Review of The Valdez Horses (1973) by Alex S — 14 Oct 2012

Monday, October 15, 2012.

(1973) Chino.

WESTERN.

One of fame director's Preston Sturges most subtlest films using a European production, it may also be be the most non-violent poignant movie actor Charles Bronson has ever starred in as well. He plays "Chino" as the title ensures who appears to be half white and half Native American. As the movie starts off with a lonesome underage blond boy, drifting pass Chino's ranch and seeking for some work. At first, the boy fears him but eventually adapts to liking what he does creating a genuine bond. It isn't long that viewers figure out that Chino's a horse seller who loves horses in which he also allows some that he breeds to run wild out in the open desert as opposed to the other horses he's selling. All is well until he meets and falls for one of his clients and her name is Catherine played by frequent co-star Jill Ireland who happends to be a foster sister of her contolling brother Marel who has a European accent and a wealthy landowner. The only clash and the only obstacle happens to be him and it doesn't occur until after the first hour- one for placing some barb wire along his property and then getting his sister to fall in love with him. And although we don't know too much about the boy in question, Jamie we the audience don't care about him but are observant about what we want to know about Chino since he's been through alot.

All I can say is that this is one of very few films in which Native Americans are not portrayed as savages but as civilized human beings. For the only way this film can be totally appreciated mustn't be forced and demands the right frame of mind for their really isn't any plot to speak about except that it's about Chino the character itself which could be expressed through the director himself Preston Sturges for his love of horses and horses in general. The only action throughout are a few brawls, always with the same 3 or 4 men which occur somehwere along the beginning, and then to the middle and finally toward the end, and then to top it off some spectacular shooting since no one knows this particular desert area more than the title character Chino. I'd give this film a much higher rating but the copy I had to watch this from is a bad commercial copy and at times hard to make out what some of the characters are saying.

Other films Bronson co-starred with actual wife Jill Ireland also include:

(1970) Rider On The Rain.

(1970) The Family/ Final Shot.

(1970) Cold Sweat.

(1971) Someone Behind The Door.

(1972) The Valachi Papers.

(1972) The Mechanic.

(1973) Chino.

(1975) Breakout.

(1975) Hard Times.

(1975) Breakheart Pass.

(1976) From Noon Till Three.