Barquero (1970) User Reviews

Duel of titans : Lee Van Cleef against Warren Oates

[ma-cortes · 6/10 · 8 June 2005]

The picture narrates as a renegade motley group (Warren Oates, Kerwin Matthews, Armando Silvestre) executes a massacre when they are robbing the village's inhabitants . They flee but are stopped by a barge's owner (Lee Van Cleef) in the frontier on river Grande . The barquero called Travis has his own life-style and his own death-style . He is only helped by a mountain man (Forrest Tucker) . The confrontation will be terrible and they will fight until death .

The highlights of the movie are the initial slaughter by the cutthroats and facing off between the good and bad guys on the lumber barges . This picture along with ¨ Hang'em high¨ (by Ted Post with Clint Eatwood) belongs to numerous filmed in the 60s and 70s influenced by Spaghetti Western , thus it develops ordinary themes such as : revenge , violent facing , similar musical score , tough antiheroes , spectacular gun-down and excessive baddies , all of them common issues in Italian Western . Lee Van Cleef , recent his success in Leone Western (A few dollars more) is top-notch . Warren Oates is magnificent as the ominous and hideous villain . The secondary cast is excellent , Forrest Tucker as the wry and impulsive trapper , Kerwin Mathew as Marquette , Mariette Hartley as Anna , Armando Silvestre as Sawyer and John Davis Chandler plays a cocky villain , as always . Dominic Frontiere's musical score is atmospheric and adjusted to action western , similar to ¨Hang 'Em High¨ soundtrack that he also composed . The motion picture was well directed by Gordon Douglas , though Robert Sparr was originally set to direct, but he was killed in a plane crash while scouting locations , then Gordon was hired to replace him . Gordon Douglas direction is nice , he had formerly got a lot of experience in Western genre (Only the valiant and Chuka). The yarn will appeal to Lee Van Cleef fonds and Western movies fans.

Underrated and forgotten but classic Western

[shotguntom · 7/10 · 23 April 2002]

Lee Van Cleef had already become an international star late in his career, following his success in the Sergio Leone Spaghetti Westerns, when he starred in "Barquero", made in 1970. The film is clearly influenced by the Spaghetti tradition, most clearly displayed in the drugged-up, psychotic villain, Jake Remy, who bares similarities to the character of Indio in "For a Few Dollars More". However "Barquero" is far superior to the many "Spaghetti" imitators and deserves to stand on its own as a great Western.

The plot is fairly simple, beginning with the massacre and plundering of a peaceful town by Jake Remy and his crew of assorted bandits. Their only escape from capture is to cross the river to safety but the only person who can help them is the Barquero, played by Lee Van Cleef, who refuses, and a violent stand-off ensues.

The film is aided immeasurably by the performance of Warren Oates as Jake Remy, in one of his best roles. Remy makes even most the evil Western characters look saintly in comparison, as he kills and butchers anyone who gets in his path (check out the scene in which he sleeps with a woman and then casually kills her) and his only redeeming feature is his loyalty to his men. This is perhaps the only Western in which the bad guy is given more screen time than the hero and is one of the most complex villains ever seen on screen. Remy has a past which he is haunted by, and is slowly driven mad by his determination to cross the river and by the stubbornness of the Barquero.

The film does not really have a hero, as the only two characters to resemble this are the Barquero and Mountain Phil, a truly bizarre character, excellently played by Forrest Tucker. The Barquero is prepared to help the endangered townsfolk against Remy, but only because he wants to bed one of the women and Mountain Phil does not help out of kindness but more so because he is slightly insane.

"Barquero" was directed by the undistinguished Gordon Douglas, although he did direct the classic 1954 Sci-Fi/horror "Them". Fans of Sam Peckinpah will be pleased to see the villainous pairing of Warren Oates and John Davis Chandler, although Van Cleef fans may be disappointed as he is given little to do, besides having to wear one of the worst shirts ever committed to film.

"Barquero" should be seen by anyone who is serious about Westerns and is required viewing for fans of the great Warren Oates.

