Category: Burt Lancaster

The Train: Burt Lancaster and John Frankenheimer created the most dynamic, sophisticated and thought-provoking World War II Action picture

The Train(1964), directed by John Frankenheimer and starring Burt Lancaster and Paul Schofield in lead roles, is a brilliant WWII action thriller that details the attempts of the French underground resistance to stop the Germans from stealing valuable pieces of French paintings in the days leading up to the liberation of Paris. I love films … Continue reading The Train: Burt Lancaster and John Frankenheimer created the most dynamic, sophisticated and thought-provoking World War II Action picture →

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Valdez is Coming: Burt Lancaster returns as the ‘lawman obsessed with justice’ in his second horse opera of the 1970s

Valdez is Coming is one of the three Westerns that Burt Lancaster made in the early 1970s, Lawman and Ulzana's Raid being the other two. In all three movies, Lancaster played some variation of the aging Lawman obsessed with establishing justice at any cost. “Tell him Valdez is Coming.” It’s not easy to accept Burt … Continue reading Valdez is Coming: Burt Lancaster returns as the ‘lawman obsessed with justice’ in his second horse opera of the 1970s →

Lawman: Burt Lancaster stars in an intelligent, ultra-violent 1970s Western that raises tough questions about Law and justice

Lawman(1971), directed by Michael Winner and starring Burt Lancaster, Robert Ryan and Lee J. Cobb is a stylish, intelligently written, Vietnam-war era Western that deals with themes of Law & Order and justice. Before i come to the themes and characters of Lawman, i would like to discuss the visual style of this film, which … Continue reading Lawman: Burt Lancaster stars in an intelligent, ultra-violent 1970s Western that raises tough questions about Law and justice →

Gunfight at the O.K. Corral: Burt Lancaster as Wyatt Earp and Kirk Douglas as Doc Holliday in John Sturges’ slick, star-driven Western

Gunfight at the O.K. Corral(1957), directed by John Sturges and starring Burt Lancaster as Wyatt Earp and Kirk Douglas as Doc Holliday, is perhaps the most popular and flamboyant version of the events leading up to (and occurred during) the legendary Gunfight in Tombstone. On October 26, 1881, Dr. John “Doc” Holliday, allied with the … Continue reading Gunfight at the O.K. Corral: Burt Lancaster as Wyatt Earp and Kirk Douglas as Doc Holliday in John Sturges’ slick, star-driven Western →

Ulzana’s Raid: Burt Lancaster and Director Robert Aldrich reunited after 18 years to create this gritty, revisionist Vietnam-era western

Director Robert Aldrich and star Burt Lancaster reunited after 18 years to make the gritty, revisionist 1972 Western, Ulzana's Raid , which plays out as an allegory of United States' involvement in the Vietnam War. Ulzana's Raid is the third film that Burt Lancaster and Robert Aldrich made together. The first two films, Apache and Vera … Continue reading Ulzana’s Raid: Burt Lancaster and Director Robert Aldrich reunited after 18 years to create this gritty, revisionist Vietnam-era western →

Vera Cruz: Burt Lancaster gives a scene-stealing performance opposite Gary Cooper in this colorful Mexican adventure that anticipates & influenced Spaghetti Westerns

Director Robert Aldrich teamed up Gary Cooper and Burt Lancaster in his highly entertaining 1954 western, Vera Cruz. Apart from being the first of the the 'grey' westerns, it also happens to be the chief inspiration for the ultra-violent Euro-westerns of the Sixties. It's too bad that Burt Lancaster never did a toothpaste ad. With … Continue reading Vera Cruz: Burt Lancaster gives a scene-stealing performance opposite Gary Cooper in this colorful Mexican adventure that anticipates & influenced Spaghetti Westerns →

The Professionals: Burt Lancaster and Lee Marvin are at the top of their game in this rousing ‘Men on a Mission’ Western adventure

Director Richard Brooks' all-star cast 1966  film, The Professionals, starring  Lee Marvin, Jack Palance, Claudia Cardinale and Burt Lancaster is the kind of  intelligently written, beautifully photographed, western adventure that just isn't made anymore. The Professionals is a rousing adventure story set on the Mexican-American border in the year 1917. It's  about four mercenaries who … Continue reading The Professionals: Burt Lancaster and Lee Marvin are at the top of their game in this rousing ‘Men on a Mission’ Western adventure →