Review of Chato's Land (1972) by Lyle R — 02 Mar 2009

The DVD packaging reads:

"BRONSON AND PALANCE SQUARE OFF IN A.

NO-HOLDS BARRED WESTERN SHOWDOWN".

Well... don't believe the hype.

I like Bronson and I like Palance and I liked the promise of seeing these two great actors "square off" but the sad truth is that it never really happens (and it takes you 90 minutes out of the films' 100 minute running time to realise it).

By 1972... you'd figure that HOLLYWOOD had figured out how to make an effective western. Between JOHN FORD, SERGIO LEONE and everyone in between them... director Michael Winner couldn't have released a more wooden... more "safe".. more technically lacking piece.

Devoid of cinematography, interesting direction of photography and filled with horrible sound and visual editing, "Chato's Land" looks and feels like a really bad "made forTV" movie.

The story, despite being pedestrian, simplistic and straight-forward... contained enough grit to have been better made, by a better director. Certainly, if it wasn't going to be an exciting, action-packed western... it could have at least served as a cautionary tale of mob mentality and blind obsession, but while these elements are evident, they are played upon as almost an after-thought.

Bronson spends almost zero time on screen and Palance does a great job with what he's been given but it's not enough to go into anybody's list of "top-ten" westerns... (or even a "top-twenty" for me).

Michael Winner went on to put together some rather decent pictures, but Chato's Land is not one of his best... nor is it very memorable once you've seen it.

Can't recommend this...