Highly Overrated But Still Good

Fanciful, disturbing, and wildly original, it announces the arrival of a fresh, bold voice in American cinema.

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

the original plan for this movie coming to fruition? John Wayne and Sammy Davis, Jr., directed by Burt Kennedy? It fairly screams "hit!" Alas, we get an Aaron Spelling production with Ernest Borgnine sleep-walking through his performance (and what was with that silly way he kept firing his pistol?) and Sammy Davis, Jr., restraining his entertainer voice while looking embarrassed.Or was that me being embarrassed for them.The Trackers is so cheap and disposable as a standard search plot that the tension, created when white rancher Borgnine has to accept black cop Davis for his sidekick, is the only thing worth the 75 minutes of air time. Throw in a weird pack of evil-doers in Mexico who are holding Ernie's daughter (a non-actress named Connie Kreski who was a Playboy Playmate in 1969; yes, dammit, I looked her up, and I read the article!), led by an urbane Englishman, and I simply gave up.William Katt gets wasted in the first five minutes of the flick. Julie Adams gets wasted--in a different way--with a thankless role of Borgnine's missus. What's weird is that she's the only believable character in this silly blob of cinematic dryer lint. Oh, well. It was free.

I agree that this TV Western is worth your time. Ernest Borgnine and Sammy Davis Jr play well together. Watch fast for a young William Katt as Borgnine's son. The character of El Grande is played by the excellent Gary Marshal of Camelot (1967) and The Thousand Plane Rain (1968, released July 1969). In this production he is credited as 'Caleb Brooks'. though I do not know why. His performance is memorable and it is a shame he did not do more work on film. His career has been mostly on the stage where his considerable vocal talents have been wowing audiences for many years. Fans also remember him fondly in three episodes of Marlo Thomas' That Girl series playing British Photographer Noel Prince. He can also be viewed in the Vegas (1979) episode 'Lost Monday' as Dr Middleton as well as a cameo in George Clooney's Intolerable Cruelty. Back to the film...I have always enjoyed the music in this production and the script is above average. I can see how it would have made for an entertaining feature film.

Of course, we all know Sammy Davis Jr. for his signing talent, but he was also a very fine Western actor and very handy with a six-gun, as Dennis Weaver once commented. According to him, Sammy Davis Jr. was one of Hollywood's fastest draws. Aside from Sammy Davis Jr., this film also features the well-known Ernest Borgnine and small part for the somewhat famous Jim Davis (no relation to Sammy Davis Jr.) I watched The Trackers on the Westerns channel (obviously) and thought it was pretty good, although I have seen a lot better. The plot is simple and not original, for the idea of Indians kidnapping girls and taking them the Mexican border only to be followed by the families of their captives, has already been used many times. But it is good enough for me. There is a lot of gunfire in this Western and it is enjoyable enough. Overall, this is a pretty good Western and I recommend it for any Western fan.

Big name stars with excellent acting in this movie all add to the enjoyment of the search. Fast moving action and a couple of scenes with the heroes getting the upper hand make the movie go by too quickly. Ernie Borgnine and Sammy Davis, Jr. make a great team. Sammy's character's laid-back personality is an exciting contrast to some of the other characters' impatience and prejudice which make you keep on watching. I watched this movie twice tonight to make sure I didn't miss anything - I give it a 10 as I feel each character gave so much strength to the overall picture. Jim Davis and Julie Adams are very talented, seasoned actors and Bucklind Noah Beery was a surprise to me as I never knew Noah Berry, Jr. had a son. Buck has been in other roles I have found by searching the Internet and if he is half as good an actor as his famous father and grandfather he is worth watching.