Barquero

• Directed by Gordon Douglas
• September 3, 1970

At a river crossing, a stand-off between a gang of outlaws and local townsfolk ensues when the ferry barge operator refuses to take the gang across the river.

This was a work suggestion. Somehow we got on the topic of the great Lee Van Cleef and my friend mentioned this film. Always down to watch a movie with him, I decided to find Barquero on streaming. I was not blown away, but I was entertained. And though the biggest name in the movie, Van Cleef is the star as Travis but does not play the best character.

That honor goes to Forrest Tucker as Travis’s close friend and advisor Mountain Phil. Phil is crazy in a way that makes him dangerous to those not on his side. Tucker shows very little but is able to make you believe Phil is very dangerous when he needs to be. He delivered some of the best dialogue of the movie in a folksy way that was very threatening.

When we see Travis (Lee Van Cleef) he is a ferryman with a steely look in his eyes that makes you believe he would rather be anywhere else other than running a ferry for a group he calls ‘squatters’ that have settle around the area of his ferry. This ferry is very important to Travis to the point it is the source of all the issues.

Remy (Warren Oates) leads a band of outlaws who have robbed a town of silver and weapons. It is a rather large band bordering on a small army. Much like Travis he is aided/advised by Frenchman Marquette (Kerwin Mathews).

Broadly these two characters are very similar. One a reflection of the other. Both are significant personalities that follow nobody. They are strong-willed individuals though only one seeks to hurt anybody. Barquero is a game of cat and mouse as the two face-off in an ever escalating conflict with Remy being pushed to the brink of madness in a Captain Ahab sort of way.

While it looks like Travis is just too prideful to give up the boat he understands that the squatters would be the next target of the fleeing outlaws. Not that he is completely altruistic. While he is thinking of the settlers, Travis has no mind to give up what’s his (the ferry) for the same reasons he did not move when the squatters arrived. He will not be pushed around in the same way Remy will not be pushed around.

Dissension in the ranks plagues both sides and there are mistakes though none feels forced. We get an escalating series of strikes which culminates in a fight to the finish. Travis will not back down and Remy cannot let this affront to his pride go unpunished. Director Gordon Douglas makes the hate and tension palpable. These are two hard and tough men squaring off. Equal in intelligence and skill and drive.

This is not a myth making Western. Travis is no saint but not nearly as evil-or evil at all-in comparison to Travis. Travis just happens to be fighting the good fight. Our central pair along with the supporting players get built up enough that their dispositions. If I would’ve done anything different, I would’ve had Mountain Phil and Travis work together much more. When the characters worked together there was some real magic.

Barquero is a good old-school Western. Maybe not well-known but something fans of the older style Westerns will certainly enjoy. Worth taking a look at.