The last thing I expected to encounter today was a movie with Leonard Nimoy fighting in the nude. Two years after the original Star Trek series and just before his appearance in one of my favorite episodes of Night Gallery, Nimoy played a snarling bounty hunter baddie in Catlow. His presence and the fact the movie is based on a book by Louis L'Amour are likely the reasons why this wasn't made a Warner Archive title. The movie is really quite enjoyable and a welcome alternative to the crap clogging the multiplexes.
Yul Brynner in Catlow.
Catlow is not a western I grew up with or was ever aware of until now. It's the kind of movie you find playing on TCM on a Saturday or Sunday morning and unapologetically get sucked into for just shy of two hours. The things I love most about it are the rough edges that feel so familiar: goofy ricochet sound effects, brownface "Mexicans" with wretched Spanish, and Andalusian horses in the "American Southwest."
Yul Brynner stars as the title character, an in-and-out of trouble ne'er-do-well who's after some Mexican gold with his gang of bandits. Richard Crenna plays Ben, a lawman "friend" of Catlow's who tails him in addition to Nimoy's bounty hunter Miller. The movie was shot in Andalucia, Spain and features a smattering of spaghetti western actors in addition to the Hollywood guys. The movie has a sense of humor similar to TV westerns of the 60's, and doesn't take itself terribly seriously at any point. Catlow is no forgotten classic, but it's worth a watch for anyone who likes a nice lightweight western.
Catlow was directed by Sam Wanamaker, who replaced Peter Hunt, a native Brit who was originally set to direct. Wanamaker appeared as an actor in Superman IV: The Quest for Peace and was father to Zoe Wanamaker, co-star of the super-popular and never-ending sitcom My Family in England. Wanamaker was born in the US and settled in the UK in the 50's after he found out he'd been blacklisted.
He had a more prolific theatre acting and directing career than film, apparently to some acclaim. Later in life, Wanamaker was a driving force behind the restoration of the Globe Theater in London, which reopened four years after he passed from cancer. He seems to have been a pretty interesting guy. I wish I could learn more about him than the meager resources on the internet provide.
Yul Brynner in and Palestinian actress Daliah Lavi
Catlow marks the final film performance of Daliah Lavi, best known for parts in Lord Jim and the original Casino Royale. Here she plays Catlow's fiery and impulsive Mexi-whore lover. Watch the movie before you crucify me for that last description. The character on the audition form must have read "saucy, sexy, and promiscuous Mexican piece of ass," because that's about all she is. Lavi may speak six languages in real life, but her "Mexican" ain't so good.
Other notable supporting performers include Jeff Corey and Jo Ann Pflug, the latter in brownface. Corey, like director Wanamaker, had also been blacklisted but went on to a healthy career into old age as an actor and teacher, guiding people like Jack Nicholson and Jane Fonda in acting classes. Pflug quit acting on account of a sudden case of conservative Christianity. After she had a "sexy" part in MASH, that lead to lots of casting directors wanting her to take her clothes off. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with modesty. She just decided she wanted to dedicate her life to motivational speaking about The Lord. She played a couple bit parts in the late 90's but has otherwise disappeared. the most I got out of her performance here is that she really has no idea how to ride a horse.
Warner Bros. released Catlow on DVD yesterday (6/23), and buying it costs less than admission for two at any movie theater this weekend. Having just recently seen My Sister's Keeper and skipping two chances to see Transformers 2 early, I can honestly recommend it as a more enjoyable option for moviegoing this weekend than the new wide releases.
Click on the box art to order from Amazon.
A portion of the purchase goes toward supporting disc reviews featured in this column.
At the time of this posting, it's $9.99US: less than you usually pay for snacks.