Review: Rio Conchos

Blu-ray: Rio Conchos (1964)

The 1960s were a great time for westerns, whether they came from America or Italy/France/Germany/Spain.

Rio Conchos is one of better ones. Starring Stalwart ‘cowboy’ Richard Boone as ex-Confederate Army officer Jim Lassiter, who is  known for killing any Indian he comes across for revenge after the murder of his wife and baby.

He’s arrested and on the officer seeing his gun, he is offered his freedom as long as he finds the rest of the guns which have been stolen from the army. He agrees as long as he can take his friend; knife-wielding Mexican bandit and fellow prisoner Rodriguez (Tony Franciosa).

They join Captain Haven (Stuart Whitman), and  buffalo soldier Franklin (Jim Brown in his first acting role), and later an escaped Apache woman warrior (Wende Wagner).

With the great Edmond O’Brien playing the Col Kurtz type bad guy (way before Apocalypse Now) you have a pretty solid western. Which actually is quite violent considering the time it was made.

Boone made so many westerns and is highly watchable in a macho – yet sympathetic role.

Great Sunday afternoon viewing.

Review by Tina from a disc kindly supplied by Signal One Entertainment.