Macho-showdown at the River

[Coventry · 7/10 · 17 June 2019]

"Barquero" ended up on my must-see list for a number of reasons. First of all because it's a so-called American Spaghetti western, which basically means (in my book, at least) that it's raw, uncompromising and violent in comparison to those polished and politically correct John Wayne flicks. Secondly, the basic premise is incredibly simple yet original and intriguing. A gang of outlaws and a bunch of townsfolks each find themselves stuck at the wrong side of a river, leading to a tense ego-contest between the embittered and asocial ferryman Travis and the vicious but indecisive gang leader Remy. And last but not least, because the lead actors in "Barquero" are two of the most robustly charismatic but criminally underrated actors in history. I think it's safe to say that both Lee Van Cleef and Warren Oates lift the film to a much higher level, and it wouldn't be even half as recommendable if their roles were played by different actors. Even with a broad river separating them, there's a continuously intense and ominous rivalry between these two über-machos. The film suffers from a few very tedious parts and Gordon Douglas' direction is rather monotone, but the locations and performances are great. Van Cleef receives good support from Forrest Tucker as the eccentric "Mountain Phil", while Oates' can rely on the excellent Kerwin Matthews.

Tremendous cast and scenery

[halhorn · 21 April 2004]

Beautiful Colorado scenery and a fine attention to detail in this western set in the late 1860s.

Several American attempts at a spaghetti western surfaced in the late 1960s: this one is a much more compelling film than Eastwood's "Hang 'Em High", in that all of the lead characters are well-drawn and mysterious.

Van Cleef, in his finest lead, plays the title character, a man more interested in protecting his barge than in the well-being of the "squatters" who populate the town. Oates is a bit hammy as Remy, but an effective psychotic villain nonetheless.

Tucker practically steals the film in a role that would have gone to Edgar Buchanan two decades earlier, that of Mountain Phil, a man loyal enough to put his life on the line for his best friend, and who holds the "squatters" in even more contempt than the barquero does.

Should be on DVD by now. An overlooked gem that anticipated "Tom Horn", "Unforgiven", and other stripped-down westerns that would follow over the next 25 years.

God Damn Barge Man!

[hitchcockthelegend · 7/10 · 26 October 2013]

Barquero is directed by Gordon Douglas and written by George Schenck. It stars Lee Van Cleef, Warren Oates, Forrest Tucker, Kerwin Matthews and Mariette Hartley. Music is by Dominic Frontiere and cinematography by Gerald Perry Finnerman.

When is a Spaghetti Western not a Spaghetti Western? When it's Barquero is the answer. It has the feel of a Pasta Oater, from the colour photography and musical scoring, to the pungent dialogue delivered in various guises of grizzle and accents, Barquero clearly takes its lead from Europe. Which as it happens is absolutely fine because this is a hugely enjoyable exercise.

"I would give anything in the world to spend the night with you... Except my barge"

Plot basically involves a cat and mouse scenario played out on each side of a river. On one side is a gang of thieves led by Warren Oates' Jake Remy, who after executing a robbery in town are trying to leave the country. On the other side is the townsfolk headed by Cleef's Travis, who is the most important man in the play because he owns the ferry barge that is apparently the only means of crossing the band of water.

"Back east I read books about men taming the wilderness. I dreamed about those men. They weren't like you. They weren't like you, they were statues that people could look up to. The only resemblance you bear to a statue is pigeon droppings"

What unfolds is a twin telling of the character dynamics at work in either side of the camp. Remy is a mercenary bastardo who rules his gang with a rod of aggressive iron, Travis is hard bitten by life and actually doesn't care much for the townsfolk he serves. The two men are battling for supremacy not just of the "barge" situation, but of their psychological well beings. Hostage situations come into play, there's plenty of scowling at each other across the water, some piercing violence and it builds to a grand finale with a battle fit for some viking based epic!

Casting aside the cheese laden dialogue, and it's best just to run with it to fully enjoy the picture, it's a production of some serious quality. With two of the genre's best brooders leading the cast, the acting side of things is in good hands. Backing up Cleef and Oates (both excellent) are Tucker (Travis' comic side-kick but still hard as nails) and Matthews (Remy's voice of reason), and although she's under used, the adorable Hartley hits the right notes for the key female role that tempts and taunts Travis' core masculinity.

The Colorado location photography is gorgeous, the beautiful shimmering landscapes alive in De Luxe Color. Frontiere's (Hang 'Em High/Chisum) score is dynamite, blending Spaghetti style clangs with military percussion, it swells and explodes at all the key points of plotting. Douglas (Rio Conchos) is unfussy in direction, maintaining interest during the talky character expansion scenes. And finally I simply have to mention the sound mix (Robert Miller and Ben Sad), it's tremendous, the thunder of hooves and the crack of gunfire literally splinters the ears, joyously so. I viewed this in HD on UK TCM on my home cinema system, suffice to say if possible I recommend you see it that way as well!

