Waco ** (1966, Howard Keel, Jane Russell, Brian Donlevy, Wendell Corey, John Smith, Terry Moore) – Classic Movie Review 9256

‘Ain’t much wind to speak of, so the stink can’t be blowing in from the stables!’ – Waco

Director R G Springsteen’s 1966 Western film Waco stars Howard Keel as tough gunfighter cowboy Waco, who is released from jail and paid to whack the bad guys in a rotten town called Emporia, Wyoming, where his ex-fiancée Jill Stone (Jane Russell) has now wed town preacher Sam Stone (Wendell Corey). Waco sends for gunman Ace Ross (Brian Donlevy) to help him do the dirty work and clean up the town.

There is nothing special here at all in this engaging enough though unsurprising and uninspiring Western, except for the expert, old-time stars and support cast.

The screenplay is written by Steve Fisher, based on the novel Emporia by Harry Sanford and Max Lamb.

Also in the cast assembled by producer A C Lyles are John Smith as Joe Gore, Gene Evans, DeForest Kelley, Terry Moore, John Agar, Richard Arlen, Ben Cooper, Anne Seymour, Robert Lowery, Willard Parker and Jeff Richards.

Waco is directed by R G Springsteen, runs 85 minutes, is made by A C Lyles Productions, is released by Paramount, is written by Steve Fisher, based on the novel Emporia by Harry Sanford and Max Lamb, is shot in Technicolor and Techniscope by Robert Pittack, is produced by A C Lyles and is scored by Jimmie Haskell.

It is shot at the Paramount Studios, 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles.

Lorne Greene sings the theme tune Waco (music by Jimmie Haskell, lyrics by Hal Blair).

John Smith (born Robert Errol Van Orden).

John Smith (March 6, 1931 – January 25, 1995) was born in Los Angeles as Robert Errol Van Orden, a name changed to be ‘the only one in the business’ by his agent Henry Willson, who also renamed Tab Hunter and Rock Hudson. He was famed on TV as Slim Sherman in Laramie (1959-63).

 © Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 9256

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