One of the best films i have seen

The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.

The movie is made so realistic it has a lot of that WoW feeling at the right moments and never tooo over the top. the suspense is done so well and the emotion is felt. Very well put together with the music and all.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

Mexican-American lawman Burt Lancaster is forced to kill a wrongfully accused black man, during a circus-like standoff. Attempting to collect a hundred dollars compensation for the man's pregnant Apache wife, he's beaten and nearly killed, before suiting up to take the money from the bigwig responsible, one way or another.Based on a novel by Elmore Leonard, this explores familiar Leonard themes of stubbornness and racial/ethnic strife in the west (see also Hombre, Joe Kidd, and Mr. Majestyk, among others.), while also keeping up with Lancaster's pursuit of roles that reflected his views on social justice.As far as the actual movie goes, the first half is fairly unpleasant, though it really hammers home the unrelenting nastiness of the villains. The second half is more action-filled and satisfying, as we cheer on Lancaster's cat-and-mouse games with a virtual army of goons, though I think it's hurt by fact that the credits begin to roll before the ending is completely resolved!If you enjoy this, don't miss Lancaster in Lawman, a very similar film made in Spain at the same time.

Burt Lancaster plays an old Mexican/American stagecoach shotgun rider who finds himself forced to kill an African American during a stand-off with him while a lot of other people are watching. Indeed, the African-American had been trapped in a small cabin at the foot of a rise, and several rifleman had kept him pinned down in the structure. Afterward, Bob Valdez (Burt Lancaster of "Lawman") goes around trying to take up a collection for the African-American's widow. The chief culprit, a wealthy land owner named Frank Tanner (Jon Cypher) refuses to ante up a cent. Moreover, he runs Valdez off after his gunmen tackled the older man, disarm him, and strap a cross to his back and send him wandering in the desert. Frank Tanner is the perfect villain, and Jon Cypher resembles those old villain with his turfy eyebrows and mustache. He isn't a nice villain. After he survives a jaunt through the desert, the old Valdez digs into his trunk and dresses up like the sage cavalry scout that he once was and comes to collect. The big difference is that he abducts Tanner's trophy woman (Susan Clark of "Porky's") as a bargaining chip, and Tanner sends his best gunmen against him to no avail. Elmore Leonard's crackerjack western novel "Valdez Is Coming" served as the inspiration for this lively western lensed on location in scenic Spain with Lancaster in top agile form for a 58-year old guy. The conclusion amounts to something of a letdown, but everything up till then is pretty good. "Valdez" was actor Jon Cyper"s big-screen debut. Similarly, in their respective big-screen debuts, Hector Elizondo is good as Tanner's second-in-command, and Richard Jordan of "Raise the Titanic" has a supporting role. Mind you, this is also very formulaic, but some of the action is unforgettable, particularly when the villains make fun of Bob Valdez and tie a cross to his back and force him to walk through the desert at high noon. The dialogue is cool and captures that nonchalance that is so characteristically Elmore Leonard. If you are a Burt Lancaster fan, this is one of his last kick ass westerns.

