Alvarez Kelly [DVD] [2001]

Amazon.co.uk Review Alvarez Kelly (1966) doesn't really justify the description of "Western Classic" which Columbia Tristar attach to it, but it's a pleasant enough Western directed by Edward Dmytryk. The rather convoluted plot (adventurer plays one side off against the other on a cattle drive from Mexico during the Civil War) relies heavily on the charm of the two stars, William Holden and Richard Widmark, but the two prove as reliable as ever. There are some so-so action scenes, but it's the battle of wits between the two principals that supplies all the fireworks. By contrast Janice Rule is just adequate as the love interest. On the DVD: It's a good-looking DVD transfer, with a 1:2.35 aspect ratio and Dolby Digital sound. Subtitles are available in English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Dutch and Polish with dubbing into French, German, Italian and Spanish. For extras there are trailers and some filmographies, so partial as to be not much use. --Ed Buscombe Product Description This is the story of a renegade adventurer, ALVAREZ KELLY (William Holden), who gets caught in the middle of the Civil War. With no loyalties to either North or South, Kelly is hired to drive a herd of cattle from Mexico to the Union Army in Virginia. However, along the way he is captured by Confederate Colonel Tom Rossiter (Richard Widmark) who persuades him...by shooting off a finger to deliverthe cattle to starving Confederates in Richmond. At a bridge leading to Richmond, the Union Army attacks and a bloody battle ensues in which Kelly risks his own life to save a Confederate officer. Inthe end, Kelly's fate once again lies in the hands of Colonel Rossiter.