Chino (1973)

Charles Bronson plays Chino Valdez, a loner and horse breeder who has carved out his own little niche in the West.

Then a youngster (Vincent Van Patten as Jamie Wagner) in need of a home and an adult’s guidance shows up on his doorstep.

Next to arrive is lovely Catherine Maral (Jill Ireland), looking for a horse and riding lessons. She resides in her brother’s nearby mansion.

But the brother doesn’t approve of their budding romance. And being the most powerful landowner around, he can back up his threat to make Chino’s life unbearable if he continues to see Catherine.

When Chino scoffs at the threat and instead proposes marriage, Maral has him beaten and whipped, then has his prize foal killed and placed on his doorstep.

His prize stallion will be next, Maral promises. And Chino won’t have that.

Review:

An odd Western that seemed to have all the makings of a powerful film, yet somehow missed the mark.

The scenes featuring real-life husband and wife Bronson and Ireland are particularly awkward, as is the premise of their frequent meetings.

Catherine lives on the largest ranch around. Yet she has to go to small-time horse breeder Chino Valdez for a horse and riding lessons?

This marked the second straight Western in which Bronson played a half-breed looking for acceptance in the West; he starred in “Chato’s Land” a year earlier.

And this was the final Western directed by John Sturges, who brought us “Gunfight at the OK Corral,” “The Magnificent Seven” and a number of other high-profile Westerns. He would make just two more films. In fact, he received assistance on this one from veteran Italian director Duilio Coletti.

Ireland and Bronson made more than a dozen films together, including two more Westerns — “From Noon Til Three” and ‘”Breakheart Pass.” The part of Jamie is played by the son of longtime actor Dick Van Patten.

Directed by:
John Sturges
Duilio Coletti

Cast:
Charles Bronson … Chino Valdez
Jill Ireland … Catherine
Marcel Bozzuffi … Maral
Vincent Van Patten … Jamie Wagner
Fausto Tozzi … Cruz
Ettore Manni … Sheriff
Melissa Chimenti … Indian
Corardo Gaipa … Padre
Jose Nieto … Mexi can
Diana Lorys … Indian
Conchia Munoz … Mexican

Runtime: 97 min.

aka: Valdez Horses

Memorable lines:

Chino, handing a skeptical Jamie a sharp knife: “Don’t worry, I don’t eat kids like you. Not when I have a good side of beef hanging outside.”

Chino, explaining a scar on his back: “Anyway, a bunch of Indians stole my horses once. I went along and stole them back. And while they was chasing me, I came off my horse and got run over.”
Jamie: “Why didn’t they kill you?”
Chino: “Hell, boy, they was my friends.”

Chino, evaluating Catherine’s riding techniques: “Aw, that’s terrible. Terrible! You’re still bouncin’.”
Louise: “I have to bounce some.”
Chino: “Yeah, I guess so. You have a lot of bouncy parts.”

Chino: “I’ve left a lot of places in my time, but only when I wanted to.”