mraculeated
The biggest problem with this movie is it’s a little better than you think it might be, which somehow makes it worse. As in, it takes itself a bit too seriously, which makes most of the movie feel kind of dull.
Nicole
I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.
Guillelmina
The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.
Cassandra
Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.
ma-cortes
Two outlaws , Rio (Robert Taylor) and Esqueda (Anthony Quinn) , raised together as step-brothers , are reluctant adversaries in this fiery Western . Esqueda's mother raised Rio as her own , but this mutual fraternity will be modified in arriving a strange couple whose vision from law and justice differs quite from them . As the brothers will have a showdown when Rio defends an untameable owner (Howard Keel) and his wife (Ava Gradner) . Each owed the other their circumstances but is now the moment of reckoning . Then , there happens a real battle of wits among two siblings .The movie gets Western action , shootouts , a love story , thrills , an impressive town raid and results to be quite entertaining . It's an enough budget film with good actors , technicians , production values and pleasing results . This is a trigger-taut drama of the strangest brotherhood and facing off between the West's most upright man and his deadliest half-brother . Their brotherhood and friendship to break up when both of whom confront over the issue of whether to evict new settlers from their territory . The picture is a tale of justice , redemption and about a particular relationship between two brothers and a brave as well as pacific marriage . The basic plot is typical classic Western fare , but what makes this movie stand out is its style . The movie displays crossfire , love and hatred , fighting , round-up and exciting duels . It is plenty of violence and contains effective action sequences such as the ending when the cutthroats get together themselves and going through spectacular landscapes and go on riding until the trilling attack on the small town raid . The rousing climax as Taylor fights to make justice at the saloon , is justly exciting . Anthony Quinn is good as brutal bandit , he is excellent though sometimes overacting , his character bears remarkable resemblance to subsequent Spaghetti villains , as killing relentlessly enemies in cold blood . Robert Taylor gives a sober and sad acting as the good brother . And Ava Gardner is gorgeous , and wonderful , as usual . Support cast is frankly nice , such as : Kurt Kasznar , Ted de Corsia , Frank McGrath, Rex Lease , Monte Blue and the regular Jack Elam .Blazingly shot in Angiocolor by prestigious director of photography Robert Surtees . Moving and appropriate musical score by Bronislau Kaper . The motion picture was professionally directed by John Farrow in steamroller style . Here filmmaker John Farrow delivers a decently-paced film , though it has a few flaws and gaps . Farrow was a good craftsman who directed all kinds of genres , such as Drama : ¨Unholy wife¨ ; Historical : ¨John Paul Jones¨ ; Adventures : ¨Wake island¨ , ¨The years before the mast¨ , ¨Botany Bay¨ , ¨Back from eternity¨ ; Wartime : ¨Commandos strike at dawn¨ , ¨Sea Chase¨; Crime drama : ¨The big clock¨, ¨His kind of woman¨ , ¨The Saint strikes back : Criminal court¨ ; and Western : ¨A bullet is waiting¨, ¨Hondo¨, ¨Copper Canyon ¨and this ¨Ride vaquero¨ also titled ¨Una Vida Por Otra¨ or ¨Viva vaqueros¨ . Rating 6.5/10 .
stevepb
Even though it's not great, Quinn's performance is memorable and he really looks - and plays - the part.I'm also intrigued by a couple of brief scenes in this film - a wide shot of a cavalry fort and the shot of mounted troopers riding out look awfully like they came from "She Wore A Yellow Ribbon". Did John Ford help the producers fill a couple of small gaps?Howard Keel looked much more at home in "Pagan Love Song".Robert Taylor looks like he wore his "Billy the Kid" duds again.It's difficult to find a good, crisp copy of the film, but worth the effort.
bkoganbing
I've always felt that Ride Vaquero was one of the weakest of Robert Taylor's westerns. In playing Rio, Taylor certainly essayed one of the darkest characters he ever brought to the screen.It's the end of the Civil War and bandit Anthony Quinn has certainly had his run of things in the area. But the Yankee army will be occupying Texas shortly. Common sense would dictate that Quinn realize the jig is up that he'd better move on. At least his foster brother Taylor thinks so, but Quinn is drunk with power and he ain't going nowhere.Taylor finds some reason to stay when he takes one look at Ava Gardner newly arrived in Brownsville, but with husband Howard Keel. They're settling on a cattle ranch and Keel has some big plans.Most of the story I got, but quite frankly two points of it were ridiculous. Why Keel would even consider hiring Taylor after Taylor tried to burn him out. And secondly why Ava had Taylor take her to Quinn's camp to convince him to leave her and Keel alone. Those two things make absolutely no sense at all.Quinn is repeating the blustering role he had in Viva Zapata. But that film had a lot more depth to it. I think Quinn realized that and blustered all the more.Other reviewers commented on the undertone of a repressed gay crush that Quinn had for Taylor. It certainly might explain Quinn's motivations. But Anthony Quinn dealt with that issue six years later in Warlock, a much better western. It's a bad script with character motivations that make no sense. Still a good cast does the best they can by it.
mamalv
Robert Taylor thought this movie to be one of his worst! But years later it has come into favor, not only for the unique story line, but because of his performance of the outlaw Rio. He is so unhappy, so silent, so restrained, that when we see him falling in love with Ava Gardner, we almost can not believe it. Anthony Quinn gives a wonderful performance as the head of the gang, he is dirty, drunken, and vicious, the complete opposite of Rio. Esqueda (Quinn) wants to run off all the ranchers, because they bring with them law, and civilization. His time has come, and he knows it. When Howard Keel (Cameron) brings Ava (Dehlia)to his ranch to start a cattle kingdom, she becomes restless and lonely because at every turn, Esqueda burns and ravishes their home. Quinn sees the changes in Rio when he spots him longing, from a distance, after Dehlia. When Taylor is caught after a raid by Keel, he offers him a job, at which point he leaves Quinn, because he wants to be close to Ava. His character is very conflicted by loyalty to Quinn, and his love for Gardner. He knows that they will meet and one will kill the other. He stays anyway, and in the pursuit of horses, saves Keel's life, for which Keel feels vindicated, because he always felt that Rio had some good in him, not knowing that \ he is in love with his wife. He leaves the ranch for a business trip, and when Ava asks Rio to take her to Quinn, so she can plead with him for her new life, he takes her there. When she threatens Quinn, she only stops when he tells her if she kills him she will also be killing Rio, because the gang will take his life. When they return to the ranch, she confronts Rio about the real reason he is there, and in the encounter he asks her why she saved his life. She is so needy, and lonely that she tries to seduce Taylor, and kisses him with such a hunger, that you can feels her needs thru the screen. He rejects her, slapping her, and leaving the home, knowing that he loves her, but that he is no good for her, and that Keel is the right man for her. Esqueda goes on the rampage, and they have a final showdown, where they are both killed. It is quite sad to see Ava, so conflicted, so unsure, seeing Rio dead, and knowing that he did it for her. She asks Keel for forgiveness, and he tells her that he can forgive anything that she can forget. A very interesting portrayal by all. A truly overlooked western, years ahead of its time in the films that would follow. Films that came out of the new Hollywood, method actors, method films. This could really be called a "method western."