El oro de nadie

Yul Brynner plays the cheerfully lawless rogue "Catlow", perpetually on the run from lawman and friend "Ben" (Richard Crenna) and malevolent bounty hunter "Miller" (Leonard Nemoy - in one of his early post-Star Trek roles). Great music, obviously 'influenced' by the soundtrack to "The Magnificent Seven", and an over-the-top plot involving stealing mexican gold stolen from the confederacy, Apaches, alternatively willing and vengeful women, banditos, and enough captures and escapes for several movies. Lightweight fun (in that lightheartedly violent way of late-1960's/early 1970's movies, in which any character whose name we didn't know was liable to receive instant death from the hero or villain -- a characteristic, of course, of many action movies to this day), with just enough actual danger (from the Apaches and Miller) to keep it interesting.

Yes, you read that right - Nimoy does a nude scene! (Though it might be a body double.) If you can get past that, you find a really entertaining western. Yul Brynner is great - it's nice to see him have a role that gives him a chance to do some comedy. Kudos to the rest of the cast as well, though Nimoy is mostly wasted in a role that just has him pursuing Brynner (and not much else.) Fast-paced, plenty of smiles and laughs (though a number of serious scenes that work as well), and plenty of action - what more do you want?

The film talks about a rustler named Catlow (Yul Brynner) and his bandit underlings (Jeff Corey , Robert Logan , John Clark , Michael Delano) who are pursued by a sheriff (Richard Crenna) and a bounty hunter gunslinger (Leonard Nimoy ) with the aim to steal the Mexican gold formerly robbed to Confederacy during the American civil war (1861-1865) . As Catlow attempts to avoid interference as he journeys to pull off a $2-million gold robbery , but everyone wants him dead and buried . The Mexican cavalry wanted him murdered . The Apache nation wanted him massacred . Texas Rangers wanted him mangled and his only hope was a marshal who wanted him hanged . Meanwhile , he'll confront Apaches , Mexican Army and some cutthroats.

In the picture there's western action , shootouts , comedy , tongue-in-cheek and a little bit of moderated violence . The movie has the comic observations of the Western parody genre originated in the late decade 60s by Burt Kennedy and Andrew McLagen and with references to Spaghetti Western . Based on a Louis L'Amour's novel is basically a humorist Western . The motion picture was well filmed on location in Almeria (Spain) , where during the 6os and early the 7os were shot several Spaghetti/Paella Western . Thus , there appears usual Italian/Spanish Western secondary actors as Angel del Pozo , Julian Mateos , Jose Nieto, Rafael Albaicín , Tito Garcia , Dan Van Husen and Victor Israel , among others . Yul Brynner plays perfectly as outlaw Catlow , interpretation similar to ¨Indio Black¨ (by Frank Kramer) who'll play later . Richard Crenna as the friend and enemy sheriff is very fine . Leonard Nimoy as the tough and cruel gunfighter is splendid , this film gave him a chance to break away from his role as Spock on Star Trek, he mentioned that the time he made the film was one of the happiest of his life , even though his part was rather brief . Excellent and lively musical score by Roy Budd and colorful cinematography by magnificent cameraman Edward Scaife . The movie was regularly directed by Sam Wanamaker who replaced Peter R. Hunt . The film will appeal to humor-western enthusiasts and Yul Brynner fans . Rating : Mediocre but entertaining .

Lovable rogue Yul Brynner is accused by an unscrupulous rancher of rustling cattle, for rounding up unbranded strays on government land. Pursuing him is his old pal Richard Crenna, who vows to take him alive and hired killer Leonard Nimoy, who would rather him dead. Before long they're all in Mexico, where Brynner plots to a fortune in gold from some upper-crust military elites.

The first half of this well-made, light-hearted western is incredibly fast-paced, with some very amusing interplay between Crenna and Brynner. The second half, where the action is moved south of the border, is a little more routine, though still worth seeing for the great performances by the leads. However, Nimoy disappears from the screen for a long time.

There's a certain level of crudeness to the proceedings though, with a few threats to shoot in either the genitals or the buttocks, a blow to Yul's testicles, and an almost full-frontal Nimoy, tussling with a (thankfully) fully-clothed Brynner!

Catlow is directed by Sam Wanamaker and adapted to screenplay from the Louis L'Amour novel by Scott Finch and J.J. Griffith. It stars Yul Brynner, Richard Crenna, Leonard Nimoy and Daliah Lavi. Filmed in Metrocolor/Panavision, photography is by Ted Scaife and music by Roy Budd.

One time buddies in the Civil War, Catlow (Brynner) and Cowan (Crenna), are now on opposite sides of the law. Let the shenanigans begin!

Catlow is one of those Oaters that is - in spite of its ordinariness - so harmless to the point it's near impossible to dislike with genuine displeasure. Essentially it finds Brynner and Crenna as pals constantly playing cat and mouse with each other, all while they are entangled in danger (courtesy of Mexican soldiers, Indians and Nimoy's vengeful gunman) and affairs of the heart (Lavi and the beautiful Jo Ann Pflug).

It's all very formulaic, and directed as such, but there's still a lot going for it. Everybody seems to be having a good time of things, with some hamming it up on purpose - obviously with a tongue in cheek nod to Spaghetti Westerns - others relishing chances to exude ebullience (Lavi) and gruff meanness (Nimoy). There's some truly funny moments, with witty dialogue to match, and the action scenes are as solid as the rock formations that boom out of the Almeria locations.

Budd's musical score is a bit hit and miss, often sounding like it belongs in an episode of Alias Smith and Jones as opposed to a full feature length film, while there's a lack of an edge to make the finale be anything other than run of the mill. Tis fun though! Pic looks lovely, with TCM HD channel showing a print that extols the virtues of having a top cinematographer on lens duties. Harmless and enjoyable enough, even if ultimately it's forgettable once over. 6/10