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32 of 33 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
In this tough and unrelenting Western, Charles Bronson plays Chato, an Apache who shoots a sheriff in an ugly bar dispute, and then finds himself being hunted by a posse, led by Jack Palance, who is the menacing, bigoted Capt. Quincey Whitmore.
Chato turns tables on the posse, who become the hunted, as Chato leaves signs to make it easy for them to track him, and draws them into his territory, where things go from bad to worse.
There is a lot of brutality in this film on both man and beast, but for those of us who are Bronson fans, violence is to be expected, and this is a marvelous performance, with Bronson in superb physical condition, as he stealthily moves about on suede-booted cat-like feet.
Chato turns tables on the posse, who become the hunted, as Chato leaves signs to make it easy for them to track him, and draws them into his territory, where things go from bad to worse.
There is a lot of brutality in this film on both man and beast, but for those of us who are Bronson fans, violence is to be expected, and this is a marvelous performance, with Bronson in superb physical condition, as he stealthily moves about on suede-booted cat-like feet.
Jack Palance is terrific, and the supporting cast consists of seasoned, excellent character actors, like Richard Basehart, James Whitmore, Simon Oakland and Richard Jordan.
Directed by Michael Winner, who also did the editing under the alias of Arnold Crust Jr., and who was to work with Bronson on another fascinating film the following year, "The Mechanic", and of course their big success with "Death Wish" in 1974, keeps the pace fast. Cinematographer Robert Paynter shot the film on location in Spain, and Jerry Fielding adds to the atmosphere with his score.
I've seen this film numerous times, and though it's not for the squeamish, it's a must for Bronson fans.
DVD extra is the theatrical trailer, and total time is 1 hour and 40 minutes.
38 of 40 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Michael Winner is the most underrated filmaker of his generation! (Wow, gasps of shock all round). Those today who know him only as a portly food critic and car insurance salesman would do well to remember a few salient facts. In the sixties he directed a quartet of seminal movies that essentially reflected and defined the period - "The System," "The Jokers," "Hannibal Brooks" and "I'll Never Forger Whatsisname." All starred Oliver Reed in career-establishing performances and "Whatsisname" was probably the Sixties most scathing yet subtle critique of the decade in a tale of capitalism and selling-out to the fat cat media moguls set against a backdrop of new freedoms, free will and free love. The opening sequence where Reed strides through the commuter-crowded early morning London streets with an axe over his shoulder is never to be forgotten.It's a classic.
In the seventies Winner redefined the action/thriller with Charles Bronson as his leading player in "The Mechanic," "Cold Sweat" and (most influentially and controversially) "Death Wish." In addition he gave us a kinetic spy thriller ("Scorpio" with Burt Lancaster) and a brace of philosophically grim and savage westerns - "Lawman" (again with Lancaster) and "Chato's Land."
"Chato's Land" is a violent fable of frontier injustice, terrorism, torture and revenge. It establishes the Native American as a proud, intelligent and noble warrior at odds in the world of the white man (through no fault of his own) yet chillingly in control in his native environment. Bronson's character is relentless, stoic and unforgiving and so is this film. If you're a western fan, this is a rare treat. And a reminder that although his film career may have slid into decline after the early seventies, Mr Winner was a filmaker with a rare vision and unique talent and his back catalogue is well overdue for re-appraisal. Forget what came after, appreciate what went before.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Although Michael Winner is now a byword for bad movies, for a brief moment in the early 70s his work flirted not just with competence but actually delivered some pretty good action movies. Building on the success of his earlier Burt Lancaster Western Lawman, this doesn't have as strong a script but still makes for an effective, if bleak manhunt action movie.
Reversing the genre norm by having the posse as the villains, pursuing Charles Bronson's `halfbreed' into the badlands and gradually giving in to rape and murder themselves to draw him out as he goes from trying to shake them off his trail to picking them off, it's certainly a well cast affair - Jack Palance as the leader of the posse trying to relive his glory days in the Civil War, Richard Basehart's thirsty man in a dry land, Simon Oakland, Richard Jordan and Ralph Waite's vicious brothers - but one that never works quite as well as it could.
