Directed by Robert Aldrich
Starring Gary Cooper, Burt Lancaster, Denise Darcel, Sara Montiel, Cesar Romero, Ernest Borgnine, Charles Bronson, Jack Elam
Vera Cruz (1954) was put together by Burt Lancaster’s production company, Lancaster-Hecht. Burt was going to play the hero, Benjamin Trane, but it was decided to have Lancaster to play the bad guy — and a more traditional hero type play Trane. Cray Grant turned it down, and it was offered to Gary Cooper.
The picture’s a lot of fun with Cooper and Lancaster as a couple of shifty Americans down in Mexico who join forces to steal a stash of gold coins. With its macho one-upmanship, crosses and double-crosses, flawed characters — even the good guys are bad, Robert Aldrich’s Vera Cruz is one of the 50s Westerns that served as an obvious influence on the spaghetti westerns that would come in the early 60s.
Kino Lorber is working on a Blu-Ray release, which should do justice to the picture’s SuperScope 2:1 presentation (applied to the picture after the fact). Can’t wait to see it looking the way it should. Highly recommended.
50 Westerns From The 50s. 
Such a great movie. One of the special ones I had on Super 8 reels.
Thoughtsallsorts, I’m glad to know that you are a fan of VERA CRUZ(1954). Do you still have some of your Super 8’s?
No. Unfortunately not. It was very special as at that time all my friends were watching VHS tapes and had no clue what Super 8s were. My parents had saved them from the dump. Unfortunately the projectors were difficult to maintain, lightbulbs costly and the film just deteriorated. I’ve managed to get most on DVD – Big Jake, The Scalphunters, The War Wagon, The Revengers, , Magnificent Seven, Vera Cruz (of course) and the list goes on. That’s where my love of Westerns (and other genres too) comes from. While my friends were into Brad Pitt and Luke Perry, I was a Yul Brynner, Johne Wayne etc cowboy fan.
Thoughtsallsorts, I’m so glad that a fine youngster as yourself, loves Western Movies. There is hope yet! How can Brad Pitt and Luke Perry compare to John Wayne and Yul Brynner! I presume you like Burt Lancaster in Westerns, If you haven’t viewed CATTLE ANNIE AND LITTLE BRITCHES(filmed 1979, released 1981), throw a loop over it. Better yet, THE UNFORGIVEN(filmed 1959, released 1960).
You have made my day. Keep watching Westerns.
Ooh thanks for the tips! Will try get hold of those. And for sure…I’ll keep watching those westerns. Such a pity there aren’t too many good ones coming out these days. But makes finding the good old ones so much more fun. Have a wonderful week!
This film was a natural for Kino especially after the excellent job that they did with APACHE. Aldrich’s Westerns are an odd bunch for me his finest in the
genre was ULZANA’S RAID,he seemed to work well with Lancaster.
FOUR FOR TEXAS for me is a mess ‘though it does have it’s admirers but
considering the cast what a waste. I have never been brave enough to sit
through THE FRISCO KID.
THE LAST SUNSET Walter and myself have discussed in great length on
these pages earlier-I still like the film and I believe it’s on Kino’s re-mastering
list-it certainly needs a decent high def upgrade.
Kino have started doing double bills of minor less well known films their
just released Quinn double MAN FROM DEL RIO/THE RIDE BACK is well
recommended. I’d like them also to do a Joel McCrea (United Artists) double
bill TROOPER HOOK/GUNSIGHT RIDGE both far from Joel’s best but nice
to have in high def.
Another United Artists double could be ESCORT WEST/REBEL IN TOWN
with the shared theme of vets adjusting to life just after the Civil War.
You’re right, Escort West and Rebel In Town would make a nice double bill. I really like Escort West, and Rebel In Town’s quite good, too.
Toby and John K, I agree that ESCORT WEST/REBEL IN TOWN would make a good combo on Blu-ray. As well as, TROOPER HOOK/GUNSIGHT RIDGE. Hopefully someone at Kino Lorber reads this blog and gets the idea(wishful thinking).
I hope THE LAST SUNSET(filmed 1960, released 1961) is on Kino Lorber’s re-mastering list, because it does deserve an upgrade. Ernest Laszlo’s photography and Oliver Emert’s set decorations are outstanding, which should be mentioned. Even with reservations, I still like the movie, also.
How about LAST TRAIN FROM GUN HILL/HELLFIRE for a Blu-ray combo?
Jack Slade / the return of Jack Slade would make a very nice double bill,too.
Chip, yes, JACK SLADE/THE RETURN OF JACK SLADE would be a really good combo.
Yesterday I watched the IRON MISTRESS and later THE TALL STRANGER both with Virginia Mayo.As mentioned before,the latter film is a good western but badly needs a restoration.The copy I watched looks like someone cut it and joined it back together as it has a 3 sec blank.I also have the German copy but I forget if this mishap was corrected.Leo Gordon had a good part in this film.
Recently saw The Tall Stranger for the first time. Think my DVD came from Hollywood Scrapheap who may no longer be in business. DVD wasn’t the greatest video quality & the movie wasn’t the greatest either. But with Joel McRea, Virginia Mayo & Leo Gordon playing a good character it was for me an enjoyable 80 minutes.