Released in 1971, "Valdez is Coming" is a significant Western that champions human dignity. It's a tale of the meek (not the weak) versus the arrogant. PLOT: Bob Valdez (Burt Lancaster) is an aging Mexican-American constable who runs into a ruthless rich cattleman, Frank Tanner (Jon Cypher), who senselessly causes the death of a black man for sport more than anything else. When Valdez humbly insists that Tanner provide a little money ($100) for the black man's pregnant Indian widow he is ridiculed, scorned and ultimately tortured. Valdez pulls out his old Indian-fighting uniform, his antique buffalo rifle and goes forth in the name of justice -- attaining the hundred bucks at all costs and wiping out anyone who opposes him.Burt Lancaster was 57 years old at the time and is almost unrecognizable as Valdez. Some have complained about a blue-eyed man of Mexican descent, but it's not terribly uncommon for Mexican-Americans to have blue eyes, as well as Puerto Ricans (in fact, Hector Elizondo has a minor role in the film and he's a light-eyed Latino). Some complain about Lancaster's accent but I think he comes off authentic; besides, are there any recordings of Mexican-American accents from 130 years ago? Lancaster does a fine guesstimate."Valdez is Coming" is essentially a one-man army tale. It's not so much about revenge, as some claim, but rather justice and simple human dignity. Although I'm sure Valdez was infused with a spirit of vengeance to some degree when he first sets out against Tanner and his henchmen -- especially seeing he was just horribly disrespected and tortured -- any need for revenge is clearly expunged after the mounting blood spilling; by the end of the film it's obvious that all he wants is the $100 and the case would be closed.A hundred dollars is an arbitrary number; what Valdez really wants is Tanner to pay for the senseless death of the black man and acknowledge the existence of his Native widow. Tanner is corrupted by power, pride, greed and racism and looks down on everyone else, especially non-whites like Valdez, the black man and the pregnant Indian. But he makes the mistake of underestimating Valdez because of his meekness, ancestry and disheveled appearance.Speaking of disheveled, one interesting contrast in the film is the difference of Valdez before and after he goes after Tanner. Before his quest for justice he appears spent, unkempt and slightly portly; but when he dons his old uniform and sets forth to attain justice he appears focused, orderly and trim.Throughout it all he's the embodiment of nobility and humility. The more one ages in enlightenment and spirituality the more one acquires humility. We see this wonderful quality overflowing in Valdez from the start (kudos to Lancaster), but it's woefully absent in Tanner.Susan Clark has a significant role as Tanner's woman, whom Valdez kidnaps. Susan is notable for her stunning appearance and non-verbal acting skills.The film runs 90 minutes and was shot in Spain.BOTTOM LINE: "Valdez is Coming" is essentially a one-man army Western. Although it's far less compelling than, say, "First Blood," in its favor are a sense of grim realism and a potent message about human dignity, justice and the superiority of humility over arrogance. It's also a smart film that refuses to spell everything out in a spoon-fed fashion, but it leaves little doubt for those who take into account all the blatant cues.GRADE: B+ or A-WHAT HAPPENED AT THE END? ***Spoiler*** (Don't read further unless you've seen the film). The further Tanner's lead henchman gets into the conflict, the more he sees the truth about both Tanner and Valdez. He consequently calls off his men, saying in effect, "This isn't our fight; you're on your own Tanner."At this point Tanner is stripped of his protective covering and stands alone against Valdez, and he painfully knows he can't beat Valdez in a draw. He's lost and so takes the only reasonable option, paying the $100.This works better than merely killing Tanner as he would never be able to live down such a masterful humiliation. With numerous witnesses to spread the word, Tanner would die a thousand deaths.Rejoice the victory of the righteous, humble man.

Valdez is Coming is directed by Edward Sherin and adapted for the screen by Roland Kibbee and David Rayfiel from the novel of the same name written by Elmore Leonard. It stars Burt Lancaster, Susan Clark, Jon Cypher and Frank Silvera. Music is by Charles Gross and photography by Gábor Pogány. It's out of United Artists and shot in DeLuxe colour. Plot finds Lancaster as ageing town constable Bob Valdez, who after being forced into killing an innocent man, attempts to get compensation for the dead man's widow out of the townsfolk responsible for the events leading up to the shooting. This is met with a less than favourable response, particularly from crooked rancher Frank Tanner (Cypher), who although he is the most guilty party, takes umbrage to the suggestion and has Bob tied to a wooden cross and hounded out of town. But Bob will be back, he may be old and gentile in nature, but he's an experienced Indian fighter and a crack shot marksman. Watch out, Valdez is Coming.Solid if a little too ponderous at times, Valdez is Coming is sort of like an amalgamation of an American Oater and a Spaghetti Western. Filmed in southern Spain, at locations where master Italian director Sergio Leone shot many of his European Westerns, the film is the silver screen directing debut of Edward Sherin, who made his name as a director in American theatre and television. Whilst the direction is competent and the acting from Lancaster adds a complexity to the story, the picture almost seems to be trying too hard to make Leonard's source material work. The bigotry of men card is played very early on and from then on in everything is just too predictable, in fact were it not for Lancaster's screen presence the piece would fall well under average. The Christ-come-avenging angel motif is subtlety played by Lancaster, but tension is in short supply and action sequences few and far between. Somewhere in the cramped mix is a good film, one with something to say, a film desperately trying to make a dramatic thrust courtesy of a decent man on a mission narrative. Sadly it doesn't all come together, but thanks to Lancaster and a neat ending, it's not one to dismiss completely. 6/10Footnote: British cuts of the film offer a version missing some violent moments, suffice to say that if seeking the film out one should choose carefully.