Tom Hanks Movie:

		List Price: $4.99		Label: Unicorn Video Salesrank: 103585 Released: April 17, 2002
		Our Price: $1.10
		Used Price: $1.10
		MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated) Media: DVD

One Eyed Jacks Reviews:
One of the GREAT Westerns
2008-07-07 - Theatrical Release: March 30, 1961
Director: Marlon Brando
Runtime: 2 hours and 21 minutes
Stars: Marlon Brando, Karl Malden, Pina Pellicer, Katy Jurado, Slim Pickens, Ben Johnson, Sam Gilman and Larry Duran

DVD INFO: Since "One-Eyed Jacks" is public domain it has been released by numerous dvd companies with varying levels of quality. One version I saw was so bad it was unwatchable, but I can highly recommend two: Digiviw (which is available for a buck at Wal-Mart) and Platinum Disc Corporation (or PDC Home Entertainment). Both of these versions are WIDESCREEN (despite the fact that the Digiview version erroneously says on the back cover that it's full frame) and the picture quality is very good. So don't let the fact that these versions are usually sold for a buck fool you; these are quality dvds worthy of your video library. Other reviewers here at Amazon testify that the Front Row version is very good as well.

THE STORY: Dad Longworth (Malden) literally "takes the money and runs" as he leaves his young partner in crime, Kid Rio (Brando), behind to rot in a Mexican prison. Rio escapes 5 years later with only vengeance on his mind. He finds Dad in Monterey, California, now a respectable town Sheriff with a Mexican wife (Jurado) and step-daughter Louisa (Pina), living the American Dream on the beautiful Pacific coast. The situation is complicated by Rio's teaming up with two lowlife criminals whose only intent is to rob the Monterey bank, as well as Rio's romantic dallyings with Louisa.

"One-Eyed Jacks" was Brando's only stab at directing and his original cut of the film was twice as long (!). I would love to see this director's cut, which HAS been shown on TV, but this 141-minute cut is fine as is.

Not only is "One-Eyed Jacks" one of the best Westerns of all time, it's also one of Brando's top films, along with "Mutiny on the Bounty" (1962), "The Young Lions" and the underrated "The Missouri Breaks," not to mention "Apocalypse Now."

What makes it so great? Numerous things. Brando is at his most captivating here, but the story is entrancing as well, even though it's much more of a slow drama than an action/adventure film. When it comes, however, the action is quick and realistic.

There are numerous themes running through the long story. One of the major ones is the clash of the misfit with conventional society. Since society is composed of a bunch of conformist misfits, the misfit must learn to conform if s/he wants to fit in and succeed. In other words, if you want to 'make it' in conventional society it's necessary to hide your problematic past & flaws and put on a front of respectability. Dad Longworth has figured this out and he's not about to allow Rio to ruin it for him. (I'm not saying I completely agree with this as I don't believe in being fake, just that it's one of the major themes of the story).

I would like to offer a word of defense for Dad Longworth here. Although it was wrong for him to take the money and leave Rio to be captured, one can't help but empathize with him and the reasons why he gave in to the temptation. If he went back for Rio there was a high risk of getting captured or killed. The safest and most promising route was the selfish route. The good thing is that Dad wisely took advantage of this opportunity and made a good life for himself in Monterey. He was obviously sick of his criminal lifestyle and wanted a real life, a real job and real family. He was getting on in years and knew that this may well be his final opportunity, so he took it.

The problem is that one's past always has a way of haunting us, which is another theme of the film; hence, Rio walks back into Dad's life 5 years later and his American dream is seriously threatened. Notice Dad's rage when he whips/beats Rio to an inch of his life; he's doing everything in his power to kill the ugly phantoms of his past, which is why he tries to get Rio hung on false charges later in the story.

Another theme is redemption and how love is tied to any such positive transformation. Both Dad and Rio are criminal scumbags, but both desire redemption and a better life. The love of Dad's wife and the Monterey general populace brings this out in Dad, whereas Louisa's love for Rio slowly changes him. Near the end we plainly see that Rio no longer wants to kill Dad, he doesn't even want to see him; all he wants is to run off with his lady love. If Rio remained the same person he was at the beginning of the story "One-Eyed Jacks" wouldn't be half the film it is.

In addition, Dad's love for Katie, his Mexican wife, is what delivered Katie and Louisa "from the beanfields," as Dad puts it.

Love goes hand-in-hand with loyalty or faithfulness. We see this in Rio's likable Mexican sidekick, Chico (Larry Duran).

One of the best qualities of "Jacks" is that it's refreshingly realistic. There's no goofiness, unbelievable one-liners, over-the-top action or excruciatingly dated aspects.

Speaking of dated, although the opening credits sequence and score are dated and boring, the rest of the film isn't. So don't let this sequence cause you to tune out. The rest of the score (by Hugo Friedhofer) is great.

