Jeff S
The decision to raid for a large sum of gold is a familiar theme, but the setting and the subplots all combine to give the story a slightly different perspective.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
04/19/24
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Audience Member
Iï¿ 1/2 1/2(TM)m not sure what Ebertï¿ 1/2 1/2(TM)s problem with this movie was. I think itï¿ 1/2 1/2(TM)s highly entertaining.
Unfortunately I saw it on TV tonight on Grit; I despise watching movies where commercials interrupt the flow.
Plus I didnï¿ 1/2 1/2(TM)t get to see Marianna and Imogen naked lol!
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
02/03/23
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Audience Member
Directed by John Guillermin, (Shaft in Africa (1973), The Towering Inferno (1974) and Death on the Nile (1978)), and produced by André de Toth (House of Wax (1953)), this adventure-western might seem quite dated by todays standards, but it's one of the best westerns to come out of Hollywood at the time, even though it follows the template of a lot of Spaghetti Westerns made around that time. Set in 19th Century Mexico, it follows the exploits of escaped black convict Luke (Jim Brown) who teams up with eccentric gold prospector Jaroo (Lee Van Cleef), looking for gold. Jaroo hears of a vast heavily armed fortress which is said to contain a large cache of gold. They end up recruiting a band of Native Americans, led by Santana (Iron Eyes Cody), to perform attack waves on the fort, but the fort, ran by Chavez (Patrick O'Neal) seems to be well handled to tackle the Native's attack waves, so Jaroo decides to plan a stealth attack, and they're able to get Chavez's mistress Claudine (Marianna Hill) on their side to help with their planned attack. Shot in Andalusia, Spain, where many Spaghetti Westerns were made during the 1960's, it's a good film with a good plot and Brown and Van Cleef make a good double act throughout the film, and there's some good action sequences too. It also has a good score by Maurice Jarre, which helps add to the atmosphere.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
02/05/23
Full Review
Audience Member
A fairly sprightly western that turns a few of the perceived notions of the old west on its head to give it somewhat of a gritty edge. Even Lee Van Cleef plays and appealing character in this one.
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
02/06/23
Full Review
Audience Member
You get killed just as easy going after $100 as you do $1,000,000.
Jaroo is a loner gold prospector that has more confidence than success. Luke is an escaped African-American convict that hears Jaroo's game and wants in on it. The two reluctantly work together, but as they get deeper, they find working together difficult. Can the two earn their riches together or will they devise and hopefully conquer?
"He's got an army."
"Yeah, but he's got the wrong kind of army."
John Guillermin, director of King Kong (1976), King Kong Lives (1986), The Towering Inferno, Rapture, House of Cards, and Death on the Nile, delivers El Condor. The storyline for this picture is fairly interesting and definitely has some unique elements and characters. The action scenes are entertaining and the characters are funny. The cast delivers solid performances and includes Lee Van Cleef, Jim Brown, Patrick O'Neal, and Mariana Hill.
"I have executed whole towns with men better than this."
I DVR'd this picture off Encore Western because it starred one of my favorite western actors, Lee Van Cleef. I will say this is a slightly above average western picture. It isn't great but it isn't terrible. The ending threw me for a loop for sure. Overall, this is worth watching once but far from being an all time great western.
"I am his mother. He is my bastard child."
Grade: C+/B- (6.5)
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
01/19/23
Full Review
Audience Member
You get killed just as easy going after $100 as you do $1,000,000.
Jaroo is a loner gold prospector that has more confidence than success. Luke is an escaped African-American convict that hears Jaroo's game and wants in on it. The two reluctantly work together, but as they get deeper, they find working together difficult. Can the two earn their riches together or will they devise and hopefully conquer?
"He's got an army."
"Yeah, but he's got the wrong kind of army."
John Guillermin, director of King Kong (1976), King Kong Lives (1986), The Towering Inferno, Rapture, House of Cards, and Death on the Nile, delivers El Condor. The storyline for this picture is fairly interesting and definitely has some unique elements and characters. The action scenes are entertaining and the characters are funny. The cast delivers solid performances and includes Lee Van Cleef, Jim Brown, Patrick O'Neal, and Mariana Hill.
"I have executed whole towns with men better than this."
I DVR'd this picture off Encore Western because it starred one of my favorite western actors, Lee Van Cleef. I will say this is a slightly above average western picture. It isn't great but it isn't terrible. The ending threw me for a loop for sure. Overall, this is worth watching once but far from being an all time great western.
"I am his mother. He is my bastard child."
Grade: C+/B- (6.5)
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
02/07/23
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