Joe Kidd (1972)

Clint Eastwood's stardom was supernova, thanks to Dirty Harry; John Sturges, the man behind The Magnificent Seven and a dozen other memorably leathery Westerns, was directing; and Elmore Leonard was the screenwriter. It just goes to show. Joe Kidd is a muddle and a drag, the shoddiest Eastwood vehicle since Rowdy Yates trod in his last cow flop. Kidd, first seen as a duded-up drunk sleeping one off in jail, is supposed to be a horse rancher and an expert tracker--just the fellow a rapacious land-grabber (Robert Duvall committing lazy villainy) needs to chase down the uppity Latino (John Saxon) who's trying to reclaim the grabbed land for its rightful owners. Neither the characters nor the overland pursuit makes any sense, thanks to chasms in the continuity and no direction to speak of. An absurdly arbitrary assault-by-locomotive provides the climax; as Eastwood observed, "Jesus, anything at this point--let's end it." --Richard T. Jameson Amazon.com

Joe Kidd

A great Eastwood western. Humorous and the long range rifle shots are great! Great cast! August 2, 2008

The Screenplay to "Joe Kidd"is similar to Leonard's Novel " The Moonshine War"

Was Elmore Leonard's screenplay for "Joe Kidd" an adaptation of his
1969 novel,"The Moonshine War"? I had believed this to be the case because the plots in both of Leonard's works are very similar,the only
difference being in both cases the historical periods & land reform vs.
pure Kentucky moonshine. July 2, 2008

Can't recommend this version

The other reviews that mention the missing scenes in the movie are right on the money. Key scenes are missing, and until they release a version that has the whole movie, I recommend staying away from this on DVD. April 6, 2008

Missing too much

I, too, am disappointed they excluded the most important parts to this movie/storyline, Joe Kidd's growing suspicion he's signed on with the devil, as in the missing supper shots in the mountain cabin, and again with his romantic interest with Helen Sanchez, and her growing resentment with Luis Chama, as expressed in the copse of trees AFTER he disappoints her on the mountain. This causes major discontinuities. With plenty of room left on this DVD, it should have been easily retained. This print looks like it came out of the cuts they made for late night TV where they would fill two hour time slots with a minimum of 30 minutes of commercials, and any movie over one and a half hours would be trimmed at the engineers will. Too bad they couldn't find the original... or is that going to come on the "Platinum Collection".... August 28, 2007

The Essential Clint Eastwood...

1972's "Joe Kidd" pairs Clint Eastwood, then a young acting phenomenon, with veteran director of Western movies John Sturgis. The result is a serviceable action movie that never quite lives up to its potential.

Former bounty hunter-turned-rancher Joe Kidd (played by Eastwood) winds up in the middle of a turn-of-the century New Mexico range war when dispossesed Mexican peasants rebel against a judicial system that favors the Anglo land owners. Frank Harlan (played by Robert Duval) tries to hire Kidd to track down the leader of the Mexicans, one Louis Chama (played by a hugely mustachioed John Saxon). Kidd initially refuses, but changes his mind when the rebels raid his own small ranch.

Kidd rides out with Harlan's group of hired guns, an interesting collection in their own right, highlighted by actor Don Stroud with an early version of the automatic pistol. The group suspects Kidd's sympathies from the beginning, and when they take hostages against Chama's surrender, Kidd is also confined. Kidd's escape from the village with Chama's girlfriend provides a deliberately paced but worthwhile action sequence.

Kidd links up with Chama's band, only to reveal his real and very bold agenda, to take Chama in to face justice for assaulting Kidd's ranch. Chama, in a rather unrealistic standoff, agrees to go in with Kidd, and as the two men and a few followers race Harlan's gang back to the courthouse, they form a grudging respect for each other. In a second and final extended action sequence, Kidd and Chama will fight their way back into town against Harlan's collection of hired guns.

Eastwood is in his essential mode, tough, competent, and laconic. However, the storyline repeatedly develops the bends trying to keep Joe Kidd on the right side of the political conflict. Wise viewers will ignore the plot contrivances and focus on some well-done action sequences and the sun-drenched New Mexico landscapes. This is an enjoyable Eastwood movie. June 17, 2007

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