Kino Lorber continues their releasing of a number of Charles Bronson films with CHATO’S LAND. This film was the movie that began to see Bronson begin to become a leading man and box office draw. It was also the first he had done with director Michael Winner. The two would continue to collaborate with THE MECHANIC, THE STONE KILLER and DEATH WISH 1-3.
CHATO’S LAND kicks off with a bang, literally. Bronson stars as Pardon Chato, a half Apache man who enters the saloon as the film begins. A racist sheriff tells him to leave and Chato shoots him in self-defense, walking out of the saloon and leaving town after he finishes his drink.
It isn’t long before word spreads through town with the story changing to claim Chato shot the sheriff just to kill him. The first person sought out to rectify this wrong is Captain Quincy Whitmore (Jack Palance), and ex-Confederacy officer and well respected member of the community. Donning his uniform he begins rounding up a posse to go after Chato. Among the rag tag group in the posse are good and bad men. The worst of the bunch are the Hooker brothers: Jubal (Simon Oakland), Elias (Ralph Waite) and Earl (Richard Jordan).
The posse hits the trail in search of Chato even though he has an hour or so lead on them. He stays one step ahead of them throughout the film. During the first evening when they camp, he sneaks in and scatters their horses. He leads them one direction while traveling another. All of this frays on the nerves of those who think they are the ones stalking him.
With enough lead on the posse Chato stops to see his wife and son. He does things that need done there in their small home and then heads out once more. The posse come upon his home and their bad side comes out. Elias, Earl and two other members of the posse rape Chato’s wife and then tie her up outside the home they shared using her as bait to capture Chato. But he creates a distraction and rescues his wife instead.
Chato sets traps for the men and one by one they are finding themselves in more danger than they bargained for. But for some of them this is a matter of price now. It is also their deep rooted hatred of the Indian that some feel they are justified in doing whatever they want. From here forward the movie becomes less about the pursuit of Chato and more about the men who are chasing him. Egos are frayed as are the patience of each man. More arguments than agreements take place between them. Threats are tossed back and forth and some are carried out. And in the end each of them poses as much a threat to the other as does Chato.
Bronson plays this role with little to no dialogue. Chato is a presence as well as an individual. To the posse represents all that they hate about the west. His ability to work with the world around him infuriates these men who have come to tame that same country with little success. For the viewers he is an innocent man driven to revenge the brutality directed towards him for no reason other than being who he is.
When made in 1972 there were numerous revisionist westerns being made, films that portrayed the Indian as a noble group and white men as the most vile of invaders as could be imagined. The reality is more likely that both sides were well represented in those days with good and bad on both sides. But this is storytelling and it needs a protagonist. With the decades of Indians being put down by the white man it was a time when things were changing on film and this was only a natural progression of things.
There isn’t a bad performance at all in this film. Each actor on screen brings something to the character they are playing. Palance is a bit different here than usual, a man with a past and a conscience. Bronson is stoic and determined. Oakes, Waite and Jordan are despicable.
Winner does a great job of capturing a more realistic old west than most. It looks dirty and dusty and little else. The land is hot and dry, the sun a demon in the sky bringing nothing but heat and bad weather for farming. You can feel it in every pore of your being while watching. He also handles his cast well, bringing out solid performances.
Bronson fans will want this version of the film in their
collection. Kino Lorber is releasing it on Blu-ray and it’s never looked
better. Add this one to your collection today.
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