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The Undefeated

The Undefeated (1969)

October. 04,1969
|
6.6
|
PG
| Western

After the Civil War, ex-Union Colonel John Henry Thomas and ex-Confederate Colonel James Langdon are leading two disparate groups of people through strife-torn Mexico. John Henry and company are bringing horses to the unpopular Mexican government for $35 a head while Langdon is leading a contingent of displaced southerners, who are looking for a new life in Mexico after losing their property to carpetbaggers. The two men are eventually forced to mend their differences in order to fight off both bandits and revolutionaries, as they try to lead their friends and kin to safety.

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Kattiera Nana
1969/10/04

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

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Moustroll
1969/10/05

Good movie but grossly overrated

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Freaktana
1969/10/06

A Major Disappointment

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Logan
1969/10/07

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

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weezeralfalfa
1969/10/08

This is the story of 2 groups of Americans shortly after the end of the Civil War(War Between the States). One group consists of ex-Union soldiers, under the leadership of ex-Col. John Henry Thomas(John Wayne), who are driving 3000 mustangs south to supply Emperor Maximilian's need for horses, in his fight against the Juarista rebels. Simultaneously, a group of ex-Confederate soldiers, under the leadership of ex-Col. James Langdon(Rock Hudson), of Louisiana, have abandoned what is left of their homes, and, masquerading as a bunch of refugees, travel past Union occupation forces, on the way to protection by Maximilian officials at Durango. Neither group will succeed in its mission. They were fool's errands. Their fates gradually become intertwined, as they traveled toward Durango, taking separate, but parallel, trails. There is some initial animosity between the rank and file of each, exasperated by Langdon's policy of having his ex-soldiers dress up in their uniforms, and flying the Confederate flag while camping! Regardless, the overall theme of the film clearly is that former Unionists and separatists need to reestablish their identities as unified Americans. We see this in the occasional cooperative ventures of the 2 groups, as in fighting off the bandits, the joint July 4 celebration, and, most importantly, in Thomas's ransoming of Langdon's group after they were captured by some rebels, and sentenced to be executed, unless Thomas's 3000 horses were brought to Gen. Rojas by noon the next day. There is also the civil rights-related statement in the hurried romance of Langdon's daughter: Charlotte(Melissa Newman) with Thomas's adopted son: Blue Boy(Roman Gabriel): a full-blooded Cherokee - very unlikely back when this story is set. ...... The director was Andrew McLaglin, who had previously directed the John Wayne comedic western: "McClintock". While comedy is a less important feature of the present film, we can see the probable influence of the big comedic brawl in "McClintock" on the big comedic brawl between Langdon's and Thomas's groups. Other comedic bits are scattered. For example, Langdon's shoving of the carpetbagger, who wanted to buy his plantation for a pittance, back into his carriage, upside down........After their initial meeting, the relationship between Langdon and Thomas is remarkably cordial for such recent enemies: part of the theme of reconciliation. Some reviewers wish they had more animosity toward each other, for excitement, but that would conflict with the theme. Of course, the much criticized bland finale, where the 2 groups are mingled in their retreat to the Rio Grande, is the final statement of sectional reconciliation. It ignores the financial disaster for both groups of their undertakings, and the question of how they are going to get back on their feet financially. By the way, Langdon seemed broke before his group started. How was his expedition financed?.......Shooting took place in a number of areas in Sonora and Durango provinces. The occasional shot of hundreds of horses, packed close together, flowing over the uneven landscape, is a sight to behold.