"One-Eyed Jacks" was the obvious precursor to the Spaghetti Western. For instance, the protagonist is a dyed-in-the-wool "cool" anti-hero (like, say, Eastwood or Bronson). The main difference between "Jacks" and most Spaghetti Westerns, however, is that "Jacks" has a truly worthwhile story wherein numerous gems of wisdom can be gleaned, which can't be said about films like "The Good, the Boring and the Ugly" (don't get me wrong, I love the music and style of that film, it's just that the plodding story and scumbag characters leave much to be desired); also the anti-hero in "One-Eyed Jacks" slowly transforms into a potentially positive member of society.

The film's influence goes well beyond just the Spaghetti Westerns. Take, for instance, Brando's crucifixion-style beating and long restoration. The film "Conan the Barbarian" pretty much ripped-off this entire sequence; Arnold Schwarzenegger even admits to it.

Pina Pellicer does an outstanding job as Rio's girlfriend Louisa (Dad's step-daughter). Although she's definitely good-looking she's too skinny for my personal tastes. Spiritually-speaking, however, she's incredible. Although she commits a foolish error by sleeping with Rio after the festival (she probably had too much to drink -- another error), on a whole she's the epitome of love, virtue and spirituality. Again, this love is the key factor in Rio's positive metamorphosis.

Unfortunately Pina committed suicide three and a half years after "Jacks" was released. Thankfully we have this film to remember her beauty and virtue. She deserves to be honored.

"Jacks" was filmed entirely in California with all the coastal sequences photographed on the Monterey Pennisula, including Pebble Beach. This is one of the only Westerns where you'll see the Pacific Ocean, and it's truly glorious! Other locations include Big Sur and Death Valley.

CONCLUSION: Don't miss out on "One-Eyed Jacks," Brando's only directorial effort. It's truly one of the GREAT Westerns, as well as one of Brando's most captivating performances.

Hopefully they'll release the 5-hour "Director's cut" one day.

One-Eyed Jacks - I love this movie
2008-05-13 - I watched this movie 20 years later after the original release (1961) at a small town. I'm lucky that I had a chance to watch it in the cinema then. Now I got three DVD versions, i.e. from Vina, Digiview and the last one from D3k. I bought the D3k release from Amazon Marketplace (used item with very good condition (as claimed by the seller) from gohastings (Hastings Entertainment) thru third party (I can't buy it directly) and contrarily I got the very bad DVD condition: I can't watch the movie from chapter 3 onward).

Many movie lovers know that this movie is excellent. Too many reviewers praised the acting of the stars, the story/script, the photography, and the music. So, I will not repeat it again here. Only one thing to be straighten. That's Kid Rio (Marlon Brando) was not released from the jail in Sonora, Mexico 5 years later. But he run away from the jail with his partner Chico Modesto (played by Larry Duran).

For the product of D3k, the correct running time is 141 minutes instead of 117 minutes as stated in the back cover of the DVD. The positive aspect of this product of D3k is that it has English and French subtitles. Other releases has no subtitles at all. Only D3k release complete with subtitles. Picture and sound is not so good, but it's still watchable. Despite the fact that it's in full screen (1.33:1), the picture format is actually in Pan & Scan; too bad transfer since the movie is originally in Panavision. So, widescreen is the best aspect ratio.

I hope that Paramount will release the DVD complete with the subtitles, including English subtitle. So many people waiting, hoping and wanting the official release of this box-office movie in DVD format by Paramount. It doesn't need to release the DVD on the 50 Years Anniversary in 2011! We're not patience.

The DVD: 2.5
The Movie: 10!

One Eyed Jacks
2008-02-17 - I first saw this movie back in the early sixties and I still wonder why it was named "one eyed jacks"! There's no cards played in the whole movie! Other than that, it was still good and entertaining as it was back then. It was sort of the height of the western movie before Clint Eastwood and the like came on the scene, and when the drive-in's were the best family outing for movies.

Beautiful brooding Brando
2008-02-01 - I'm not a fan of Westerns but I am a Brando fan so I sat through lots of people shooting each other in dusty towns to watch the wonderful Marlon. The script is pretty good for a Western...the character Brando plays, Kid Rio, begins as a scoundral who plays really cheap tricks on the ladies, but eventually turns into someone with character. Brando plays all of the nuances in his masterful way, and of course, he is in his physical prime here so he is quite amazing to watch.

The supporting cast is all first rate. Karl Malden is appropriately venal, Slim Pickens is delightfully disgusting, Katy Jurado gives a terrific performance as Malden's wife, Ben Johnson is always good as a bad guy. The one performance I found lacking was that of the young girl who plays the love interest. I found it hard to believe that Rio would have turned his life around for such a lack luster little thing...just my personal opinion.

It is very long but we are now used to see films finish in under two hours so maybe I'm just conditioned to that length. It's definitely worth seeing...just make lots of popcorn.

St Clair aint Clear
2007-09-13 - My review is of the St.Clair Vision DVD. My copy is a turkey; better yet a jackass. Keys segments of the film are missing. I know cause I've seen it a few times before on a bargain basement DVD version that I lost. Based on my experience you'd be a lune to buy the St Clair version. I trust Amazon will do the right thing so I don't have to make a Federale case of this. The film is great, this purchase a no eyed Jack.