character development was needed here. The locations in Spain are adequate to good and lend to that authentic Old West feel that made spaghetti westerns such a world-wide phenomenon. The musical score by Nico Fidenco is fairly good and avoids the copycat tones of Ennio Morricone that have marred many westerns. Changes that could have enhanced concern Murphy's wardrobe that is off the Gene Autry rack, and the cinematography by Francisco Marin is competent, but should have been more creative. The editing by Teresa Alcocer is pretty smooth.

So, pop some corn and pull up a chair for some vintage Audie in "The Texican" !