Whatever the problems were in making this Movie, certainly they didn't interfere with the out-come, One Eyed Jacks is a great Western. During it's production there seemed to be some running over budget, and others( notably Marlon Brando ) running out of patience, with percieved ideas about where the Movie was heading, particularly in the film's early stages. But the end result is the one we are interested in, and we're not let down by all who took part in it, in particular Brando, who along with many other chores gives us a fine portrayal of Johnny Rio, the betrayed and vengeful bank robber. Karl Malden as always presents us with an equally fine performance as Dad Longworth, who as Rio's friend betrays him then spends the next five years looking over his shoulder. Along with some spectacular cinematography by Charles Lang, the film has it's fair share of action also, as we see Rio's short fuse explode losing his cool with Bob Amory, played by the ever reliable Ben Johnson, and Lon Dedrick, played brilliantly by Slim Pickens. I particularly like the scene when Rio breaks out of his cell after bluffing Dedrick with an empty Derringer. The interaction between them is fantastic, and they didn't hold anything back either with Dedrick getting a smart kick up the backside after he was jammed in the back by Rio forcing him on his knees. The film bogs down a little in the middle stages when the relationship between Rio and Louisa, played by Pina Pellicer, begins to blossom. There seems to be too many shots of Brando giving us dialogue that could have been condensed into something a touch sharper and perhaps a little shorter also. Notwithstanding that however, One Eyed Jacks is a great Western, decorated with the presence of stars Brando and Malden, and one also where we could be forgiven for asking.......just who was the Director?...........Who cares.
Review of One-Eyed Jacks
