Movie review - "100 Rifles" (1969) **

The teaming of three legends (in their own way): Raquel Welch, Jim Brown and Burt Reynolds. It was the brief period of stardom for both Welch and Brown - both getting lots of PR, and with the backing of major studios (Brown with MGM, Welch with Fox, who made this), both famed for their physiques and personal lives rather than their acting, both with reputations for being difficult on the set. Apparently things were tense between them on the set with Reynolds acting as referee. I get the feeling the behind the scenes story was more interesting than what we see.

I wish this film had been better. It sounds like it's going to be great, with Brown as a sheriff teaming up with wildcat Welch and bank robber Reynolds to help protect the local Indians against nasty Mexicans (led by Fernando Lamas)... it's set in the Pancho Villa era of 1912 Mexico. Dan O'Herlihy pops up as a gun runner and there's decent production values with trains, machine guns, extras and hangings.

But it's too dull too often. The action scenes lack zip. I've never seen so many Mexican extras and bit parts shot but all the genocide gets depressing after a while. There's a battle between Mexicans and Indians, then another one, then another one... it's hard to get too fired up and/or care. I don't think Tom Gries was much of an action director.

Occasionally it flares to life - there is genuine chemistry between Brown and Welch and their sex scene was hot (once they got past the bit where he forced himself on her). He's got that great build and she's awesome in a wet T shirt blowing away Mexicans.

In a way I wish this film had been trashier - more cleavage and torsos and sex and violence - with the roles rewritten to suit the stars more. Have Jim Brown full of pride and violence and rage, have Raquel play an imperious princess who is brave and gutsy and smart, and give Reynolds lots of self-deprecating jokes. It's in there a little bit, but not enough. The story of this is good - you've got anti heroes helping the Indians take on the baddies, sex, inter-racial stuff, buddy comedy, Western feminism... but they muffed it.