The first of his collaborations with Charles Bronson, it's surprising the star would work with him on another five films - Bronson is barely in the movie, with less screen time than many of his early supporting roles and has little to do here and doesn't do it particularly well. This wouldn't be a problem if Winner could build him into a mythic or primal figure to make his brief appearances more striking, but he's not even interestingly shot here. Instead the film focuses on the posse as the further it gets from civilization, the more it starts to tear itself apart as the strong become weak and the weak become ruthless. There's some good dialogue and the odd bit of rich writing and characterisation along the trail, but it's tempting to think what a better director with more of a feel for the landscape could have made more of it.
MGM/UA's Region 1 DVD offers an acceptable widescreen transfer, though it's the cut US version - the German and French DVDs are the longer, bloodier European cut, as is the UK version, though the latter is cut to remove an illegal horsefall.
Reversing the genre norm by having the posse as the villains, pursuing Charles Bronson's `halfbreed' into the badlands and gradually giving in to rape and murder themselves to draw him out as he goes from trying to shake them off his trail to picking them off, it's certainly a well cast affair - Jack Palance as the leader of the posse trying to relive his glory days in the Civil War, Richard Basehart's thirsty man in a dry land, Simon Oakland, Richard Jordan and Ralph Waite's vicious brothers - but one that never works quite as well as it could.
The first of his collaborations with Charles Bronson, it's surprising the star would work with him on another five films - Bronson is barely in the movie, with less screen time than many of his early supporting roles and has little to do here and doesn't do it particularly well. This wouldn't be a problem if Winner could build him into a mythic or primal figure to make his brief appearances more striking, but he's not even interestingly shot here. Instead the film focuses on the posse as the further it gets from civilization, the more it starts to tear itself apart as the strong become weak and the weak become ruthless. There's some good dialogue and the odd bit of rich writing and characterisation along the trail, but it's tempting to think what a better director with more of a feel for the landscape could have made more of it.
MGM/UA's Region 1 DVD offers an acceptable widescreen transfer, though it's the cut US version - the German and French DVDs are the longer, bloodier European cut, as is the UK version, though the latter is cut to remove an illegal horsefall.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
AN OLD FAVORITE
I bought this as a present for my dad, he watched it years ago and loved it, so he was really pleased to get a copy. very reasonable price.
Published 5 months ago by Nanna Lou
Go then, and God mark you for the man you are.
Chato's Land is directed by Michael Winner and written by Gerry Wilson. It stars Charles Bronson, Jack Palance, James Whitmore, Simon Oakland, Richard Baseheart, Ralph Waite and... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Spike Owen
chatos land
I LIKE most of charles bronson dvds, th one is verygood , I enjoyed it very much. David BOWEN.
Published 14 months ago by david bowen
chatos land
The film was a bit pedestrian the outcome was obvious from the first opening shots.
Published on 2 May 2010 by Mr. R. Cope
Andulucia looks good.
The trouble with this film is that the best scene is in the first minute.
Also the 3 villains are so unlikeable (even as villains) that it is hard to enjoy it. Read more
Also the 3 villains are so unlikeable (even as villains) that it is hard to enjoy it. Read more
Published on 10 Jan 2010 by MrViewer
Chato's Land (DVD)
Displays wonderfully the attitude of supposedly civilized white men tracking down a mixed white/Indian man accused of murder. Read more
Published on 12 Dec 2009 by A. E. Buddle
Better than most Westerns.
Watching this movie, it is hard to believe that Charles Bronson was not actually an Apache of the nineteenth century. Read more
Published on 23 May 2009 by John Barrett Rose
BRONSON AT HIS BEST
One to buy if you look for the steeley eyed Bronson playing a role that really suits him, patience at his game to the end, and an end which may surprise you. Read more
Published on 7 Feb 2009 by LOTTO WIZARD
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