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Rating:  - Exciting western with Brown, Reynolds, and Welch
100 Rifles will never be considered a great western, but it is a fun watch with plenty of action and a good leading cast. A Phoenix sheriff, Lyedecker, is pursuing a bank robber, Yaqui Joe a half-breed bandit, and ends up finding him in Mexico amidst an uprising. Before Lyedecker can bring him in, he is captured alongside Joe who is wanted for giving rifles to the Yaqui Indians by the Mexican Army. After a narrow escape, Lyedecker forms an uneasy, very uneasy, alliance with Joe to help the Yaquis fight back against the Mexican Army. 100 Rifles is one of many westerns that was released in the late 1960s trying to take advantage of the success of the Italian spaghetti westerns. It has the feel of spaghettis and was filmed in Almeria, but was American financed. All that aside, its a very enjoyable western with plenty of action. Add a great score from Jerry Goldsmith and a great looking print on this new DVD, and you can't miss.
Jim Brown stars as Lyedecker, the Phoenix sheriff trying to bring in Yaqui Joe for robbing a bank of $6,000. Brown isn't considered a great actor, but he's very good here. The man simply has a great presence on screen. Burt Reynolds plays Yaqui Joe, a half-breed bandit trying to give rifles to the Yaqui Indians. His part gives him some very funny lines, and together with Brown, they make a great duo. Raquel Welch plays Sarita, the love interest who fights alongside the men. She has a love scene with Brown, that at the time seemed shocking, but its pretty tame. As expected, Ms. Welch looks amazing, and director Tom Gries gives the viewer plenty of chances to oggle her. Fernando Lamas plays the evil Verdugo, the Mexican officer charged with wiping out the Yaquis while Eric Braeden offers advice as Von Klemme, a German advisor. This long-overdue DVD offers a great looking widescreen presentation considering the movie is almost 40 years old, three picture galleries with about 60-70 photos, a 100 Rifles trailer, and trailers for three other 20th Century Fox westerns. So if you're a fan of westerns, check out Jim Brown, Burt Reynolds, and Raquel Welch in the action-packed 100 Rifles!
Rating: - Implausible But Fun Western
100 Rifles is the kind of Western you'd have expected someone to make in the late 1960's. One with a black US lawman, and two revolutionary Mexican Indians fighting for justice in their oppressed homeland. It would be easy to dismiss this as a politically correct western, even though it was made before the term was invented. But the cast and the production of 100 Rifles pulls it off, making a rare late 60's Western treat.
Jim Brown, recently retired football superstar, plays the US marshal with the virility and muscle that befits his status as one of the greatest, and definitely the most punishing running back in the history of the NFL. Burt Reynolds and Raquel Welch plays the two revolutionaries. Brown's character comes to Mexico chasing bank robbing Reynolds, ends up falling for Welch, and eventually helps both Reynolds and Welch with their revolutionary activities. Reynolds displays all of the vigor and charm that helped become the most popular box office star in the late seventies/early eighties, and Welch is, well Welch, oozing sex appeal and sensuality.
100 Rifles is definitely a product of the era in which it was made, but since there very few great Westerns made in the late 60's except movies like Hombre and The Wild Bunch, this is film to appreciate and treasure.
Rating: - oppressed Yaqui Indians vs. the Mexican government
From the vintage mid '60s-early '70s era of offbeat 'n' out-of-control Euro-inspired Mexico-set westerns; shot spaghetti-style on location in Almeria, Spain with a script co-written by Clair Huffaker. Perhaps Jim Brown's best film performance (now where are DVDs of 1969's "Riot", 1970's "...tick...tick...tick..." & "El Condor", and 1974's "Three the Hard Way"?) ....... with Burt Reynolds, Raquel Welch, Fernando Lamas, plus a bit part appearance by Soledad Miranda.
anamorphic 1.85:1 transfer but not a special edition DVD - no original trailer, just some photos, stills & posters.
Rating:  - Great Great Movie
When is this movie going to DVD? This one is the best of all the Racquel Welch Westerns--It has plenty of action and great storyline--The best part with Racquel is when she is taking a shower from a railroad water tank to confuse the Mexican soldiers that are on a passing train--who cannot help but look? She is dressed but the clothes are tight!!! What a scene!!! Plenty of action in this movie-especially the love scene with Jim Brown--this along with Bandeloro are the best--get them both---DVD PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rating: - WONDERFUL
I wasnt even born yet when this film came out but it was great. Great in the sense of good actors(Jim Brown, Burt Reynolds and Fernando Lamas), good performance, good sountrack once more and action-western, what could be better?......Not until last year 2003 did I know that Victor Newman(Young and the Restless) was the Fernando Lamas's right hand man in the film!!!! What a shock!!!
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