Awash with caricatures and the sort of tongue in cheek scripting that lends it a vibe to not be taken serious, it's clearly not a hidden masterpiece, but this is fascinatingly muscular fun that also looks and sounds tremendous. 7.5/10

American-Italianate Western that burns out too soon

[mgtbltp · 6/10 · 4 February 2006]

Finally saw this tonight, its been called the "most Italianate of American Westerns" by some critics (more so than Eastwoods contemporary Hang em High) and I'll have to admit it really starts off like gangbusters, after the unusual opening credits sequence (its shot to resemble an oil painting looking as if the film is being projected upon a canvas). Director was Gordon Douglas who did "Rio Conchos", "Chuka", "Them", "Robin & The Seven Hoods", and "In Like Flint" to name a few. Its initial first half has a way more SW feel to it than "Hang Em' High".

Unfortunately what I watched was a fullscreen pan & scan a bit blurry with the colors seeming a bit too strong, recorded off a broadcast so it wasn't quite the best way to watch it.

It was shot on location in Colorado.

We see two groups, a small army of mercenary outlaws and a trio riding in opposite directions with a river valley in the b.g. One side of the river leads to the Mexican border.

Lee Van Cleef is Travis the Barquero the ferryman, and we see him plying his trade as he pulls a wagon of settlers across, his only weapons are a bowie knife and some sort of long range rifle of a Sharps or Spencer type. He has one prop from his SW days and that's his "Angel Eyes" tobacco pipe.

We first see (Jack Remy) Oates in bed with a plump sweaty Hispanic whore Layeta, wearing his black hat with a fancy gold hat-band in a saloon/whore house the "Double Eagle" in the town of Buckskin (very frontier looking with a lot of log cabin buildings), he's looking his sleaziest best. Some sample dialog.

Whore (fawning) "am I not beautiful senior"? Jack (looking disgusted) "I need a drink". Whore "Say it senior." Jack "you're beautiful...oh are you beautiful". Whore "why do you wear your sombrero"? Jack " why do you wear your stockings" Whore "because they are pretty" Jack "my hat's pretty"

a bit later the whore is splashing perfume on herself while singing...

Whore "do I smell senior'? Jack "yea you sure do".

The massacre of the town starts and Jack is shooting from the window

A Mexican male breaks into Jacks room and asks "whats going on"

Jack "we're shooting people". and Jack blows him away. Jack to whore "you live in a lousy neighborhood, you ought to move".

Jack is in his command post for the raid on the town by his small army of misfits. Their goal is the bank and a shipment of Winchester Rifles that an army patrol is escorting. Oates' second in command is a Frenchman Marquette (Kerwin Matthews).

Jack dresses, Layeta asks "Senior wouldn't it be nice to take Layeta with you" Jack "no" Layeta "will I see you again"? Jack "I don't think so" and he shoots her.

The action sequences are pretty good throughout the whole massacre.

There are some very good character actors Forrest Tucker (Mountain Phil ) puts in an over the top memorable performance as a mountain man. All I remember of Tucker is his TV (F Troop) performance but he's a hoot in this flick too.

Marie Gomez plays Nola (Chiquita from The Professionals) she is Travis's woman. Mariette Hartley plays the unfaithful wife of a "squatter" who offers herself to Travis (a type of person she loathes but is attracted too) if he'll save her husband, he does, and she does, and Nola doesn't mind.

The film looses steam unfortunately once the confrontation becomes a Mexican standoff at the river, it even quotes FAFDM with a bit where Jack smokes reefer and has a flashback but it just doesn't work. The flash back recalls how he got his hat, not exactly a major plot point, and it feels as if it was stuck in there just to be going with the flow of the late 60's early 70's idea of cool.

The film had potential but ends up loosing its way and feels more like a TV program at the end.

The barge battle was a bit hurried but you have to admit different.

The final duel between Travis & Jack is flat has no dramatic build up at all, almost as if they ran out of time. Score is nothing special.

Van Cleef should have had a bit more screen time he's just not featured enough in my opinion, but he is acting in a very different role, not a cool efficient killer, not and ex outlaw, not a drunk, more of a pioneering business man. And this, come to think of it in hindsight may have been his biggest career screwup, he was typecast for years by Hollywood as an outlaw, then he got that role of a lifetime as Mortimer, he could of, or at least his agent could have really tried to do (as Eastwood did and parlayed the MWNN character into an American film career) if they had held out. If he had played another strong Mortimer type in a successful American film here who knows how far he may have gone.

