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Sunday, July 2, 2017

Blue (1968)

A young Caucasian man (Terence Stamp) has been raised by a Mexican bandit (Ricardo Montalban) as one of his own sons. But when the bandits cross the border and raid a "gringo" settlement, he is wounded and nursed back to health by a doctor (Karl Malden) and his daughter (Joanna Pettet). He finds himself questioning his loyalties and his true identity. Directed by Silvio Narizzano (GEORGY GIRL), this is an above average western with much to recommend it. It would be worth seeing for the stunning visuals alone (it was filmed on location in Utah) courtesy of the legendary Stanley Cortez (MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS) filmed in wide screen Panavision. It doesn't always avoid the cliches of the genre but the film has some layers to it. It's not as clear cut as most westerns when you have the racist white settlers on one side and the murderous Mexican bandits on the other side and you're right in the middle. The final battle between the bandits and the settlers is very well done. The underscore by Manos Hadjidakis (NEVER ON SUNDAY) is quite good if slightly inappropriate at times. With Anthony Costello, Joe De Santis, Stathis Giallelis, James Westerfield, Sally Kirkland and Peggy Lipton.

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