This gets off to a strong start with the nonchalant "Rio" (Marlon Brando) and his pal "Dad" (Karl Malden) relieving a bank of it's golden pesos. Their flight doesn't quite go to plan though, and in need of fresh horses they are forced to separate. It's "Dad" who heads off in search of the stock but forgets to come back for his buddy who is apprehended by the pursing police. Five years later and "Rio" is intrigued by a proposition by "Amory" (Ben Johnson) that could net him quite a bit of cash and give him a chance for revenge on his now sheriff comrade in the town of Monterey, Thus far it's teed up to be a solid revenge western but once he arrives, the thing rather quickly descends into a soppy drama with "Rio" becoming sweet on the young "Louisa" (Pina Pellicer) who happens to be the step-daughter of "Dad" and his new wife "Maria" (Katy Jurgado). Might his desire for vengeance now be being tempered by an even greater desire? I found it really only Johnson who delivered well here as his character talks a good game but actually has a yellow streak a mile wide. Slim Pickens also chips in amiably as the lecherous bully of a deputy "Dedrick" but I didn't really find either Brando or Malden to be especially menacing here, nor really is there much going on as it enters it's lengthy brooding phase. The last few minutes provide us with a conclusion, of sorts, but that's all a bit rushed and really quite weak - as if nobody could quite have the courage to end the story decisively one way or the other. It's looks good with some fine photography setting the scene, but it's one of those westerns set at the end of that way of life and it just seems to meander along disappointingly.
