The Appaloosa

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Nick F Marlon Brando is always watchable, though not always for fine acting. In The Appaloosa, a 1966 Western set on the Mexican border, he doesn't have to do much apart from look tough and impenetrable and in that he succeeds admirably. He wants to settle down and, with a Mexican friend, just raise horses and has with him a fine Appaloosa he wants to use for breeding. But the horse attracts the attention of a Mexican bandit - well portrayed by John Saxon - who wants to buy the horse as a gift for his girlfriend. But when Brando refuses, the Mexican steals the horse, and the rest of the film centres on Brando trying to retrieve it. This dangerous task unfolds very slowly, with a lot of moody lingering close-ups and at times very little action. But as I said earlier, Brando is always watchable. And when finally there is a confrontation between Brando and the Mexican and his henchmen, it is grippingly played out in a snowy landscape. While far from Brando's best work, this is a good Western with great camera-work and a fine supporting cast and while slow-going at times, is well worth staying the course. Reviewed by NICK FLETCHER Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 11/23/24 Full Review Audience Member Wow, a very young Marlon Brando who don’t even look like himself in this one. pretty good watch try it you might like it James Welch, Henderson, Arkansas, March 24, 2023 Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/24/23 Full Review delysid d based on the low score you might think it's not a good one. it's excellent you fools Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 04/11/22 Full Review steve d Ok western with nothing to say. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member This western touches on the usual themes: honor, courage, physical toughness, and they are developed in an escalating mano-a-mano confrontation between characters played by Marlon Brando and John Saxon. The upshot is that both men want the same horse. In classic "Shane" tradition, Brando rides into town on said horse. But unlike Alan Ladd, Brando is not blessed with supernatural gun fighting skills. So when local Mexican bad guy John Saxon covets the horse, Brando has no quick and easy solution. Brando wisely underplays his character's resolve not to be bested, and as their conflict builds in intensity and violence, his stoicism never flags. But, rarely for Brando, he is upstaged by his antagonist. John Saxon, who I always felt was underrated, finds his sweet spot as a wealthy Mexican landowner who is not accustomed to being denied. There is a whisp of Spanish aristocracy in him that precludes dealing with Brando unjustly. Instead h3 gives Brando a fair chance at retaking his horse. From that point on you know one of these guys isn't going to get out of this situation alive. The film is worth watching for Saxon's performance. Both actors are playing against the stereotypes of their characters, but Brando is hobbled by a ridiculous wig, and there is a tiredness to his presentation that might have been provoked by the actors descent into personal dissipation around this time. He is overweight and slow. But still he is Brando, so you watch him. The storyline is ridiculous and the supporting actors are as stereotypical as they get. In particular, the Mexican man and his family with whom Brando intends to start a ranch are embarrassing in their fawning attitude to Brando. Such a scenario in a modern film would rightfully be condemned as racist. But for all that, I've still watched this little film four or five times. Most viewers won't like it as much as I. Perhaps my enthusiasm for the film is tied to my fondness for John Saxon. In this film he goes toe to toe with the biggest male star of his time and more than holds his own. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/03/23 Full Review Audience Member Okay revisionist western with Marlon Brando wanting to open a horse breeding farm with his friend, but conflicts arise when bandit John Saxon steals Brando's prized titular horse. Apparently Brando and director Sidney J. Furie clashed so much on set that it got to the point that Brando would read a book while in front of the camera and only put it down when Furie called action, which shows in Brando's lazy performance. However, Furie does infuse the film with a nice visual style and Saxon is quite good as the antagonist. Emilio Fernández, who was the main bad guy in "The Wild Bunch," plays one of Saxon's henchmen. Brando apparently years later admitted to Furie he had done a good job on the film and would like to make another film with him. Furie refused. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews

The Appaloosa

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