Reviews

I thought I'd get your attention. This movie may not be any better than Stagecoach but I submit it's just as good and twice as entertaining.

Other reviewers have down a good job declaring the merits of this oater and particularly the obvious parallels it shows between its plot and the Wyatt Earp story. If you like Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer then you'll enjoy George O'Brien as Wyatt Earp, I mean Cliff Mason, and Henry Brandon as Doc Holiday, I mean Duke Allison. Duke has been hired to shoot down Marshall Mason but is taken by his character - and even reluctantly becomes his Deputy. Watch Mason Ala Wyatt Earp walk straight into the group of surly armed outlaws led by hulking Harry Cording and disarm them all with his icy gaze and fearless demeanor. The final shootout that takes place in a cloud of smoke and dust years before John Ford shot the OK Corral shootout in My Darling Clementine in a similar manner is very effective. Give this one a chance, western fans, and see what you think.

Yes I was thrilled to see this for the first time as the historical and filmic artifact it is. (I thought I'd laugh more but this 1920s Broadway style humor has not aged well.) And I can get it that at the time black face was a thing. But BOY was I upset when Eddie, In Black face because of a stove accident, says hello to his leading lady, and she (not recognizing him of course -Ha ha, ho ho) rebuffs his greeting with "how dare you talk to me." What? Even In Context...Gee whiz that bugs me. Beyond that , the astute and insightful reviewers posting before me have some interesting and astute things to say about it. So I'll not go on. But dang... our "leading lady" saying to someone whom she thinks is a black man "how dare you talk to me." Really ...ouch.

The writer sure is proud of of the name.he came up with for our sexy femme fatale, Cameo Kincaid. Every character says it as often as they can- especially the narrator. Our shlumpy hero played by a capable actor , Don Marlowe (with a jarhead buzz cut) says "Cameo Kincaid : a nightclub tootsie with big eyes and no morals." (He has a weirdly written scene with Cameo where he unfortunately has to shave bare chested. Ouch- not good.). Cameo herself is played by the spectacular Vici Raaf, a Mamie Van Doran double who is introduced singing the jazzy, swinging lounge hit "Break 'Em Up" with hipster lyrics like "shake em up like this ooh ooh wow - no time for old fashioned waltzes just oom pow pow, a one two three Pow." They just don't write em like that anymore. To truly appreciate this show stopper you've got to see her moves that go with the performance. The patrons look slightly alarmed as she writhes through the little cocktail tables. One poor sap tries to light a cig while she sings. She'll have none of that. When we hear her husky speaking voice later it's pretty clear she was lip syncing the song. But listen she's fantastic She seems the most tuned into just what this movie needs inorder make it at least somewhat memorable. Poor Lynne Moore who plays Don Marlowe's infinitely more innocent girlfriend Jeanne. They got someone with a very stiff line reading to dub her voice. Wow- poor Lynne - she must have been terrible. Other people in her scenes aren't dubbed. And she's stuck with a frightening Harpo Marx hairdo. I would love to know the story behind the making of this movie. A group in Scottsdale got some funding? They partnered with local businesses, (hotels and tractor suppliers included) for product placement financial support, raided the local community theater groups, pulled in a couple of Hollywood fringe performers (Raaf.and nominal lead cop Paul Bryan) and made themselves a movie. Whew. But did I enjoy it? Yeah. For what it is, I dug it.

Before the draw of his movies relied almost 100% on his presence, Elvis was fortunate enough to costar with great actors such as Walter Matthau, Wendell Corey and Carolyn Jones. In this case he's got the flawless Lola Albright, the inventive Gig Young and the wildly underrated Charles Bronson as his supporting players and this talent pool helps elevate the quality of this film enormously. So does the engaging and playful script . Some of the lines spewed by the cast don't make sense, but I love every one of the funky zingers. Watch the beautifully acted argument between Elvis and Gig Young. Those lines crack me up - but they work. - example "Don't push me Willy. I'm one greaseball who won't Sliiiiide so easily." Phil Karlson brings his usual skill to the proceedings and creates such a sense of place you feel you've lived in Cream valley for a summer or two. My favorite Trivia - and I think I'm the only one who's figured this out because I spotted him in the background. NICK DIMITRI plays one of the nameless fighters being trained by Chuck Bronson. You can see him jogging and sparring on the road when Elvis first comes to town, you can see him sitting on the picnic table when Elvis first sings I Got Lucky, and you can see him jogging/sparring behind Charlie Bronson riding his bike during some road training. So what you say? Nick Dimitri played Street 13 years later in Hard Times , the ringer street fighter shipped in to bring down bare-knuckled fighter Chaney. Played. By. Charles. Bronson. I love that I spotted this. I just submitted this tidbit to the Trivia section as well. I dig the songs. I dig the drama. I dig the happy ending. I feel Charles Bronsons broken hands. The leading ladies are gorgeous. Jeff Morris Richard Devon. Ned Glass. I love this movie. One last note. I mentioned the picnic scene earlier when Elvis Sings my favorite song from the film I Got Lucky. Weellllll. It is a continuity train wreck. Watch it once to watched just Elvis and Joan Blackman. Then rewind and this time watch the background characters. You will be wildly entertained. And some of the characters mugging in the background are hysterical. Enjoy.

Fifteen years or so ago It became easy to see that early 70s lost classic "Evil Roy Slade" so ever since i have been holding out hope that this ("Saga of Sonora") too would resurface. Alas not to be. I remember enjoying this a lot and being struck by Vince Edwards who was either deliberately, excessively stoic or just embarrassed or bored. But he shouldn't have been - my family and i laughed a lot throughout the zany proceedings. Unless my memory is totally askew, Edwards sings a verse of "A Cowboy's Work is Never Done" while driving a horse and wagon. Hope it emerges again someday. As of summer 2020, I still cant find it.