Vera Cruz

_**Dynamic Mexico-oriented Western with Gary Cooper and Burt Lancaster**_ After the Civil War, two soldiers-of-fortune (Gary Cooper and Burt Lancaster) meet in the heart of Mexico and end up taking a job for Maximilian I, Emperor of Mexico, to escort a lady aristocrat (Denise Darcel) from Mexico City to Vera Cruz on the coast. Although they have help from imperial troops, they are assaulted by Juarez’s rebels because there’s gold to be had. “Vera Cruz” (1954) is an overlooked powerhouse Western that was made back-to-back by Cooper with “Garden of Evil.” I think they’re both really good Westerns, but give the edge to this one. It has comic book qualities that I don’t like (e.g. the trivial conflicts and superhuman marksmanship), but is otherwise an austere, action-packed, life-or-death adventure with spectacular Mexican locations, featuring the magnificent Pyramid of the Sun, not to mention two beautiful women (Denise Darcel and Sara Montiel). This is one of Lancaster’s top roles as he plays the lusty anti(non)hero with his charismatic grit-teethed grin counterbalanced by Gary Cooper’s aged, brooding antihero. One of these two is redeemable while the other isn’t. It’s kind of obvious, but the climax reveals all. The peripheral cast includes notables like Cesar Romero, Ernest Borgnine, Charles Bronson and Jack Elam. The movie is short-and-sweet at 1 hour, 34 minutes, and was shot in areas east of Mexico City, including the Pyramid of the Sun. GRADE: A-/B+

In the aftermath of the US Civil War, two mercenaries find themselves working together in an uneasy alliance. "Trane" (Gary Cooper) is the more refined of the two, "Joe" (Burt Lancaster) little better than a thug, but both are good with a gun and that attracts them to the "Marquis" (Cesar Romero) who suggests to them that there's money to be made serving the Emperor Maximilian of Mexico (George Macready). To his palace they go and after some sharp shooting proves their worth, they agree to escort the "Countess" (Denise Darcey) to the port of Vera Cruz. She certainly needs an escort for the local population, under the leadership of "Gen. Ramirez" (Morris Ankrum), is bent on removing this Napoleonic interloper from his throne and establishing a republic. It's only when they cross a river that the men notice the countess must weight rather a lot more than her frocks suggest, and that starts them thinking of another, more lucrative, agenda for their journey. Thing is, she has plans of her own and is quite prepared to use her wiles on either or both of these characters to get her way. As they near the garrison, treachery is rife and things come to an head - but it's by no means clear who will emerge ahead of he game. There's a great chemistry here between Cooper and Lancaster, with the latter on great form as the likeable man you couldn't ever trust. The support is also effective, especially from the usually nondescript Romero, an almost as untrustworthy "Donnegan" (Ernest Borgnine), Jack Elam and Henry Brandon's menacing "Capt. Danette". It packs loads of sultry duplicity, betrayal and good old fashioned greed into a busy ninety minutes and though I was, as usual, on the wrong side at the denouement, it works well enough as an indictment of venality tinged with romance.