On G List of Movie Reviews
(For optimum viewing, adjust the zoom level of your browser to 125%.)
Guns for San Sebastian (1968)
Rate:
9
Viewed:
4/04, 6/12, 10/26
6/12:
"You want words...pretty words...I can't say pretty words."
So it goes in Guns for San Sebastian. Shot on location at Sierra de Órganos National Park in the town
of Sombrerete, it's a terrific sentimental Western that takes place in Mexico instead of Italy or Spain. The
always excellent Anthony Quinn makes most of his character and thus succeeds. However, there are instances of
improbability throughout.
1. No government is going to give that many guns to a small village.
2. The Yaquis might as well kill off the village as soon as they found out about the guns and the soldiers.
3. Leon Alastray should've died after his encounter with Teclo.
4. Nobody can survive the conditions without food or water and still look good.
Meanwhile, Charles Bronson does nothing for me. Neither does Jaime Fernández who plays Golden Lance.
All in all, I prefer Guns for San Sebastian over
Shichinin no samurai.
10/26:
Sure, Guns for San Sebastian is Shichinin no samurai, but this
is a better movie.
The folksy dialogue is similar to John Steinbeck's books, most especially
Tortilla Flat. Easy to get into is the story, but there's plenty of
action that's taken further in the final twenty minutes. The biggest key of making the film work is Anthony
Quinn. Charles Bronson gives his best to make for a memorable villain while Sam Jaffe shouldn't be forgotten
to get the ball rolling. But boy...that's a horrible makeup on Anjanette Comer's face.
All in all, Guns for San Sebastian remains an underrated Western actioner that makes an excellent
use of Mexico.