Pax and Michael track down another Clint Eastwood Western with Joe Kidd. Directed by John Sturge; also starring Robert Duvall and John Saxon.
Michael also watches The Arizonian (1935) and The Trail of the Lonesome Pine (1936), and Pax reads Three-Ten to Yuma and Other Stories by Elmore Leonard.
Potentially interesting characters interacting in a background that is inconsistent or mainly just not fleshed out too well. Which implies issues with the screenplay.
ReplyDeleteKidd's character seems to be one who wants to be left alone to live his life. And not necessarily as a cooperative citizen. However, he does take umbrage at people crossing him or harming his property or employees. In a ruthless manner since he pretty much arranges for Ramon to get killed. Who had been the person who tied up his ranch hand in barbed wire. Which pretty much is a Eastwood character template to a degree.
Per Kidd having interactions with Maria he did see her when Chama and his gang raided the courthouse. I also have the impression that the residents of the area had some knowledge of who lived in the region and roughly where they were located. So Chama might not have met Kidd, but might well have heard of him, perhaps some rumors about him, and would know he had a ranch near the town.
Per the conclusion all I can express is that with Harlan removed along with whatever pressure and influence he had on the court there would be a greater chance for Chama and the Mexican farmers to receive some justice. Which is also a 70s thing where there is a simple (but perhaps violent) solution to fixing some bit of corruption that is wrecking the system. A lot of westerns seem to imply that removing just one or two corrupt men will allow a 'natural' sense of justice and cooperation to prevail and make a better place.