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One-Eyed Jacks

Play trailer Poster for One-Eyed Jacks Released Mar 30, 1961 2h 21m Western Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
65% Tomatometer 17 Reviews 72% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
After pulling a bank heist in Mexico, the outlaw Rio (Marlon Brando) and his partner, Dad Longworth (Karl Malden), make a run for it, but Dad has bigger plans than freedom. He betrays Rio and absconds with the loot, and Rio ends up in prison. Years pass before Rio finally breaks free to enact his long-plotted revenge. Tracking Dad to California, Rio learns he's become a sheriff -- which is no deterrent -- but when Rio falls for Dad's stepdaughter, Louisa (Pina Pellicer), he has second thoughts.
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One-Eyed Jacks

Critics Reviews

View All (17) Critics Reviews
Penelope Houston Sight & Sound The satisfactions of One Eyed Jacks lie in watching an artist of this calibre at work, the display of that quintessential actor's egotism which admits of no limits to what the player, merely through his presence, can communicate. Feb 11, 2020 Full Review Melissa Anderson Village Voice A strange, tumid, engrossing western ... Oct 13, 2016 Full Review Peter Sobczynski The Spool [It's] either an enormously ambitious but uneven work at worst, or one of the greatest Westerns ever filmed, as well as one of the most fascinating one-and-done directorial efforts in Hollywood history. Mar 31, 2021 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Brando brings Method moodiness to the standard Western protagonist. Rated: 3.5/4 Jan 20, 2021 Full Review Dwight MacDonald Esquire Magazine One-Eyed Jacks has some very handsome photography and some competent performances, but it isn't even a very good Western. Jul 30, 2019 Full Review Tim Brayton Antagony & Ecstasy Lumbering and bloated, often compelling, always gorgeous, and at times astonishingly bizarre. Rated: 6/10 Jul 26, 2014 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (158) audience reviews
Kimberly E I love this movie. Marlon Brando and Karl Malden at their best! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/29/25 Full Review Daniel C. M A nice mix of a western with romantic melodrama. Of course, as you probably would already expect from this movie considering it features Brando, it has great and realistic acting, though he is also directing this picture, the only one he has ever directed infact, which is a shame; there are some absolutely stunning shots here, fully utilizing it's primarly coastal location with the perfectionism of Brando when going in sync with nature itself to get the best looking shot possible, particularly in the waves of the ocean, though the greatness extends to it's other areas such as the notable first 20 minutes or so in the desert, with the eye-catching sandstorm scenes. The story also fortunately strays away from it's bland and generic first impressions and makes way for a convicing and envolving plot that pulls you in right away, though it's pacing certainly takes quite a toll here and there and the movie feels a bit too long, even if just a tiny little bit. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 04/10/25 Full Review Rami A It's hard to depict whether or not a film will be good based on the responses you hear from people until you watch it for yourself. Throughout his career, Marlon Brando has starred in four westerns, and one of them he directed it. Now, I've watched a lot of Brando films and have always heard this one come into discussions, mostly because he directed himself. It's also notorious for its troubled production. Looking passed all of that, this is actually a marvelous film. Not only does Brando know how to act, he knows how to direct. Brando brings in many styles other than his "method acting." This is no ordinary Western, it's something visually stunning picture, as it combines old and new techniques, and tells a story of love, revenge, and betrayal. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/27/25 Full Review Michael S Saw this originally when it came out. I was blown away by the movie and the time slipped away. This is a meditation on friendship and betrayal. Brando and Malden, two close friends, whose comradery is destroyed by Malden's betrayal leading to jail for Brando. Malden, former outlaw, now a Sheriff, has become the leading citizen of the town. Brando visits and seemingly remains Malden's close friend. However, the metaphor of their being "One Eyed Jacks" circling around each other, with bitter enmity beneath the surface creates exquisite tension. I was 17 when I first saw this movie. I'm 80 now and I have to admit that the lessons taught about friendship in this film, stuck with me through the years of my life. Friendship and companionship exist as comforts as we experience our lives. Yet sometimes our closest friends, may despise us beneath the surface. Brando and Malden are among the best the film acting profession has developed. Brando's direction is so tight that one barely notices as the film develops and climaxes without ant dead spots. I think it rates up there with the best films of the genre. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/25/25 Full Review Jelisije J A romantic Western instead of revenge Western, but the end result left me satisfied as Marlon Brando carries this film from being forgettable to memorable. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 12/03/24 Full Review Steve D Nothing stands out here and a number of actors are wasted, Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 09/24/24 Full Review Read all reviews
One-Eyed Jacks

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Movie Info

Synopsis After pulling a bank heist in Mexico, the outlaw Rio (Marlon Brando) and his partner, Dad Longworth (Karl Malden), make a run for it, but Dad has bigger plans than freedom. He betrays Rio and absconds with the loot, and Rio ends up in prison. Years pass before Rio finally breaks free to enact his long-plotted revenge. Tracking Dad to California, Rio learns he's become a sheriff -- which is no deterrent -- but when Rio falls for Dad's stepdaughter, Louisa (Pina Pellicer), he has second thoughts.
Director
Marlon Brando
Producer
Frank P. Rosenberg
Screenwriter
Guy Trosper, Calder Willingham
Production Co
Pennebaker Productions
Genre
Western, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 30, 1961, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Feb 18, 2012
Runtime
2h 21m
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