Catlow (1971)

Yul Brynner is Catlow, a fun-loving, money-hungry adventurer who dances on both sides of the law and both sides of the border.

Richard Crenna is Cowan, a lawman determined to bring Catlow in even though the two are friends.

Catlow is wanted for rustling, though he insists the cattle he and his men rounded up, drove to market and sold were really mavericks, belonging to no one.

But the cattlemen, led by a man named Parkman, don’t see it that way. They’ve got a warrant out for Catlow’s arrest and expect Cowan to serve it.

And just in case he shirks his duty, they’ve hired a man named Miller (Leonard Nimoy) to track Catlow down.

Well, Cowan gets his man, but Catlow’s gang helps him escape and everyone heads to Mexico.

Catlow’s heard about a fortune in lost Rebel gold being escorted by the Mexican army and wants to get his hands on it.

Review:

A buddy film with the buddies — Catlow and Cowan — being on opposite sides of the law. Which makes for some humorous moments, especially early in the film.

But this light-hearted romp through the West gets tiresome after a while, as Catlow keeps asking his men to pull off crazy stunts and face impossible odds, yet never pays the price.

The film’s a bit of a curiosity as it features Leonard Nimoy of Star Trek fame in the role of Miller. In fact, he’s nude when he tussles with Catlow at one point. And the scene where they square off one last time is one of the film’s most memorable.

Daliah Lavi and Jo Ann Pflug provide the love interests. Lavi is a sassy Mexican woman who travels with Catlow; Christina is the fine Mexican lady who falls for Cowan after he’s saved her cousin.

The cast also includes Jeff Corey as Catlow’s second in command, Michael Delano as a Catlow gang member determined to stir up trouble and Jose Nieto as the Mexican general.

Directed by:
Sam Wanamaker

Cast:
Yul Brynner … Jed Catlow
Richard Crenna … Ben Cowan
Leonard Nimoy … Miller
Daliah Lavi … Rosita
Jo Ann Pflug … Christina
Jeff Corey … Merridew
Michael Delano … Rio
David Ladd … Caxton
Julian Mateos … Recalde
Bessie Love … Mrs. Frost
Robert Logan … Oley
Dave van Husen … Dutch
John Clark … Keleher
Jose Nieto … General
Angel del Pozo … Vargas

Runtime: 101 min.

Memorable lines:

Catlow: “When are you going to learn? That badge is only a target for trouble.”
Cowan, having just been wounded in an Indian ambush. “Yeah, and it found me.”

Catlow: “Have you known me to steal from any man?”
Cowan: “His wife, maybe. But you usually gave her back.”

Cowan: “Jed, you know it’s my duty to take you in.”
Catlow: “Duty? You mean I have to prove to 12 idiots that I didn’t do what I didn’t do?”

Catlow, admiring a Mexican senorita aboard her horse: “Some lady.”
Rosita, Catlow’s woman: “Lady? All you see are two expensive asses.”