The Desperados ** (1969, Vince Edwards, Sylvia Syms, Benjamin Edney, Jack Palance, Sheila Burrell, George Maharis, Kate O’Mara, Christian Roberts) – Classic Movie Review 11,810

The generic but tolerable 1969 Technicolor 35 mm US Civil War paella Western film The Desperados stars Vince Edwards, Sylvia Syms and Jack Palance.

Director Henry Levin’s generic but tolerable 1969 American Technicolor 35 mm US Civil War paella Western film The Desperados stars Vince Edwards, Sylvia Syms, Benjamin Edney, Jack Palance, Sheila Burrell, George Maharis, Kate O’Mara, and Christian Roberts. It was shot in Spain around May 1968 in Almería, Andalucía; and Madrid, hence a clutch of British actors.

Vince Edwards, TV’s Ben Casey (1961 to 1966), gets another chance to star on the big screen – this time in a typical 1960s minor Western. It is produced by British-based American producer Irving Allen, who had also made the 1968 spy thriller film Hammerhead with Edwards.

Jack Palance is the eager-to-please star of the show as ruthless preacher Parson Josiah Galt, who leads a band of US Southern marauders that includes his sons, David (Vince Edwards), Adam (Christian Roberts) and Jacob (George Maharis) during the American Civil War. David goes straight and relocates to Texas under a false name with his wife Laura (Sylvia Syms) and son Pauly (Benjamin Edney).

The stunts, action and handling are all good, better than the story by Clarke Reynolds or screenplay by Walter Brough, though even so they are quite robust and serviceable.

The cast are Vince Edwards as David Galt/ Gant, Sylvia Syms as Laura Gant, Benjamin Edney as Pauly Gant, Jack Palance as Parson Josiah Galt, Sheila Burrell as Emily Galt, George Maharis as Jacob Galt, Kate O’Mara as Jacob’s girl Adah, Christian Roberts as Adam Galt, Kenneth Cope as Carlin, Patrick Holt as Haller, Christopher Malcolm as Gregg, John Clark as Todd, Neville Brand as Marshal Kilpatrick, John Paul as Sheriff Lacey, David Thomson as Deputy Tate, and Elliott Sullivan as Jennison.

Christian Roberts (born 17 March 1944) is best remembered for his film debut role as the rebellious Denham in the 1967 film To Sir, with Love starring Sidney Poitier and Judy Geeson. His other films include Twisted Nerve (1968), The Anniversary (1968), The Desperados (1969), The Adventurers (1970), The Mind of Mr Soames (1970) and The Last Valley (1971) starring Michael Caine and Omar Sharif.

Christian Roberts died of cancer on 26 December 2022, aged 78.

The Desperados is directed by Henry Levin, runs 91 minutes, is made by Meadway Productions, is distributed by Columbia Pictures, is written by Walter Brough, based on a story by Clarke Reynolds, is shot in Technicolor and 35 mm by Sam Leavitt, is produced by Irving Allen, and is scored by David Whitaker.

Release date: April 30, 1969.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,810

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