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rogerblake-281-718819
1969/10/09

This is a typical late John Wayne western.Wayne is way past his prime,overweight and wearing an obvious toupee.Having said this he still looks like a tough old buzzard who could hold his own in a bar room brawl.Like all of his films the scenery is brilliantly photographed and the action scenes are first rate which cover up the holes in the plot.The musical score is an added bonus.The plot concerns Confederate Colonel James Langdon (Rock Hudson) who with his family and the surviving members of his regiment are heading for Mexico to start a new life offering their services to the Emperor Maximillion.Langdon has burnt his boats or at least his mansion to prevent the carpetbaggers from profiting by it.Meanwhile John Wayne's cavalry have just fought a vicious little skirmish when a rider appears and tells them of Lee's surrender(on a historical note Lee only surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia,a fact that seems to have escaped the Hollywood script writers)Under a flag of truce Wayne goes to inform his Confederate counterpart Major Saunders(Royal Dano)who tells him they already knew.An incredulous Wayne asks why they are still fighting to be told "This is our land Sir and you are on it"."But we are all Americans"replies Wayne."I know Sir"says the one armed Major"that has always been the pity of it".He holds out his one good hand and says "Thank you for your courtesy Sir".That one sequence elevates the whole film to a higher level.Royal Dano only has a brief cameo but is by far the best thing in the entire film.Wayne and his remaining troopers are demobbed,they head west rounding up wild horses with the intention of selling them to Maximillion.Of course the inevitable happens,they meet up with Langdon's ex-Confederates and at one point rescue them from Mexican bandits.Wayne takes a fancy to Colonel Langdon's widowed sister complaining to her that his ex wife is busy giving piano lessons in Boston and that she had been so busy being a lady that she forgot to be a woman.(if all he wanted was a bedroom eyed floozy perhaps he shouldn't have married her in the first place).Later with typical Southern hospitality Wayne and his men are invited to a fourth of July shindig.It all ends in a massive punch up,one of those wonderfully staged brawls that Hollywood seem to do so well.Afterwards,with nobody appearing too seriously hurt both sides agree that they have had a really good time and they all part the best of friends.The Colonel's sixteen year old daughter falls for Wayne's adopted Cherokee Indian son Blue Boy,I won't name the actor who played the part as the proverbial wooden Indian would have done just as well.A bit like this review the plot then meanders but the upshot is that Langdon's Confederates fall into the hands of Mexican revolutionaries who threaten to shoot them unless they persuade Wayne to hand over his herd of horses.Wayne agrees and united they all head back to the United States.Its all rather hard to swallow especially Langdon's acceptance of his daughter's choice of husband.Praise where praise is due,Rock Hudson plays the aristocratic Langdon to perfection with a gloriously over the top Southern accent.Its always good to see Ben Johnson and Harry Carey Jun. and John Agar make blink and you will miss them cameos,I would like to have seen a bit more of them.John Wayne is of course John Wayne,what you see is what you get.All in all an exciting colorful western if all a bit unbelievable.On another historic note General Shelby and several hundred ex- Confederates did go South into Mexico offering their services to the highest bidder.They certainly were not using the 1880-90 weaponry on show in this film.

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TankGuy
1969/10/10

True grit(1969)had managed to win John Wayne an Oscar and was widely loved by audiences all around the world. What followed were the dukes, lets say 'final movies'.Apart from Rio Lobo(1970),Rooster Cogburn(1975) and The Shootist(1976), the 'the rest of the dukes post True Grit westerns' seem to be foregotten,the undefeated is one of them,but for me, it's a memorable classic.John Wayne and Rock Hudson are perfect as the two leads and the storyline is brilliant. There is plenty of action which comes in the form of several battle scenes, shootouts and an epic scale brawl.So there you are my friends, this movie is a classic. Highly recommended to any western fans.

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k-thomas
1969/10/11

All i can say is that they do not make them like this any more. This was what going to the cinema was all about. Good story,very well made, exciting action and good performances all around. People always play down John Wayne as always wearing the same clothes and gun and even riding the same horse. In my opinion Wayne was a fine entertainer and a good actor. Don't try to compare him with the Oliviers and Burtons in the business. Also the same with Rock Hudson.I never saw a bad performance from him either. As usual in a Wayne picture you had some of his usual crew working with him such as Ben Johnson, Richard Donner and Bruce Cabot. Also notice a very young Jan Michael Vincent. Top marks for The Undefeated. Kevin Thomas.

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