OscarÂ(r) winner* Burt Lancaster (Birdman of Alcatraz, From Here to Eternity)gives a powerhouse performance as an aging Mexican-American lawman who erupts into a one-man army in this bold saga of retribution and redemption. Valdez Is Coming boldly recreates America's Western frontiera place where life was sometimes cheap...but honor was always priceless. When it comes to keeping the peace, former frontier sheriff Bob Valdez has always been the voice of reason in a sea of chaos. But Frank Tanner (Jon Cypher) is a very different sort of man: greedy, impulsive and rotten to the core. So when Tanner provokes a shootout that results in the death of an innocent man, Valdez orders him to provide financial support for the widow. But when Tanner not only refuses but also laughs in his face, Valdez dusts off his old uniform, straps on his guns and vows toexact justice and vengeance at any cost.
There's nothing like the laconic, confident ease of Burt Lancaster in his gray years, even in the unlikely role of an easy-going Mexican. Bob Valdez is a deputy sheriff in an American frontier town bubbling over in racism. Scapegoated by the community for the death of an innocent victim of a trigger- happy posse and crucified, literally, by the sadistic gunrunner (Jon Cypher) responsible for the tragedy, the quiet lawman takes up arms in a bloody campaign that begins with the mantra: "Tell him Valdez is coming."

Adapted from an Elmore Leonard novel, the script is hardly subtle or original and it never makes the gaping chasm between the search for justice and the bloody reign of terror work in any dramatic terms. It's a rather amorphous morality tale without a solid grounding, but it's dutifully violent, charged with righteous anger, and makes good use of the stark landscape (it was shot in Spain, giving it even more of the flavor of a spaghetti Western). It's a bit embarrassing how Hollywood puts the spotlight on racism by casting a white actor to play the wronged minority, but Lancaster creates a wonderful character in Valdez. With gentle eyes and a tired smile behind a face covered in brown Hollywood makeup, he brings sure-footed authority and calm ruthlessness to a mission of justice by a man wronged one too many times. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Rating:
Summary: " ... AND WE HAVE LOST 5 MORE MEN ..."
Comment:

"He can shoot ... and he knows when to move" (the segundo)


Seeing this movie for the first time on the old TNT Western Theatre back in the early 1990s, don't know why I waited this long to enter a review. Also, I know nothing of altered or cut scenes from this movie, the Sharps rifle shoot has always been in whatever version I have viewed.

Former frontier sheriff, Roberto Valdez is an object of laughter and a person to be ignored, when he only seeks justice and money for the injured innocent. So when Bob Valdez, ex-Army Apache hunter--before he knew better--comes back, "they were still laughing ..., and then they began to die.

Based on the 1970 Elmore Leonard book of the same title, this film has to be one of the best, top five films, one can count with the fingers of one hand. No matter how many times it is viewed, the film continues to draw the viewer into its resonating story.

"I should have killed you three days ago."

"or gone to Nogales."

"or paid the $100 dollars."

Few western stories match, let alone surpass, this classic film.

Semper Fi.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Not Lancaster's best!
Comment: Really enjoy the old flicks - but this was not Lancaster's best - he shines brightly in many other films.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Valdez is Coming
Comment: I would normally give this movie four or five stars. Considering the fact the studio that has released this version cut some major scenes I cannot in good conscience give it that rating. I am not sure why in the world you would cut some of the most exciting scenes and I wonder if in fact MGM is aware they were cut. The film will probably seem a little disjointed if you have not seen it before. A couple of the scenes missing showed Valdez doing some remarkable long range shooting and using guerilla tactics that add to our impression of his abilities. It is also missing a scene where Susan Clark's character discusses her feelings about her relationship with her husband. Although you will still get the jist of the story from this version it really is ashame this is not the theatrical version. It truly takes away from what I think is one of the best Westerns ever and by far one of my three favorites with Lancaster. Decent quality DVD with cut scenes. Fair replayability. If you enjoyed this see "Ulzana's Raid" and "The Professionals".

CA Luster

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Customer Rating:
Summary: No sharps rifle scene
Comment: I saw the original as said by reviewer #1, no sharps rifle scene: the best scene in the whole movie. Valdez is pursued by the posse, gains high ground shots his rifle 2x before the posse hears the report (gun shot) visually the shot looked like 1500 yds (1 mile), and the 2 shots scored pay dirt. Scott
ps I guess we'll have to wait for Crieterion Collections to do it right.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Rip Off!! Beware
Comment: Under no circumstances would I buy this movie with entire scenes cut out. Many thanks to the reviewers who pointed this and saved me some money.

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