One of Burt Lancaster’s later Westerns (see also Ulzana’s Raid and Lawman). In this one, based on an Elmore Leonard story, he’s an ageing scout of Mexican descent who is bullied and humiliated by the local land baron (Jon Cypher) and eventually snaps, going on a rampage to regain his dignity and avenge the death of a man he’s forced to kill.

Lancaster is great in this movie, being convincing both as an old man and as an athlete fit enough to win a manhunt across hostile terrain. OK, he’s not a convincing Mexican but he’s better than Charlton Heston. The supporting cast are terrific too, particularly Richard Jordan in his first movie, and it’s all nicely directed by Sherin, who up to then had been a theatre director. Disappointingly his subsequent cinema career never took off and he ended up in TV, albeit at the smarter end. Cinematographer Gabor Pogany also had a mixed career after this, photographing among others Pink Floyd Live at Pompeii and the ‘video nasty’ Late Night Trains.

The movie was filmed in Almeria so it has a look reminiscent of the best Spaghetti Westerns, while also containing thematic elements from more conventional westerns.

One warning: the ending is a typical ’70s affair, leaving the viewer battling with the moral conundrum while not tying up the plot in any conclusive way. Don’t say you weren’t warned. Otherwise it’s a great little movie.

Mild Peril Rating:

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