Les 100 fusils

Decent enough action-drama, set in Mexico in the late-1800s/early-1900s. Good plot, though it runs out of steam towards the end. Direction is solid, though unspectacular.

Good performances Jim Brown and Burt Reynolds. However, Raquel Welch steals the show with her stunning beauty and action-girl character.

Sheriff Lyedecker (Jim Brown) comes to Mexiko as he chases the bank robber Yaqui Joe (Burt Reynolds). As a victim of circumstance, Lyedecker becomes the number 1 enemy of a Mexican general who wants to kill the Yaqui Indians. The sheriff has no other choice than to fight side by side with the bank robber and the Indians now...

The years 1969-1971 mark the beginning of the modern western with the irony of „Little Big Man", the cruelty of „Soldier Blue", the myth awareness of „Butch Cassidy And the Sundance Kid", the depression of „McCabe & Mrs Miller" and many more. „100 Rifles" is a kind of missing link between 1960s westerns and the new approach as from 1970 onwards. It makes deliberate, obvious attempts to break taboos, telling the love story between a black guy and a white woman, pushes violence to the level of an Italian western of that time, includes nudity not only in Raquel Welch's famous shower scene, but also in Soledad Miranda's hotel scene at the beginning, and the screenplay adds a left-wing political, anti-racist theme. „100 Rifles" gets carried away by its own enthusiasm sometimes, putting forward its messages a bit clumsily compared to the elegance of „The Professionals", a movie which took much more careful steps into the revolution movie direction 2 years earlier. Nevertheless, I enjoyed watching the picture for being a (wild) child of its time, speedy narration and a gorgeous Raquel Welch.

The action film is a pretty obvious genre. It's purpose is to distract, entertain, and many money. Yes, there's quite a market for this material, probably supported by a similar audience that keep gothic paperbacks moving in the marketplace year after year.

"100 Rifles" is a substandard action western that offers a time capsule back to the late 60s early 70s. Generally unpleasant in its excessive depiction of killing and bloodletting, the film does utilize the star talents of three interesting actors.

The lead role gave Jim Brown an opportunity to strut his macho stuff, riding horses, shooting bad guys, and fist fighting his male costar on occasion. It also provided a couple of intended heated love scenes with his leading lady. Unfortunately, Brown comes across as wooden and even disinterested here. Too, his vocal instrument is much too high pitched and unsonorous to match his impressive physicality.

Burt Reynolds comes off better, making the most of his high cheekbones and sunken eyes--lending credibility to character ethnicity. He, like Brown, is in fine physical shape, and even elects to do some fancy stuntwork himself, like jumping off a moving train.

Still, it's Rachel Welch that emerges victorious here. Here's an actress that takes on a routine part in a routine script and plays it for all its worth. Also in great shape, Welch knows that if she's got it, she might as well flaunt it. She does, and we are the appreciative recipients.

The film also shows how much energy it takes to do this kind of production. Not a great deal of brainwork required, but a barrelful of brawnwork.

this my not be the best western ever made but for my money this is a great action flick. the action has not dated to bad. this is an action movie with the next battle more a priority than plot or story. I'm not saying this is a bad thing because we have see umpteen storys of this type before, so what tom grimes is give us a solid action movie in a western setting.

as for the cast they are just outstanding, especially rachael. I'm a burt fan so he can't do no wrong but the surprise is big jim brown probably his best role. all the extras were good excluding some poor death scenes throughout but hay it is also a western and that comes with the territory.

100m rifles is truly worth seeing and the DVD look stunning a good transfer probably looks better than ever. if you have not watch a western before give it a go if your a western fan give it another go you will be surprised how well it has stood the test of time.

I admit that I liked the film, rather more than I expected to. Jim Brown, while not a professional actor held his own for the most part, although his scenes with Raquel Welch seemed a little forced. This makes me think that acting is not really that hard to do acceptably, since so many non-actors have done OK at it. Welch does her part and looked wonderful. Burt Reynolds was at the top of his game here, before he became a world-wide phenomenon, still had to make his way ACTING. Fernando Lamas was suitably evil as the native general/governor trying to commit genocide on the poor, misunderstood, peaceful Indians. And I have to mention the beauty of the late Soledad Miranda. She brightened the screen in the short time she was on it.