This would have been a great Leone or Corbucci or Sollima film if they had the guts to bring an Italian director over and give him a budget, Peckinpah would have been excellent also, too bad, it was a unique story, and they would have made more out of it.

This needs a widescreen DVD transfer release, please.

The Man With The Barge

[bkoganbing · 6/10 · 16 January 2018]

Like contemporaries Charles Bronson and Lee Marvin, Lee Van Cleef did his sojuourn in European films mostlywesterns and graduated to leads. Unlike Marvin, Bronson, and others like Claude Akins, Neville Brand, and Jack Elam, Van Cleef never did explore a comic side. Maybe he just didn't have one. He's also one strange hero as he is in Barquero.

In this film Lee Van Cleef is the man with the barge who ferries people across a deep river. He doesn't even particularly like the settlers in the town on the river bank that has grown up. But when Warren Oates's gang of renegade cutthroats want to use that barge, Van Cleef proves to be the savior of the town.

Oates who usually plays with a comic twist either as a good guy or a bad guy is one deadly serious villain here. His gang massacres a whole town to leave no witnesses to a shipment of arms that they are robbing. Van Cleef knows well what they are capable of.

Forrest Tucker who can be comic here provides the comic relief as a mountain man. the last of a breed who proves to be Van Cleef's salvation. He rescues Van Cleef when he's captured by a couple of Oates's men who were sent to secure the ferry man for the gang. He has some sardonically funny scenes with John Davis Chandler, the captive.

Mariette Hartley is in this and she's the wife of a local storekeeper who is also a most pious reverend. When he's left behind and captured by Oates, Hartley makes Van Cleef an offer that an old time gentlemanly cowboy hero would never take up. Think of Clint Eastwood in High Plains Drifter, that's the kind of hero Van Cleef is.

This one is a must for fans of Lee Van Cleef.

Entertaining western led by its lead performances

[floydianer · 7/10 · 5 September 2007]

'Barquero', released in 1970, is an original, highly entertaining western that manages to find new elements of an, by then, over-used genre. The naval aspect of the story seems unique, but the actual core is basically a re-write of all the classic spaghetti westerns. In fact, it seem that this is the most Spaghetti-like American western of its time. But the rip-off isn't too dramatic, it works quite fine. Special notice should go to the oil-painting opening credits - interesting, good choice.

The film's well-cast, led by Lee Van Cleef and Warren Oates as the opposing characters. Van Cleef is always watchable although he seems a little uneasy at playing a character that is neither the classic bad guy he was so good at nor a typical good hero. In the hands of another actor, it may have looked bland, but not with Van Cleef.

The film is daring enough to grant equal screen time to its main villain, played by Warren Oates who gets one of his very first cinematic leading roles here. Oates is the multi-layered Jake Remy, colourful bad guy and arguably better-characterized by the script than the ferryman Van Cleef. Oates delights in his role, in what seems like planned hamminess (good thing, because the role calls for it) coupled with authentic danger and ferocity.

Mariette Hartley is beautiful but unnecessary. The climax hurts the film. There's a good chance at the end to choose from two original endings (both dying, or both getting away) but the screenplay takes the cliché way and lets Van Cleef shoot Oates in a spiritless, thankless two-second duel. Pity.

To sum it up: very entertaining, good western with a great villain performance by Oates and a good-enough lead by Van Cleef.

Barquero

[Scarecrow-88 · 8/10 · 3 August 2009]

Lee Van Cleef squaring off in a battle of wills against Warren Oates..if that doesn't draw excitement from western fans, then you need to check your vital signs, because you might just not be registering a pulse. Fascinating "psychological oater" has cold-blooded killer Jacob Remy(Warren Oates in a phenomenal performance)and his band of murderous cutthroats needing to use a barge in order to cross a river into Mexico. The problem is that the barge is across the river on the other side and in possession of barquero(bargeman)Travis(Lee Van Cleef), his mountain tracker pal, Phil(Forrest Tucker, stealing every scene he's in)and a group of religious squatters. Who will ultimately win this cat and mouse game as each leader tests the other's resolve in order to maintain control of the barge?

The movie opens with a sensational 20 or so minute shootout where Remy's men open fire on a town of innocent people for their materials and valuables, including bags of silver stolen from the bank. Remy and his men are so despicable, they not only shoot the men, but women as well.

Travis and Phil uncover the truth about Remy's plans to use the barge to get across the river, burning it down afterward, thanks to the blabbering of Fair(..a really young John Davis Chandler)who they take prisoner. Getting across the river, Travis will be damned if he'll give up his barge, and Remy attempts, through various methods, to persuade him to. Kerwin Mathews is Jacob's French lieutenant, the brains of their outfit, attempting to convince him to split their loot evenly, separating before things get out of hand. But, Remy is determined to get that barge, slowly driven to the brink of madness as Travis often outsmarts him, including a successful rescue of a kidnapped squatter.

The film is worth watching if just for the performance of Warren Oates, who vividly, and impressively, conveys a madman deteriorating psychologically bit by bit as his attempts to retrieve the barge fail. Van Cleef oozes confidence and charisma(..it's so effortless, he's such a cool cat, this guy)as the cerebral hero and Tucker is an absolute hoot as his calm, breezy, undeterred comrade who remains loyal to him as they match wits with their enemies. Great closing gun battle as Travis gathers his "troops" together for one final showdown with Jacob, Marquette and their goons as they attempt to get across the river another way.

A legitimate sleeper, definitely worth pursuing if you are a fan of Van Cleef and Oates. The beautiful Marienne Hartley has a supporting role as a squatter willing to offer her sexual services to Travis in exchange for his saving her husband from being drowned by Jacob.

"I shot the river."

[utgard14 · 7/10 · 4 September 2014]

After a massacre in a nearby town, outlaw Warren Oates and his gang flee towards Mexico. But there's a river in their way and they can only cross by ferry barge. The problem is the barge is operated by tough cuss Lee Van Cleef, who takes his barge to the other side of the river to prevent the bad guys using it. What follows is a stand-off between the violent outlaws and Van Cleef, who finds himself the reluctant protector of the villagers across the river.

Unique, cynical western may not sound like much on paper but it's a treat. The cast is great. Lee Van Cleef's western résumé speaks for itself. If Steve McQueen is the King of Cool, it's only because Van Cleef turned down the title. Peckinpah favorite Warren Oates is completely crazy but undeniably fun to watch. He gets many of the film's best lines. Forrest Tucker is a hoot as Van Cleef's mountain man friend. Busty cigar-smoking Marie Gomez will no doubt make a few pulses race. Mariette Hartley and Kerwin Matthews are also enjoyable. The script is good and the action is exciting. It's an underrated gem; one of the better American westerns of the period.

The river crossing does not come cheap.

[michaelRokeefe · 4/10 · 8 February 2004]

A motley crew of bandits led by Jake Remy(Warren Oates)have finished plundering a defenseless town and their get away and escape from capture hits a snag. The gathering of thugs need to cross a river and the only way across is by a barge controlled by the Barquero(Lee Van Cleef). The struggle over the access of the barge becomes a standoff. The Barquero is determined to not let the plunderers cross.

Van Cleef is methodically cool while in control. Oates comes across as a bull headed bad ass...ruthless and calculating and even demonic as he fires his gun into the river as if to leave a message. Forrest Tucker aptly plays Mountain Phil who takes sides with the Barquero. Also in the cast are: Mariette Hartley, Armando Silvestre and John Davis Chandler excellent as a cocky member of the cutthroat gang. Kudos to director Gordon Douglas and how about that beautiful Colorado scenery.

Lee Van Cleef's Best American Western

[zardoz-13 · 10/10 · 18 June 2009]

Seasoned Hollywood helmer Gordon Douglas of "Them" directed this gritty, no-nonsense shoot'em up "Barquero" with Lee Van Cleef as the eponymous frontier type named Travis who owns a ferry on the Rio Grande. What sets "Barquero" apart from all other westerns is that this is the first time that a horse opera has been made where the hero is a ferry man. Indeed, he doesn't ride a horse, he owns a ferry. In other words, "Barquero" qualifies as unique. Furthermore, the William Marks & George Schenck screenplay is simple, clear-cut, but violent. The guys blast it out with each other and the filmmakers throw in a lot of tongue-in-cheek, tough guy humor.

