ONE HUNDRED RIFLES

US, 1969, 110 minutes, Colour.
Burt Reynolds, Raquel Welch, Jim Brown, Fernando Lamas, Dan O'Herlihy, Eric Braeden.
Directed by Tom Gries.

A conventional Western material - the Mexican setting at the turn of the century with the oppression by the Spanish-speaking rulers of the Yaqui Indians. The pre-World War I presence of the German advisers is stressed. This is Pancho Villa material and was echoed in such films as The Wild Bunch and E1 Condor, popular at the end of the sixties.

Here is plenty of action although this film is rather protracted. There are explosions, chases, violent deaths, sieges. Jim Brown was popular at the time and is the laconic reluctant hero. Raquel Welch was at the beginning of her acting career. Burt Reynolds shows zest and capacity for stunt work in his pre-stardom days. Fernando Lamas is a very much hiss-the-villain General. Hans Gudegast is the German adviser - soon to move to Hollywood as Eric Braden. Direction is by Tom Gries, a prolific director who made critically acclaimed westerns like Will Penny and many routine adventures. His last film was Mohammed Ali's The Greatest.

1. The popularity of this kind of western saga? The Mexican background? Oppression? Heroes and villains? Chases, sieges and violence? How well made was this film?

2. Mexican photography, atmosphere and locations? Special effects for the battles? The mixture of action, romance and comedy and the rousing score? The stars and their personalities, style?

3. The conventions of this kind of western: the oppression of the Indians, the dominance of the military, the stereotyped military villain, the cold and calculating German advisers? The American wandering to do his duty and caught up in revolution? The revolutionaries and the nonchalant, humorous hero? Audiences accepting these stereotypes and enjoying the action and characterisation?

4. The historical background of Mexican revolutions? The revolt of the Indians? The oppression of the military? The presence of the Germans with their guns and care? American involvement and non-involvement? The battles of Indians against military? Executions? An atmosphere of desperation and violence?

5. Joe as humorous hero? Burt Reynolds' style? With the girl at the beginning, reluctant to give money, saving the Indians, arrested the General, sought by Lyedecker, buying the rifles and storing them, the relationship with Sarita, Lyedecker wanting to take him back, the continued involvement with the Indians, the continued pursuit of the military? The sieges, the ransacking of the villa? The final heroics and the siege by the train? Joe remaining to be leader of his people, reluctantly and nonchalantly?

6. Sarita and the execution of her father, her arrest, the seeming importance of the rifles, her involvement in the siege? The relationship with Lyedecker? The sparring with Joe? Her death? The strength of Raquel Welch's performance and presence? The emphasis on her sex star image?

7. Jim Brown's presence as the American - with the variation of the black Marshal? His doing his duty, his becoming involved with the Indians, his capture, his wanting to take Joe back to Phoenix, his being acclaimed as the leader of the Indians, his cavalry background, strategies, the siege of the villa, the attack by train? His moving back to America?

8. The General as the personification of evil, his ruthlessness, killing three men with one bullet, his German advisers, his sensuality, imperious use of power? Hostility towards Lyedecker and Joe? His pursuit? The siege of the villa? The attack by train? The Indians massacring him? A stereotyped but effective personification of evil?

9. The American railway adviser? His not wanting to be involved in the violence? His playing both sides against each other? His warning the General about the train attack? His survival and trying to ingratiate himself with Joe?

10. The picture of the soldiers, the Indians and their cause? The massacre of Indians? Many dying in the battles in Mexico?

11. The contribution of the stunt work? The sieges? The special effects with the train attack?

12. Audiences taking sides, sympathy for the Indians, antagonism towards the oppressors and the colonial advisers? The irony of this film being made during America's Vietnam involvement?