Plot Details: This opinion reveals major details about the movie's plot.

Valdez is Coming (1971)

Burt Lancaster stars as Bob Valdez a mixed breed constable on the old Western frontier. Valdez tries to peacefully sort out a situation involving a barricaded rifleman opposed by a rancher and his gang of thugs but when he gets the man to talk, the rancher treacherously starts shooting. The oppressed rifleman naturally thinks it is Valdez’ trickery, and shoots at him. Bob Valdez instinctively shoots the rifleman, killing him. When they look at the body the rancher realizes it is the wrong man. Valdez approaches the rancher Tanner, respectfully requesting $100 to compensate the man’s widow. He is driven out of the armed camp by ridicule. Nonplussed, Valdez tries again, with the result that he is brutally beaten, tied to a makeshift cross and driven out into the desert. "Don’t fall on your back or you’ll be like a turtle; you won’t be able to get back up," is the parting advice offered to the savagely beaten man.

But Valdez gets out of his predicament with a little help from gunman Davis (Richard Jordan). When Valdez comes to, he returns to his quarters and gets his buffalo gun, a scattergun, and plenty of ammunition. He immediately sets out for a reckoning with the evil rancher Tanner. On the outskirts of Tanner’s ranch Valdez meets Tanner’s foreman, El Segundo. El Segundo says he will go tell Tanner that Valdez wants to talk, but doubles back intending on bushwhacking Valdez. Big mistake as Valdez gives him a dose of buckshot from his sawed off shotgun. "Tell Mr. Tanner that Valdez is coming," he advises the severely wounded man as he drapes him over the saddle and sends the horse packing back to the ranch. El Segundo survives long enough to deliver the message to the alarmed Tanner who gathers his gang of gunmen and rides out to seek the elusive Valdez. The movie kicks into high gear and Valdez visits the ranch, steals Tanner’s wife and escapes into the wilderness. Over the chase Valdez kills more than a double handful of the pursuing gunmen, sometimes at incredible ranges using his buffalo rifle. The exciting climax shows Tanner’s gunmen unwilling to shoot down the Tex-Mex constable, shifting the responsibility back to Tanner himself. For crying out loud, give the man the hundred bucks!!

The movie has a lot of things to say about racial injustice, with Valdez being a Hispanic and the original victim a Black. Tanner and his gang represent the majority who are willing to oppress the minorities, even when they happen to be right. The story is by Elmore Leonard, who also wrote Hombre, a Paul Newman vehicle with a similar emphasis on racial conflict. It is very inspiring to see the "little guy" fight back against the establishment and get even.

Filmed in Spain, it can be considered a Spaghetti Western, along with Clint Eastwood’s big series and The Magnificent Seven. The big redeeming factor that sets this Western apart from most others of the genre are an intelligent story and superior credibility from Burt Lancaster as the title character.

Those who enjoy an intelligent Western will also enjoy Hombre, starring Paul Newman, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, starring John Wayne and Jimmy Stewart, and Winchester ‘73 starring Jimmy Stewart. The fans of Spaghetti Westerns will enjoy The Magnificent Seven starring Yul Brynner and a bevy of soon to be superstars, and the Clint Eastwood blockbusters, A Fistful of Dollars, and A Few Dollars More.



Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening