When I looked up the critics' reviews, I was appalled that so few of them liked this movie. Bad on them. Obviously, their "funny bones" were creaky.
My take on this darn funny movie is this: with a little snipping here and there, at the director (Averback) and screenwriter level (Blatty), could have made this a VERY funny movie. By judicious trimming (e.g., eliminating some of the grotesque ending with too many posse members, too many bandits, too much train blow-up, etc.) I would have given this giggler a 9.
(As it happens, I liked all but perhaps 13-17 minutes of gratuitous - even rococo - excess: The bandito component(s) could have been reduced to make room for more on the Lyda/Ben picnic and just more of Walker's character in general.)
Even so, I enjoyed it enough for repeat viewings. (If I like something enough, I like to see it again. Or even again.)
Spoilers: First of all, the premise was fine: three gangs lined up to rob the "Outlaw Bank." And a couple of tunnel crews.
The Big Guy, Clint Walker's character of Ben Quick was well done I thought. Anyway, I always like to see that man in action. I chuckled at his undercover role as "Ben Smith, the laundry man."
The Picnic: I liked Kim's surprisingly outrageously funny take as the grifter (part of Rev. Pius Blue's expert crook round-up for the bank heist). I laughed so hard I could hardly see straight. That bustle! That strip-off! And straight-laced, large, "silo-built" undercover ranger, Ben Quick, undergoing a bit of melt-down was knee-slapping. (Again, I liked Walker's contribution to the scenery. Perhaps a little less goofy, but good nonetheless.)
Pius Blue's crew: All able and specialized for the task. Enjoyable display of specialties. The trickery! Such timing! And execution! Then there's the distraction afforded by Kim riding virtually nude on that white pony! (Poor bank guard!)
Secret Service and the 2nd Tunnelers: Funny. Cute. Silly. As was the schmozzle (melee) between the Chinese tunnelers and Blue's group.
The local sheriff(s) to the distraught gunman (played by Claude Akins): "What's the charge?" (after breaking a bottle) ... " 'Litterin!' "
Akins: (conflicted, crying): "Is this going to go on my record?"
Anyway, quite a few tongues-in-cheek references that make watching this "comedy western" worthwhile. (Especially in these days of too much hard and unhappy news.)
My take on this darn funny movie is this: with a little snipping here and there, at the director (Averback) and screenwriter level (Blatty), could have made this a VERY funny movie. By judicious trimming (e.g., eliminating some of the grotesque ending with too many posse members, too many bandits, too much train blow-up, etc.) I would have given this giggler a 9.
(As it happens, I liked all but perhaps 13-17 minutes of gratuitous - even rococo - excess: The bandito component(s) could have been reduced to make room for more on the Lyda/Ben picnic and just more of Walker's character in general.)
Even so, I enjoyed it enough for repeat viewings. (If I like something enough, I like to see it again. Or even again.)
Spoilers: First of all, the premise was fine: three gangs lined up to rob the "Outlaw Bank." And a couple of tunnel crews.
The Big Guy, Clint Walker's character of Ben Quick was well done I thought. Anyway, I always like to see that man in action. I chuckled at his undercover role as "Ben Smith, the laundry man."
The Picnic: I liked Kim's surprisingly outrageously funny take as the grifter (part of Rev. Pius Blue's expert crook round-up for the bank heist). I laughed so hard I could hardly see straight. That bustle! That strip-off! And straight-laced, large, "silo-built" undercover ranger, Ben Quick, undergoing a bit of melt-down was knee-slapping. (Again, I liked Walker's contribution to the scenery. Perhaps a little less goofy, but good nonetheless.)
Pius Blue's crew: All able and specialized for the task. Enjoyable display of specialties. The trickery! Such timing! And execution! Then there's the distraction afforded by Kim riding virtually nude on that white pony! (Poor bank guard!)
Secret Service and the 2nd Tunnelers: Funny. Cute. Silly. As was the schmozzle (melee) between the Chinese tunnelers and Blue's group.
The local sheriff(s) to the distraught gunman (played by Claude Akins): "What's the charge?" (after breaking a bottle) ... " 'Litterin!' "
Akins: (conflicted, crying): "Is this going to go on my record?"
Anyway, quite a few tongues-in-cheek references that make watching this "comedy western" worthwhile. (Especially in these days of too much hard and unhappy news.)