Movie review – "The Comancheros" (1961) ***

Full blooded sprawling John Wayne Western from his fertile early 60s period: lots of colour, action, and a handsome younger co-star (in this case Stuart Whitman). Wayne is a Texas ranger in 1840s Texas who tries to stop gunrunners and becomes involved with a criminal society living out in the desert. Highly enjoyable, with its star in good form, solid support from Whitman (who never became a star despite 20th Century Fox pushing him in a few films – he doesn’t have super charisma but is likeable), colourful supporting characters including one half scalped rascal played by Lee Marvin (whose role is too short). The most interesting character is the lead female, the daughter (Ina Balin) of the head comanchero who sets her cap at Whitman – feisty, sexual aggressive, smart, she is an unexpectedly strong female character in a Wayne film. (Balin doesn’t really do it full justice but she’s OK and very pretty).