The Appaloosa (1966)

Sadly Over-hyped

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

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

not remarkable. not impressive. but honest. good use of western rules. and, sure, Marlon Brando. story of past memories, honor and justice, not great performances but decent story, it is one of movies important for the flavor of old period. a film about a single man and his war. few fake scenes, sentimental note who defines many moments and lovely moments, it represents slice of a solid tradition. it is not easy to criticize it because not its artistic value is relevant but a feeling, maybe emotion , creates a large circle. a good thing - its simplicity who saves a lot . a film with Marlo Brando. not brilliant . but useful for rediscover the rhythm of a time.

Interesting but slowly paced Western follows Brando's attempts to recover an Appaloosa horse stolen from him by Mexican villains . Being based on a novel by Robert MacLeod and screenplay by also filmmakers , James Bridges and Roland Kibbee . Set in 1870s , Southwest to Sonora where rules the lawless , lustful and violence arrives a man who returns from war and tries to recover a horse (the appaloosa of the titles) stolen from him by a Mexican bandit called Chuy (John Saxon who received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor) and hoodlums (Emilio Fernandez) . As a Mexican-American named Matt Fletcher and outlaws to live on the edge of violence . When the bandits steal his horse , he sets out in pursuit the thieves . Meanwhile Matt falls in love for the Chuy's girlfriend named Trini (Anjanette Comer) . This strange Western contains drama , action , colorful outdoors , shootouts but is paced in slow-moving and often tiring . Violent and moving at the ending in which Fletcher/Brando single-handedly, contends the whole nasty band . Good interpretation by the mythical Marlon Brando , he carries out a method-acting , brooding approach to the main role , though according to co-star John Saxon, Marlon Brando's relationship with director Sidney J. Furie got to the point where Brando, when getting ready to do a close-up, would be reading a book , he would only lower the book when Furie yelled "Action" ; when he yelled "Cut", Brando would raise the book again . Also according to producer Alan Miller, appalled at his star's lack of interest in the film and his lackluster performance, pinned a bit of doggerel about Marlon Brando . Glimmer and luxurious cinematography in Techniscope by the classical cameraman Russell Metty filmed on location in St. George, Utah, Lake Los Angeles, and Wrightwood, California . Sensitive and evocative musical score by maestro Frank Skinner .This slight motion picture was professionally directed by Sidney J Furie , a veteran and prolific director , still today making films . British Furie has directed all kind of genres , though mostly action . In 1999, Sidney J. Furie's espionage thriller The Ipcress File (1965) was included at number 59 on the BFI's list of the 100 greatest British films of the 20th century. Stanley Kubrick was a big fan of The Boys in Company C (1978) and cited Sidney J. Furie's war movie as the direct inspiration for Full Metal Jacket (1987). In 2009, director Martin Scorsese placed Sidney J. Furie's The Entity (1982) on his list of the 11 Scariest Horror Films of All Time. He also directed Superman IV: quest of peace (1987) , originally had a budget of $36 million dollars , just before filming was to begin, Cannon Pictures, which was starting to suffer financial problems, slashed the budget and was a flop . ¨The Appaloosa¨ resulted to be an acceptable Western that had moderated success at the box office . Rating : 6 , passable . The picture will appeal to Marlon Brando fans and Western buffs .

Matteo (Marlon Brando) saunters into town to live with his family if he can get past the cantina where Chuy (John Saxon) hangs out.Marlon must go back into town to retrieve his stolen appaloosa horse, which we don't get to see enough of. Things get rolling once he has finished slapping Rafael Campos in the face a half-dozen times. Anjanette Comer is the pretty girl who director Sid Furie gave virtually nothing to do, except to film her from a distance while she sucks on lime wedges and waits for the next take. Anyway, she's nice to look at.It's cool to note that John Saxon apparently was not in the least phased by Brando's eminence. Saxon is, in fact, much better than Brando in this film. Saxon does not back off or hesitate while he concomitantly restrains himself from over-acting in any way resulting in perhaps the best performance of his career.Interesting western.

A much maligned western that is actually a really good, very tightly made suspense film featuring a terrific Marlon Brando performance as well as an unexpectedly great turn by John Saxon. Brando drifts into a border-town and crosses paths with Mexican hot head Saxon. Saxon steals Brando's beloved horse (the appaloosa of the title) and a game of cat and mouse ensues during which Brando acquires Saxon's desperate wife (the oddly cast Anjanette Comer). Brando is exceptional and Saxon is really great as the villain. However, Comer is very under-utilized --- unfortunately she has a pretty thankless role and has little chemistry with Brando. Directed with a lot of flair by Sidney J. Furie and featuring excellent cinematography by Russell Metty.