ma-cortes
Gritty and well written Western tale with jarring burst of violence . Good western with nifty non-stop action in the old 20th Century Fox tradition set in Texas with towering actors , unstopped action and spectacular scenarios ; dealing with three Army buddies search for 2000 stolen rifles . 1867 , after the Civil War , a weapon shipping has been stolen to army and as responsible appears captain Haven (Stuart Whitman) , he is assigned to go to Mexico as incognito to avoid arms to be sold Apaches , being accompanied by a misfit outfit . He along with a furious racist agree to lead a hazardous expedition through Apace territory . As the group is formed by an ex-Confederate officer called Lassiter (Richard Boone) , a bitter ex-Rebel army major whose wife and children have been killed by the Apaches , the African-American sergeant Franklyn (Jim Brown) and a Mexican prisoner named Rodríguez (Anthony Franciosa) condemned to death row . As two Army officers, an alcoholic ex-Confederate soldier and a womanizing Mexican travel to Mexico , the object is to find another ex-Confederate who is about to sell hundreds of robbed guns to the Indians . They are ¨Comancheros¨ is a word that refers to those who favored or advantaged of Comanche Indians by selling weapons and alcohol . The Indians are out on a rampage of killing , vengeance against the white intruders and with the aim for getting weapons . As four men stalking the Apache nation on a mission that could drench the whole Southwest in blood and flames . From Texas they go to Chihuahua where a megalomaniac Southern ex-general named Pardee (Edmond O'Brien) living at a mansion in Louisiana style and commanding an army of bushwhackers attempts to re-initiate a war by Indian upheaval led by Bloodshirt (Rodolfo Acosta) . At the end there takes places a peculiar apocalypse plenty of explosion , dynamite , powder , fire and rifles . This actioner Western contains thrills , adventures , rider pursuits , wonderful outdoors , impressive attacks and loads of crossfire . It is a very fine picture that could become another western worthy of any anthology . This is an unusually brutal tale of a hard-bitten sergeant assembling a detail of misfit cavalrymen to hold-off rampaging Indians and rebels . Well developed film with gloomy energy , crafty characters , sober lighting , abundant night scenes , elegant camera movements and especial dramatic pace , including a dialectic about racism . The picture relies heavily on the relationship among the misfit group , though gets enjoyable nuances and charm enough and along the way confront Indians rebels and themselves . In this film "Rio Conchos" also titled ¨Guns of Rio Conchos¨ the spectator enjoys because it has a lot of issues that make it agreeable . Even the female character played by attractive Wende Wagner as India Sally, reveals a woman who knows that she wishes and makes it irresistible . Stuart Whitman and an expert all-star-cast shine in this gripping story about a dangerous mission carried out by a motley bunch and director takes a fine penned screenplay by Clair Huffaker creating a cavalry-Indians tale that is far from ordinary , exploring the anguish and desperation of a varied group . Features convincing playing from the always reliable Richard Boone as a violent and hard-hitting racist and memorable Anthony Franciosa as womanizer Mexican . Jim Brown is good in his film debut and he gave up his football career, at its peak, to try acting . Colorful cinematography in truly De Luxe Colour by Joseph MacDonald . Offbeat musical score in suspenseful and thrilling style by the great Jerry Goldsmith . The motion picture was professionally directed by Gordon Douglas , at his best . He's an expert on adventures cinema as ¨Black arrow¨ , ¨Fortunes of Captain Blood¨ , both starred by Louis Hayward and Western , as he proved in the films starred by Clint Walker such as ¨Fort Dobbs¨, ¨Yellowstone Kelly¨ , ¨Gold of seven Saints¨ , Gregory Peck as ¨Only the valiant¨ in similar plot to ¨Chuka¨ , Richard Boone as ¨Rio Conchos¨ considered the best , and on bandits legendary as ¨Doolins of Oklahoma¨ , ¨Great Missouri raid¨, among others
zardoz-13
Twentieth Century Fox assembled an ideal cast, including Richard Boone, Stuart Whitman, Anthony Franciosa, Jim Brown, and Edmond O'Brien, for director Gordon Douglas' brawny, post-American Civil War epic "Rio Conchos." This is one of the best westerns that prolific director Gordon Douglas helmed during his 32 years behind the camera. The U.S. Cavalry are on the trail of Confederate renegade officer Colonel Theron 'Gray Fox' Pardee who has taken refuge in Mexico. A young cavalry officer (Stuart Whitman) takes former Major James 'Jim' Lassiter (Richard Boone) prisoner and the Army decides that he can lead them to Pardee with the help of a slimy Mexican cutthroat Juan Luis Rodriguez (Anthony Franciosa) who is just looking for an excuse to desert. "Rio Conchos" represented former Cleveland Brown's football star Jim Brown's motion picture debut. The action is rough, the characters are gruff, and there aren't any women to hold our heroes or villains back from the action. Basically, "Rio Conchos" is a variation on an earlier Clair Huffaker western "The Commancheros" that co-starred John Wayne with Stuart Whitman. Jerry Goldsmith provided the atmospheric orchestral score.
edwagreen
Pretty bad film with a whole host of stars done in by an unusually poor script.Everyone is seeking vengeance here. Edmond O'Brien comes in towards the end of the film. He is an ex-Confederate soldier seeking vengeance by planning an attack on the 2nd anniversary of Lee's surrender to Grant. He really should have left well enough alone.No wonder no one ever heard of Wende Wagner after this film. With a credit like this behind her, nobody would bother to want to remember.Franciosa's character is one that Gilbert Roland would have played in the real old days. He's conflicted here and that's why he ends up with a bullet.Richard Boone seeks vengeance for a lost wife and child. Stuart Whitman is just about in for the ride to Mexico. A very bad film with little to no meaning.
bradmoore
If you are fan of great westerns and acting you must see this movie. I have not missed many westerns, but up until today I have never had a chance to see this, I knew about it thanks to IMDb and I am a huge fan of Richard Boone whom I consider on of the best Wesern Stars ever, right up there with John Wayne,Clint Eastwood Henry Fonda etc. Others have given the story line better than I could. But Boones performance is a must see, he totally dominates the film is as usual so incredibly believable, probably because in real like he was one tough S.O.B. It is great to see him in the beginning a burnt out shell of an ex confederate officer who's family was butchered by the Apaches and as the story races forward he slowly changes into an honourable man at the end. Some great scenes include the shoot out with the Apaches at the burned out farmhouse and Boones performance in the flea ridden bar was a also a great scene. Boone was so convincing as a tough guy, someone you wouldn;t want to go against. Great cinematography and soundtrack acompany this film which moves along at a fast rate and contains a few well placed plot turns. Highly recommended to any western fan and I hope to find it on DVD
