Catlow *** (1971, Yul Brynner, Leonard Nimoy, Richard Crenna, Daliah Lavi) – Classic Movie Review 12,737

The 1971 Western film Catlow stars Yul Brynner as a renegade outlaw planning to snatch $2 million while being hunted by his lawman buddy (Richard Crenna) and a vicious gunfighter (Leonard Nimoy). Quentin Tarantino named it one of the worst 70s Westerns. 

Director Sam Wanamaker’s 1971 British paella Western film Catlow stars Yul Brynner as renegade outlaw-drifter Jed Catlow, who is planning to snatch a $2 million haul while being hunted by the local lawman, his buddy Marshal Ben Cowan (Richard Crenna), and by vicious gunfighter bad guy Orville Miller (Leonard Nimoy). This light-hearted post-Civil War Western is based on a 1963 novel by Louis L’Amour.

There are no surprises in the well set-up, though routinely developed story, but Brynner’s ebullient acting keeps the familiar action moving and the easy-going comedy cheerful. Though welcome presences, Nimoy, Crenna and Daliah Lavi are less exuberant, and make a more glum impression. However, at least this gives it some edge, and the action (directed by Bob Simmons) is particularly convincing.

MGM made it in Spain and England. Filming took place in Almería, Spain, in August 1971.

Wanamaker recalled: ‘This picture has a sense of humour but that’s not the same as being a comedy Western.’

Westerns were still in vogue. The film is produced by Euan Lloyd, who had filmed another Louis L’Amour novel Shalako in 1968, and the screenplay is by Scott Finch, who scripted Shalako. Lloyd managed to get the entire $2 million budget from MGM. Lloyd later produced The Man Called Noon (1973), also based on a L’Amour novel and also with Richard Crenna.

Quentin Tarantino named Catlow, Dirty Dingus Magee and Something Big the worst studio Westerns of the Seventies. He claimed Brynner gives the worst performance of his career in Catlow. If Tarantino is right, US Westerns were still in vogue but were in severe decline. In any case, Tarantino is not exactly a fan of films with a light-hearted tone, certainly not Westerns.

On the other hand, Leonard Nimoy remembered the film fondly because his bad guy role gave him a chance to break away from being Spock in Star Trek. Even though his part was rather brief, he said that making the film was one of the happiest times of his life.

Wanamaker previously directed Brynner in The File of the Golden Goose (1969).

The cast are Yul Brynner as Jed Catlow, Richard Crenna as Marshal Ben Cowan, Leonard Nimoy as Orville Miller, Daliah Lavi as Rosita, Jo Ann Pflug as Christina Calderon, Jeff Corey as Merridew, Michael Delano as Rio, Julián Mateos as Recalde, David Ladd as Caxton, Bob Logan as Oley, John Clark as Keleher, Dan van Husen as Dutch, Bessie Love as Mrs Frost, José Nieto as General Calderon, and Walter Coy as Parkman.

© Derek Winnert 2023 – Classic Movie Review 12,737

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