Son of a Gunfighter * (1965, Russ Tamblyn, Kieron Moore, James Philbrook, Fernando Rey, María Granada) – Classic Movie Review 10,572

Director Paul Landres’s game but pedestrian 1966 Sixties Paella Western film Son of a Gunfighter [El Hijo del Pistolero] stars Russ Tamblyn as Johnny Ketchum, the son of notorious gunfighter James ‘Ace’ Ketchum. It is handsomely shot in Spain by Manuel Berenguer.

The story finds Johnny Ketchum tracking down his mother’s murderers, outlaws James ‘Ace’ Ketchum (James Philbrook) and Bandit Chief Juan Morales (Aldo Sambrell), who kill her while she is riding in a stage near the Mexican border.

Tamblyn is hurt trying to fight off the Mexican Bandit Chief Sambrell while he tries to harm rancher Don Pedro Fortuna (Fernando Rey), whose daughter Pilar Fortuna (Maria Granada) adores Tamblyn, who must first take care of the outlaws, with the help of lawman Deputy Mace Fenton (Kieron Moore).

There are some well-staged action scenes and eye-catching widescreen visuals (in CinemaScope and Metrocolor), but there is not enough style or conviction in either the direction or acting.

Also in the cast are Antonio Casas, Barta Barri, Renato Polselli [Ralph Browne], Andy Anza, and Fernando Hilbeck.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,572

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