Jess Wade (Elvis Presley) used to be a member of a gang in the old west. However, he's seen the error of his ways and quit some time ago. Now his old gang is returning the favor. After stealing a fabulously valuable silver cannon, the gang made it appear as if Jess was responsible. Then, after wounding him to make it appear he'd been shot in the neck, they let him go in the desert. However, Jess is resilient and arrives back in town...shortly before the gang arrives. And, the first member of the gang, the gang leader's punk brother, arrives in town and shoots the sheriff--injuring him severely. Now the sheriff appoints Jess his deputy...and it's all a matter of waiting for the rest of the gang to arrive.
To say that this film is different from Elvis' other films is a major understatement. Instead of a mildly enjoyable, albeit formulaic, romance, this film is a straight western. The only singing Elvis does is the theme song....and although I am sure this upset many of his fans, it did make for a much more realistic and tough picture.
Most of "Charro!" is excellent...I'd say the first 80-90%. However, towards the end the film just stopped making sense. At this point, the guy who shot the sheriff is in jail and the gang threatens to blow up the town unless he's released. Okay...an interesting situation. But then when the gang leader comes into town, thing get dumb and cliched. The rest of the gang starts firing on the city and no one shoots or arrests the gang leader...who just stands there and mocks everyone!! Does this make any sense? Nope...nor does the behavior of the sheriff's wife. In the real world, the town and/or Wade would have blasted the gang leader--especially since his gang only did exactly what he said. And, with an ex-leader, the gang would most likely just left. Now understand...Elvis is good in all this. He was actually excellent...and it left me wishing he'd done more films like it. But the ending....well, it was nonsensical and hard to believe.
To say that this film is different from Elvis' other films is a major understatement. Instead of a mildly enjoyable, albeit formulaic, romance, this film is a straight western. The only singing Elvis does is the theme song....and although I am sure this upset many of his fans, it did make for a much more realistic and tough picture.
Most of "Charro!" is excellent...I'd say the first 80-90%. However, towards the end the film just stopped making sense. At this point, the guy who shot the sheriff is in jail and the gang threatens to blow up the town unless he's released. Okay...an interesting situation. But then when the gang leader comes into town, thing get dumb and cliched. The rest of the gang starts firing on the city and no one shoots or arrests the gang leader...who just stands there and mocks everyone!! Does this make any sense? Nope...nor does the behavior of the sheriff's wife. In the real world, the town and/or Wade would have blasted the gang leader--especially since his gang only did exactly what he said. And, with an ex-leader, the gang would most likely just left. Now understand...Elvis is good in all this. He was actually excellent...and it left me wishing he'd done more films like it. But the ending....well, it was nonsensical and hard to believe.