A crazy, pot-smoking outlaw, Jake Remy (Warren Oates of "Return of the Seven") and his bloodthirsty gang shoot up the town of Buckskin--though massacre might be a more descriptive word--and then hightail it for the border to make their getaway. Travis is the only man who stands between Remy and freedom and Travis isn't about to let Remy cross. A lot of bloodshed ensues as the villains try to make the crossing. Composer Dominic Frontiere contributes a memorable orchestral score. Lee Van Cleef is at his gimlet-eyed best and Warren Oates is as slimy as a villain can come. As Mountain Phil, Forrest Tucker is fun to watch as a rough-hewn frontiersman who joins forces with Travis. There's an amusing torture scene between iconic western character actor John Davis Chandler of "The Outlaw Josy Wales" and Forrest Tucker's mountain man. Surprisingly, Mariette Hartley is cast as Travis' woman.

One of the highlights of this offbeat western is the river attack when Jake's men construct small wooden craft and attack Travis. Lee Van Cleef had only recently made a name of himself in Europe as a star and this United Artists movie takes advantage of his rejuvenated career. Anybody who calls himself a Lee Van Cleef fan should definitely watch this solid shoot'em up.

Well made, but somewhat disappointing.

[Hey_Sweden · 6/10 · 29 December 2015]

It's all about the two stars in this Western drama. Lee Van Cleef and Warren Oates square off in this tale about a maniacal bandit named Remy (Oates), who has his gang stage some wholesale slaughter while they make off with some booty from a robbery. However, it's vital that they obtain a barge in order to cross a river and make it to freedom. And the man in charge, Travis (Van Cleef), turns out to be a very cool customer. The balance of "Barquero" shows what happens as two men engage in a battle of wills.

Being a fan of Van Cleef and Oates, this viewer would have liked to have enjoyed this a bit more. The problem for him was that the movie ended up overlong and didn't have as much tension as he would have liked. The frighteningly intense action scenes early on seem to be setting us up for something different; for several minutes there's a multitude of gunfire (and a rather hard edge to the proceedings that may turn some viewers off). "Barquero" ends up turning into a not uninteresting, if plodding, character study, as we get to see, bit by bit, the mental deterioration of the Remy character. He clearly wasn't expecting to have such problems trying to secure his transportation.

"Barquero" is a MUST for those who love Van Cleef and Oates, though. The two actors are at their best. Van Cleef is as cool as can be and Oates is wonderfully flamboyant. The strong supporting cast includes such familiar faces as fantasy genre star Kerwin Mathews (who's damn good as a Frenchman who rides with Remy), lovely Mariette Hartley, and the entertainingly weaselly John Davis Chandler. It's co-star Forrest Tucker, however, that steals much of the show. He makes the most of his colourful part as "Mountain Phil", who delights in showing Chandler his idea of fine cuisine.

Decent enough guidance by journeyman director Gordon Douglas, excellent music by Dominic Frontiere, and gorgeous cinematography by Gerald Perry Finnerman help to result in a reasonably rousing show. The unusual action climax makes it worth the wait.

Six out of 10.

Too much gratuitous violence in the beginning scene spoils an otherwise great film.

[FloridaFred · 2/10 · 13 July 2018]

Warren Oates and his gang need to be portrayed as ruthless killers; we understand that. But the town massacre in the opening scene just goes on and on, with senseless killings of innocents. That violence overshadows the epic performances of Lee Van Cleef, Warren Oates, Forrest Tucker, Kerwin Matthews, John Davis Chandler, and Marie Gomez. Perhaps there is an edited version available that shortens the opening sequence. I would have given this an 8 or 9 rating, but I simply cannot recommend a movie that needs dozens of murders to set the stage.

Helluva casting combo with Van Cleef versus Oates but subpar execution

[chaos-rampant · 25 October 2008]

Barquero has really no excuse for not living up to its full potential. The inspired casting choice of piting genre stalwarts Lee Van Cleef and Warren Oates in opposite sides of the river against each other and the idea behind the film – a group of ragtag cut-throats led by Oates transporting rifles and silver after a successful raid at a nearby town to the Sonoran territory in Mexico and desperately in need to cross the river before the army gets them while Lee Van Cleef as the boatman holds the barq at the other bank and refuses to pick them up. That should have been enough to keep Barquero afloat and my terrible puns at bay (ahem).

