Valdez Is Coming

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Valdez Is Coming

PG-13

1971

1h 30m

Western

Drama

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5 Reviews

64%

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1,000+ Ratings

When rancher Frank Tanner (Jon Cypher) hoodwinks local lawman Bob Valdez (Burt Lancaster) into shooting an innocent man, Valdez is remorseful and tries to take up a collection for the widow. Tanner won't hear of it, however, and punishes Valdez by driving him into the desert with a cross strapped to his back. Valdez is freed by one of Tanner's henchmen (Richard Jordan) and, after convalescing, begins waging a one-man war against Tanner, picking off his men with his trusty Sharps rifle.

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Margaret Hinxman

Daily Telegraph (UK)

The luck of Valdez, though, is in having Burt Lancaster to play him: an actor whose self-contained neatness of style belies the flamboyance of his appearance. He belongs to a dying breed: a real star.

Jun 2, 2020

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Stefan Kanfer

TIME Magazine

[Valdez] Is Coming offers little besides its star.

Feb 8, 2018

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

[Burt Lancaster] brings sure-footed authority and calm ruthlessness to a mission of justice by a man wronged one too many times.

Apr 29, 2025

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Nicholas Bell

IONCINEMA.com

Of course, the film's questionable casting, which features Burt Lancaster as a Mexican-American lawman who takes it upon himself to right the wrongs of a callous, greedy rancher, is enough to disregard the film in its entirety.

Rated: 2/5

Aug 27, 2020

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Exciting formulaic revenge Western.

Rated: B-

Nov 22, 2005

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D H

A 1971 Western starring Burt Lancaster, based on Elmore Leonard's 1970 novel, that explores themes of prejudice and justice through a Mexican-American constable's violent quest for revenge against a powerful rancher. While it features a classic revenge plot, its strengths include Lancaster's strong performance, steady direction by Edwin Sherin, and a story with both tension and a focus on dignity over simple bloodlust

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

10/06/25

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Jerome P

Lancaster's performance and the moral core of this Western makes this a compelling watch. If you believe in fairness, justice, and righteousness, this movie will appeal to you. A good double bill for Gregory Peck's The Bravados. Also - don't miss Lancaster's other great 1970s performance in Ulzana's Raid.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/05/25

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Nick F

Valdez Is Coming is one of the very best revenge Westerns, packed with tension and with a stellar performance from Burt Lancaster. Made in 1971, when Lancaster was almost 60 years old, he exudes true star quality as a weathered gritty Mexican/American sheriff who has to go alone against a wealthy rancher who has more than a dozen gunmen protecting him. The rancher Frank Tanner (Jon Cypher) had tricked Valdez into killing an innocent man and Valdez starts his revenge mission by kidnapping the rancher's wife (Susan Clark) and taking her out into the desert. There, the two of them wait for Tanner and his hired guns to arrive, and while it is no surprise that a relationship begins to develop, the gripping finale of this film - sharply directed by Edwin Sherin - is hard to predict. Reviewed by Nick Fletcher

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/16/25

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Peter H

Great acting by Lancaster, kind of a dumb plot, they sure didn't know how to make westerns then

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/15/25

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Nik75 J

A decent revenge western that's held together by Burt Lancaster and his obvious star power.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/05/24

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Jeremy D

Better than any Clint Eastwood western.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/16/23

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Edwin Sherin

Director

Burt Lancaster

Valdez

Susan Clark

Gay Erin

Jon Cypher

Frank Tanner

Barton Heyman

El Segundo

Richard Jordan

R.L. Davis

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Synopsis

When rancher Frank Tanner (Jon Cypher) hoodwinks local lawman Bob Valdez (Burt Lancaster) into shooting an innocent man, Valdez is remorseful and tries to take up a collection for the widow. Tanner won't hear of it, however, and punishes Valdez by driving him into the desert with a cross strapped to his back. Valdez is freed by one of Tanner's henchmen (Richard Jordan) and, after convalescing, begins waging a one-man war against Tanner, picking off his men with his trusty Sharps rifle.

Director: Edwin Sherin
Producer: Ira Steiner
Screenwriter: Roland Kibbee, David Rayfiel
Production Co: Ira Steiner Productions, Polyphony Digital, Norlan Productions
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Western, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 16, 2008
Runtime: 1h 30m
Sound Mix: Stereo

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