Cathardincu Surprisingly incoherent and boring

Stevecorp Don't listen to the negative reviews

Myron Clemons A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.

Lela The tone of this movie is interesting -- the stakes are both dramatic and high, but it's balanced with a lot of fun, tongue and cheek dialogue.

iizthatiiz "You robbed a bank? .. You? .. Mace?""Well, Dee, the bank was there ... and I was there ... and there wasn't very much of anybody else there ... and it just seemed like the thing to do."As the opening credits roll after a brief prologue, many viewers will immediately recognize the iconic whistling theme music of 1968's Bandolero! So begins this tale of two brothers who have drifted separately into the old west after the last days of the civil war. At it's heart, Bandolero is a story of needlessly losing one's way, yet still managing to find a measure of redemption.Jimmy Stewart and Dean Martin star as Dee and Mace, the Bishop brothers, in their only big screen team-up. Stewart is a pleasure to watch as he absolutely owns a script very well-suited to his particular charms. Raquel Welch continues to break her Hollywood sex kitten image in a early dramatic role, beginning a string of western film vehicles (100 Rifles, Hannie Caulder). George Kennedy portrays July Johnson, a 'decent' sheriff in pursuit of more than just the outlaws. Larry McMurtry paid homage to this character in Lonesome Dove, giving his lawman the same name. Anyone who has viewed both films will note that the July Johnson of these films share much more than a common name. Both are very similar in persona and motivation. Dean Martin as usual, easily slips into his rawhide. The supporting cast includes many of the usual suspects you would expect to find in a Texas border town. Will Geer, Denver Pyle, John Mitchum, Harry Carey, and Dub Taylor all appear.Bandolero was filmed in the last heydays of western movie making, as Hollywood genre films began their shift from the wild west into the deep reaches of outer space. And that's a shame, as this film will still be remembered long after many a space opera have crumbled into celluloid dust. With inspirational outdoor cinematography, and featuring the incredible Alamo Village set (built for 1960's The Alamo), Bandolero! is a film deserved of it's exclamation point.

Chris Is it possible that a western with a cast of Jimmy Stewart, Dean Martin, George Kennedy and Raquel Welch can be any bad? Yes, if the Director is Andrew V. McLaglen. I'm a bit jealous about this guy and how he managed it to work with all these great actors in his career. Most of his movies are mediocre or bad. I can only call one or two really good.My main critic about Bandolero is that this movie is shameless boring with a lot of meaningless talking and Horse riding without any action or suspense. The movie looks fine cause of the all time great cinematographer William H. Clothier. Shame on Hollywood this man never got the Academy Award! The music score of Jerry Goldsmith isn't bad either.Jimmy Stewart and Dean Martin are looking very old in this one. Both have some terrible make up in their faces. Both are playing brothers and they are less believable as the casting of the Sons of Katie Elder. No doubt Mrs. Welch is a Stunner but who was responsible for her over styled hair? As usual good old George Kennedy is underused. A last question: Why Mexican Bandits (Bandoleros) are attacking with an Indian Cry? I love westerns but I'm not a fan of this one.

kwindrum I don't think this is a typical western at all. For the first half-hour it keeps viewers in the dark about situations and at points its twists seem more like those of a film noir. It also has an odd shift in tone. The first 1/3 is pretty light and it gets progressively grimmer and darker as the characters head south into Mexico. I think the key to its excellence is that there is a moral drama going on here between James Stewart and Dean Martin and they are both excellent and very moving. The fact that they are two of my favorite actors obviously has something to do with my opinion. In particular, Dean is much better then his reputation would suggest. The film has a very exciting climax, good supporting cast, some good dialog and is nicely shot, in Panavision, by western specialist William Clothier and has a Morricone-inspired score by the great Jerry Goldsmith.

drystyx This is what you might call a sprawling Western. It plays out a little too grandiose for the shallowness of the characters, but it is still a sprawling sort, with great scenery, costumes, and action.The plot is very formula, law abiding hard working older brother and carefree lawless younger brother, and much like Stewart's classic, "Night Passage", but without the magic. In fact, I call "Night Passage" the magic Western, with Stewart, Duryea, and Murphy all playing perfectly together. Kennedy equals Duryea in the legend category, and Martin is sort of a pretty boy as was Murphy, but Murphy had much more charisma. That may explain some of what is missing.But much of it is that the characters just aren't that likable. The circumstances become way too unbelievable, even for a sprawling Western. We often give literary license to an extent, but Bandolero clearly bypasses all credibility.So the film is basically played for the spectacle and for the bits of humor. It may be the "Pulp Fiction" of Westerns. There are funny little lines, when added to the spectacle and scenery, make it a touch better than the average Western. But don't expect a lot. It is just a fun ride, not to be taken seriously. From that perspective, it makes good entertainment.