Two Mules for Sister Sara

Well crafted Western with interesting and engaging screenplay written by Albert Maltz from a story by Bud Boetticher . It deals with a nun called Sara (Shirley MacLaine) and two mules (second mule was actually a burro) , as she is attacked by three outlaws , being rescued by a drifter named Hogan (Clint Eastwood) , who is on his way across Mexican desert and becoming wary of her religious nature . Gringo Hogan arrives in Mexico do some reconnaissance, for a next mission to capture a French fort , so he decides to help her in return for information about the defences . Inevitably both of them become good friends but Sara has a twisted secret . At the end takes place a needlessly violent slaughter against Maximiliano army . Hogan is the deadliest man alive , he takes on a whole army with two guns and a fistful of dynamite! .

This classic as well as diverting Western results to be a good fun that contains thrills , humor , slow and deliberating filming , elaborate shoot-outs , and portentous battles with bloodbaths included . It's a special following to original ¨Dollars trilogy¨ with Eastwood as ¨Man with no name¨ ; as this new role as Hogan bears remarkable resemblance . Clint returns his classic character of ¨The man with no name¨ and MacLaine is an unlikely nun in this amusing comedy Western . Shirley MacLaine did not get along during the shoot with director Don Siegel , with whom she openly fought . While in Austria filming ¨When eagles dare¨, Clint Eastwood was approached with the script by Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton's wife at the time, with the notion of starring together in the film ; however, Universal Pictures was unwilling to pay Taylor's high salary . Being a Mexico/USA co-production in the picture appears numerous Mexican secondary actors such as Manuel Fabregas , Enrique Lucero , Armando Silvestre , among others . Maestro Ennio Morricone composes a groundbreaking and streaking soundtrack , including some comic touches . Colorful and evocative cinematography in Panavision by excellent Mexican cameraman Gabriel Figueroa and uncredited Robert Surtees , being filmed in Cuaútla, Morelos, Jantetelco, Tlayacapan, Mexico .

The motion picture was rightly produced by Martin Rackin and well directed by Donald Siegel . His first feature as a director was 1946's The Verdict (1946). He made his reputation in the early and mid-'50s with a series of tightly made, expertly crafted, tough but intelligent "B" pictures , among them : The Lineup (1958), Riot in Cell Block 11 (1954), Invasion of the body snatchers (1956)), then graduated to major "A" films in the 1960s and early 1970s. He made several "side trips" to television, mostly as a producer . Siegel directed what is generally considered to be Elvis Presley's best picture, Flamingo Star (1960). All of Eastwood's later Western and his ¨Dirty Harry¨ movies owe a considerable debt to Sergio Leone and Donald Siegel . As Donald directed Eastwood in various films , such as : Coogan's bluff , The beguiled , Dirty Harry , Escape from Alcatraz and , of course , this ¨ Two mules and sister Sara¨. He had a long professional relationship and personal friendship with Clint Eastwood, who has often said that everything he knows about filmmaking he learned from Don Siegel . ¨Two mules and sister Sara¨ is an enjoyable film for Clint Eastwood and Donald Siegel enthusiasts , including their usual trademarks , it's full of which made their films so memorable, others might find it a bit long but no one can deny its sense of style what achieved a great burst of world-wide popularity .

It was a different kind of western with a surprising ending. Clint Eastwood and Shirley McClaine had great chemistry and gave great performances; especially Clint Eastwood. It was fun to watch with a good story line. Very entertaining!

Don Siegel's "Two Mules For Sister Sara" starring Clint Eastwood and Shirley MacLaine is certainly not one of the brilliant Westerns with Eastwood, but it is a very well directed, greatly acted and very amusing little Western comedy with good wit that highly entertains. Eastwood, who is cool as always, and the lovable MacLaine match perfectly, and the plot has some nice twists (although it should be said that some of the 'twists' are not really too surprising).

After gunsling Hogan (Eastwood) saves a nun named Sara (MacLaine) from a bunch of guys who wanted to rape her in the middle of the desert by shooting them, he now has to take care of her, which annoys him. It's a time of revolution against the French in Mexico, and while Hogan, who is interested in quick money, will fight for whichever side pays well (which happens to be the revolutionaries), his new traveling companion Sara is very obviously an idealistic supporter of the revolutionary Juaristas...

As mentioned above, "Two Mules For Sister Sara" can in no way come up to the brilliance of Eastwood movies such as Leone's Dollar Trilogy (few movies can) or Eastwood's very own "High Plains Drifter" of 1973. Nevertheless, it is a good little western with a lot of charm and wit, which provides an exciting story, action and great entertainment as well as many good laughs. Clint Eastwood has always been the epitome of coolness, especially in his Westerns, and MacLaine is great in her role of the feisty sister Sara. Overall, "Two Mules For Sister Sara" is a highly entertaining Western Comedy, that will not leave anybody bored. Recommended! 7/10

With the intervention of Napoleon III of France, Archduque Maximilian was installed as emperor in Mexico but Mexican countrymen known as Juaristas (Juarez' resistance) were fighting to demonstrate that their country could act independently, that - as the reform contended - all men were equal under law, and that foreign monarchical adventures in Mexico were futile...

Sister Sara (Shirley MacLaine), presumably a nun, has adopted their cause and is being pursued by the French army for raising money to the Juaristas... Hogan (Clint Eastwood) is a wonder obliged to neither party... He appears unexpectedly when Sister Sara is about to be raped by three men... Fortunately for her, he kills them all...

But unlike the 'Man With No Name,' Eastwood doesn't turn and ride away... He escorts the good-looking nun in her mission...

But the nun's strange behavior intrigues his curiosity... She smokes cigars, she drinks whiskey and her language comes to be every day more profane...

Hogan's fascination with her arrives at its peak when she removes an Indian arrow from his shoulder, having rendering him half insensible by intoxicating him with shots of Whiskey...

After joining her to blow up a French supply train, he is persuaded to help a group of Juaristas led by Colonel Beltran (Manolo Fabregas) in a final attack on a French garrison...

The climax of "Two Mules for Sister Sara" displays the differences between Leone's conclusion which the 'Stranger' merely disappears into the mists of time... The change of image didn't excite the audience leaving the picture with enough nostalgia for the myth of the loner, the super hero, the 'Man With No Name.'

The film (beautifully shot in Color) is really a two-character story... The interesting team gives amusing and tender performances... The motion picture echoes "The African Queen," but is far away from being Hepburn/Bogart exciting adventure...

Clint and Shirley have great chemistry together. The movie is light on action and works as a lighthearted comedy. The music by Ennio Morricone is cool . The movie is really funny in some places like the talk about the ass. The dialogue is often witty. There is no unnecessary violence. The movie has moments when it gets little serious , but not too serious . The plot is not quite predictable as one could suspect. The final battle is quite exciting.

Despite what IMDb tells you this is not really a war movie. It is set during war , but it's western. It's one of Eastwood weaker westerns , but still a good and enjoyable movie. I give it 7/10.

P.S. For those who don't understood the title - Eastwood is stubborn as mule , get it ? It's a joke.