Bo Brundin is The Captain, an archaeologist from England who has ventured into the Sante Fe area in the 1830s, with a pretty indentured servant (Margot Kidder) in tow. He passes himself off as an Indian trader. His real hope: to find Montezuma’s gold.
Two other men take interest in his plans — Rainbow (Christopher Walken), because he’s taken with the girl who’s under contract with the Captain for five more years; the Scalphunter (Geoffrey Lewis), because he’s on the trail of gold, too.
As for the girl, she wants her freedom and she wants to get away from the captain. And gold won’t change her mind.
Of course, the path to any gold is blocked by Apaches on the warpath. And anyone finding gold is bound to run afoul of the Mexican authorities, who still control the area.
Review:
A bizarre little film, clearly influenced by Spaghetti Westerns. Our Indian trader pulls a cannon along behind his wagon. Rainbow is an expert at throwing knives. And there’s a long scene where he’s staked out and left to die, with vultures closing in.
And, just like in any good Spaghetti Western, there are shifting allegiances because there’s a fortune in gold at stake.
Unfortunately, the film’s also way too slow moving, and in a 2003 interview, director David Leeds says it was actually cut down from an original running time of 2 hours and 10 minutes. It was also filmed nearly two years before it received a limited release.
In the end, it’s more interesting for its cast than the film itself. Margot Kidder would go on to stardom as Lois Lane in a trio of Superman films, beginning in 1978. That same year, Walken starred in “The Deer Hunter.”
Directed by:
David Leeds
Cast:
Margot Kidder … Woman from England
Christopher Walken … Rainbow
Bo Brundin … The Captain
Geoffrey Lewis … Scalphunter
A. Martinez … Sunbearer
Ivan Naranjo … Delaware
Jorge Cervera Jr. … Lieutenant
Runtime: 95 min.
Memorable lines:
Scalphunter: “Registered your claim yet?”
The Captain: “I told you, mate, I’m a trader.”
Scalphunter: “Sure you are, captain. And I’m the queen or hearts.”
Rainbow, as the woman presses her cleavage together: “You’re very beautiful. But I’m not about to get tricked into killing a man I have no argument with.”
Scalphunter: “You know what your trouble is captain? You ain’t got no boat.”
Rainbow, as he comes across the woman singing and bathing: “That’s a pretty song.”
The Woman: “And would it be the melody or the singer, Mr. Rainbow, that catches your fancy.”
Rainbow: “You are straight-forward, miss.”
The Woman: “Thank you.”
Rainbow: “When you want to be.”
Rainbow, as Scalphunter pitches a partnership to him in seizing the captain’s gold: “You’re not only pretty, you’re generous, too.”
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