Catlow (1971)

Best movie of this year hands down!

Nice effects though.

I wanted to but couldn't!

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

Based on the 1963 novel by Louis L'Amour, this modern western stars Yul Brynner, Richard Crenna, and ... oddly enough, Leonard Nimoy (Spock, from Star Trek), who had been appearing in small TV roles since the 1950s. Brynner is Catlow, and in spite of being hunted down by Cowan (Richard Crenna), he not only helps Cowan when Cowan is in injured, but also plans on stealing two million dollars in Mexico. This one is more of a "bullet burner" than an "oat burner", as the ol westerns were called. Some beautiful scenery of Spain in here. It's listed as "Comedy,western" by imdb... and granted, there are some scenes with fun, upbeat music, as they are clocking the soldiers, one by one. For all the years Brynner had been in hollywood, he still has a pretty strong foreign accent. Also a knockdown, slap-stick fight with Christina. Christina was played by JoAnn Pflug, who was married to Mr. Game-Show, Chuck Woolery. I consider this one more of a western than a comedy. It's a typical western... L'Amour, who was actually born LaMoore, had written TONS of western stories, and many were made into films. Directed by Sam Wanamaker, who directed mostly TV shows, and had been acting since the 1960s. It's pretty okay, but it aren't no shakespeare.

In this European made western, Yul Brynner plays it considerably lighter than he did in The Magnificent Seven. Adapted from the Louis L'Amour novel, Catlow is a pretty amusing romp through the old west by Yul Brynner as an outlaw and Richard Crenna as Ben Cowan, the marshal sworn to bring him in, but alive. The two of them were in the Civil War together and that kind of bond doesn't sever easily.But Catlow's got all kinds of people who want him bad, the Mexican Army, the Indians, and a mean hired killer in the person of Leonard Nimoy. He's also got a girlfriend in Daliah Lavi who definitely has an agenda involving Brynner that's all her own. As for Nimoy before he became the wise and logical Vulcan Mr. Spock, he played all kinds of nasty types on television and in film.I'm surprised Richard Crenna didn't do more westerns in his career, probably had he come along earlier he might very well have. It's a career path he should have taken.Brynner and Crenna have a nice easy chemistry between them, it's the main reason for checking out Catlow.

The film talks about a rustler named Catlow (Yul Brynner) and his bandit underlings (Jeff Corey , Robert Logan , John Clark , Michael Delano) who are pursued by a sheriff (Richard Crenna) and a bounty hunter gunslinger (Leonard Nimoy ) with the aim to steal the Mexican gold formerly robbed to Confederacy during the American civil war (1861-1865) . As Catlow attempts to avoid interference as he journeys to pull off a $2-million gold robbery , but everyone wants him dead and buried . The Mexican cavalry wanted him murdered . The Apache nation wanted him massacred . Texas Rangers wanted him mangled and his only hope was a marshal who wanted him hanged . Meanwhile , he'll confront Apaches , Mexican Army and some cutthroats.In the picture there's western action , shootouts , comedy , tongue-in-cheek and a little bit of moderated violence . The movie has the comic observations of the Western parody genre originated in the late decade 60s by Burt Kennedy and Andrew McLagen and with references to Spaghetti Western . Based on a Louis L'Amour's novel is basically a humorist Western . The motion picture was well filmed on location in Almeria (Spain) , where during the 6os and early the 7os were shot several Spaghetti/Paella Western . Thus , there appears usual Italian/Spanish Western secondary actors as Angel del Pozo , Julian Mateos , Jose Nieto, Rafael Albaicín , Tito Garcia , Dan Van Husen and Victor Israel , among others . Yul Brynner plays perfectly as outlaw Catlow , interpretation similar to ¨Indio Black¨ (by Frank Kramer) who'll play later . Richard Crenna as the friend and enemy sheriff is very fine . Leonard Nimoy as the tough and cruel gunfighter is splendid , this film gave him a chance to break away from his role as Spock on Star Trek, he mentioned that the time he made the film was one of the happiest of his life , even though his part was rather brief . Excellent and lively musical score by Roy Budd and colorful cinematography by magnificent cameraman Edward Scaife . The movie was regularly directed by Sam Wanamaker who replaced Peter R. Hunt . The film will appeal to humor-western enthusiasts and Yul Brynner fans . Rating : Mediocre but entertaining .

This decent but little known comedy-western is all about acting! Especially Yul Brunner has the time of his life portraying a smooth cattle-thief who just promoted himself to gold-robber. His name is Catlow and he rides through the Texan desert with his gang of thugs, chased by Sheriff Richard Crenna (the two are buddies even though they ought to be enemies) and hired hit man Leonard Nimoy. Everybody – Catlow as well as his pursuers – encounters trouble on their ways, such as aggressive Indians, sneaky Mexican villains and deadly ladies… The script of this film (which I believe was filmed in Spain, like many contemporary westerns) isn't very special and lacks coherence. Sam Wanamaker's direction is very hammy and it looks like though the cast is pretty much doing what they feel like. Still, it often is enormous fun to see the comic interactions between Brunner and Crenna when they're trying to outsmart each other with lists and dialogues. Leonard Nimoy is terrific as well, but unfortunately he has little screen time. The beautiful camera-work and exhilarating Country & Western music make you regret that the story is so weak.