I have to disagree despite Burt's dodgy accent and the rough edges this is a majestic western. Brilliant storyline, acting, score, cinematography and direction I can watch this over and over again. I love the way it doesn't take itself seriously either yet it's a brutal picture. 10/10.

I never knew Leonard was the original author of the movie "Hombre". Thanks for the heads up. Now I will have to read his book. Hombre is also one of my favorite movies.

One of my favourite films, very similar theme to 'Hombre' also based on a book by the legendary Elmore Leonard.

I think this is one of Lancaster's best.
I live in a largely Hispano part of isolated rural New Mexico. Lancaster's character was entirely consistent with the humble, polite, but sober and serious older people here.

I guess there will aways be a difference of opinions..however..with all due respect, I just can not imagine a fan of westerns not liking this film which is on my all top ten list..coincidentally with 3 other Lancaster filmsLawman, Ulzana's Raid, and The Professionals which goes a long way into also describing my difference of opinion about Burt being "stiff" in his roles..which are all different..and allow a range of acting a lot of people would not have been able to pull off..To me, this movie has a lot in common with another favorite of mine, A Touch of Evil..where Charlton Heston portrayed a Mexican Lawman..Like that movie, the Makeup people did no favors with their assignments..maybe nobody could have given what they had to work with..But the quality of the writing, the interaction between the characters..and the standup performance of Heston and Lancaster transcended the quality of the makeup, at least for me..

I completely disagree. If you don't like the accent and the makeup, I accept that as your personal opinion. But no action? Did you actually watch the movie?

As an ex-military member, I really have to give praise the tactics and harps rifle scenes in this movie.
Also, I really liked the horsemanship and stunts in this movie.
The horse stunt sequence at the end of the film took my breath away. I really would have liked to have seem them setting up and filming the stunts. As for the bay that Lancaster was riding for the final fall, did it break its neck? I really felt sorry for that horse.
The short horse chase in the canyon was well done. After Valdez fired at the horseman coming head on, the horse, seemed to be expecting a fall, twisted and rolled on its rider. As the horse went over the rider and righted itself, the look on its face seemed to say, Rider, I got you first! Afterwards I reached for my ribs, wondering if any of mine were broken. That was a great ride.

I just watched it for my first time, never got around to it for some reason, I thought it was a good western revenge movie. I will definitely watch it again.

i was surprised when i found out this movie is from a book by elmore leonard because i always thought he wrote books in the '90s because a lot of his books were made into movies in the '90s and after.
lanchaster gives a great performance in this movie.
lukejbarnett

I saw this, during its original run& loved it. I loved the drama & the 'one man against an army' aspectas described. I loved the examination of racism. I loved Segundo's obvious distaste for Tanner & growing respect for Valdez.
Lancaster was, and is, one of my favorite actor's.
Beyond all thatit's Elmore Leonard's storyas are 'Hombre', '3:10 to Yuma', '52 Pick-up', 'Out of Sight', 'Jackie Brown' (Rum Punch) & 'Get Shorty'.
Not to mention'Justified'.
Carpe Noctem!

LOL @ the OP. One of the truly great westerns, very under rated.
The thorn defends the rose, yet it is peaceful and does not seek conflict.

I don't think his accent is that bad.
the accent is suppose to be Mexican American in those times. it's not an EAST LA accent like today..
he is not suppose to be a MExican straight from Mexico .

I First saw this Movie in Army Basic Training at Fort Polk, Louisiana in 1973. Everyone in the Place Loved this Movie. The One Man Tactics against a Numerically Superior Force were outstanding. Burt Lancaster, aside from any accent & makeup carrys it off. It works, for Me & a lot of people. If You don't like it then there's no way for Me to convince You otherwise. But this one is on My Top 100 Westerns to See. Not to mention I've always been a fan of Burt Lancaster, one of the Studio Actors with Classic Training. He was an Actor & Knew His Craft. The Scene I like the Most is when He's picking them off at Long Range with The Sharps Buffalo Gun from the top of the Mountain. They can't see where the Fire is coming from so they ride in all directions to try & escape. The Army Cheered when He used the Ladder Sight! Snipers & Expert Marksmen do know their Trade! Those Shots are possible with the technology He was using!

Can we compare his body of work with yours? Or is it as shallow as your analysis of the film?
My ignore list is much too long for a sig line.

I remember seeing this thing when it was first shown and thinking, what a stink bomb. It is bad, and he was a stiff actor. Always seemed to be trying to make some flaming liberal point in most of his films, but this thing is so bad that even "his message" is garbled. Probably better that it is. From what I've read about this guy, he was full of crap. Took himself way too seriously. Should've taken a few acting classes while he was at it.

He sounded French.
I had a hard time watching this because of it, waaay too distracting.

His accent was good enough. Maybe Meryl Streep can be brought in to re-dub the accent

Could not disagree more, its not the makeup that makes the story interesting, its the story, the dialog that tells the story, and the way the dialog is delivered, the acting. An example: The Pawnbroker with Rod Steiger, one of the worst makeup jobs in history, that skull cap looks atrocious, but is it a good movie, yes it is, why, becaus of the story, the dialog and the acting. Is it the greatest western made, no. Is it interesting and worth a watch every year or so, I do and enjoy it each time. JMHO.
Anyone notice the mexican rider/tracker in Valdez, same guy as the tracker in Chato's Land. Both made in Spain, so not really spaghetti westerns, more a chorizo westerns.

I don't think this was a particularly good role for Lancaster, but one adjective I would never use to describe him is stiff. Generally, he was quite flamboyant in his portayals. Witness larger-than-life roles like Elmer Gantry, J.J. Hunsecker in Sweet Smell of Success, or Starbuck in The Rainmaker.Everyone's entitled to an opinion so if you want to knock Burt Lancaster call him a ham, but stiff he was not.

In the novelization of the screenplay also by Leonard, romance blooms between Valdez and the woman.

yeah, in vera cruz lanchaster is completely different than in this movie. he's a horrible, hated, despicable character in vera cruz. i hated him in it and really liked him in this movie. so he had range.
lukejbarnett

Watch him in The Rainmaker or Elmer Gantry. He is not playing himself.
I keep reading such remarks from what I assume must be young viewers who never got to see actores like Burt Lancaster and others in the wide variety of roles they played in the movies. You might also try The Crimson Pirate or The birdman of Alcatraz. Please, before you judge an actor's ability, see at least 15 of his movies to get the range of those abilities.
And as for stiff, no one can beat Christian Bale or Keanu Reeves.
My husband who was born and partially raised in Mexico thinks Valdez is Coming is one of the best westerns ever made and it is his favorite movie. He doesn't mind the blue eyes because green eyes run in his family and he doesn't object to the accent either. All of his older brothers and sisters speak with accents - if they speak English at all. He does know what an autentic Mexican accent sounds like. Even if his accent isn't perfect, my husband loves to see that old Mexican man beat the sh!t out of that arrogant gringo's army, especially since my husband is now an old Mexican himself.:~)
Sometimes being a bitch is the only thing a woman has to hold onto.

Burt a stiff actor? a lot of those hard men in those days played tough roles
the Duke, clint eastwood, etc.. I mean most actors just play themselves,.
still there are plenty of early stuff from Burt which shows his diversity.

Regarding Burt Lancaster being a stiff actor. Quoting from The New York Times Vincent Canby (part of the film review), "Mr. Lancaster himself is simply beyond criticism, an enduring star whose screen personalitydecent, liberal, tough, well-intentionedprovides the shape of the movies that are constructed around him".
I think that Lancaster could have more than held his own against the small handful of decent actors today