What really keeps the film down is the unpolished, roughly sketched script. The first and closing acts sustain interest through lengthy bouts of gunfighting but some kind of semi-compelling plot needs to be assembled for the middle act where sadly Barquero fails to kick the conflict into high gear, a hard feat to accomplish with a story that seems to invite conflict and could have gone into so many different places. Instead what we get by the end of act two is the good guys outwitting the bad and saving the hostage Warren Oates was keeping tied up and Oates half mad and desperate (as the army draws closer with every passing moment) shooting holes at the water and saying to his henchman "I shot the river". Not particularly endearing, don't you think? Forrest Tucker steals scenes in the role of ant-eating Mountain Phil while Van Cleef and Oates seem to be representing two different western archetypes – Van Cleef the romantic hero eclipsed by the coming modernization of the west, represented in the movie by a bunch of squatters he's called to protect, Oates the rough-hewn, murderous son of a bitch, the gritty and hardboiled aspect of the western, pioneered at the time by spaghetti westerns of whose villains he's somewhat reminiscent of.

Definitely better seventies westerns to keep the genre aficionado occupied out there but it's worth a watch for its marquee value, Van Cleef and Oates a dream match made in heaven and both in pretty good shape.

"I shot and scalped a lot of freckle-faced kids"

[bensonmum2 · 6/10 · 24 July 2019]

The Quick Pitch: Remy (Warren Oates) is the leader of a band of outlaws. He wants to cross a river on his way to Mexico. The titular barquero, Travis (Lee Van Cleef), isn't going to let him use his barge. He knows it will be destroyed to prevent others from following. A stand-off ensues.

Until I stumbled on this last night, I had no idea Barquero even existed. What a find! Warren Oates and Lee Van Cleef in the same movie. These guys just ooze machismo. Throw in a supporting cast featuring Forrest Tucker and Kerwin Mathews and there was no way I wouldn't enjoy Barquero. The opening shootout as Remy and his men slaughter everyone in a small town to steal a wagon load of guns is an over-the-top joy to behold. And the last act where Remy and Travis are drawn into their final, inevitable showdown is just plain old awesome.

The problem with Barquero is the bits that come between the beginning and the end. Unfortunately, the second act really drags with Remy and Travis separated by a river. They shout back and forth, but there's really not much else that happens. Too bad, because with this kind of cast, some fantastic locations, and plenty of blood and violence, Barquero had the potential to be legendary.

6/10

Anything... except my barge!

[lowlandermg · 7/10 · 26 April 2023]

A whiskey stream of consciousness review.

Never try to separate a man from his barge. Especially if that man is Lee Van Cleef. Sweaty Travis (Van Cleef) has a showdown with a gang of outlaws and matches wits with their boss. Cleef is great as the stubborn, enigmatic barge master, who heroically, albeit reluctantly helps a river town escape the ruthless gang. Interesting tidbit: there is a scene where a side character has two different colored eyes. Lee Van Cleef also has two different colored eyes. What are the chances!? Unique, entertaining western with good gunfights and clever drama. My first venture with Van Cleef as the lead hero- instead of a villain. He definitely pulls it off well. Crossed with an Elijah Craig BP Store pick.

A battle of wills between strangers.

[lost-in-limbo · 6/10 · 10 January 2009]

I couldn't remember if I had saw it or not, but watching it again I can see possibly why. An interestingly hearty western, that's a little more than your copy and paste genre effort and helping out are the imposing two leads Lee Van Cleef and Warren Oates. Oh they were outstanding adversaries, but when it came to shove they were given too little to do as they basically stand-off against each other from across a river. Yep that's right. After an ear-splitting gunfight to open up proceedings, it really does slow up mid-way and even stalls before reaching a crackerjack climax where Cleef and Oates come to blows. It's all about the slow winding suspense of the morality situation, than just cracking out the gritty and bloody violence. The script tends to focus on the struggle for control, where it's a game of tug of war to grab the upper hand. Quite a personal angle too with an odd sense of humour. It could've have been more memorable, even compelling if it wasn't as well-worn in its occurring developments.

A highlight of the feature would be the professional scope of the cinematography as it captured the glittering river and beautiful backdrop. The leering camera-work would focus on the faces and actions just as well. At times it feels like a TV movie, but director Gordon Douglas' accessibly tight handling and patient style seemed to be influenced by the material's drawn out structure. The support cast are fine additions with a lively Forrest Tucker giving the best performance.

Talky Van Cleef western ......

[merklekranz · 6/10 · 12 July 2015]

While there is plenty of Van Cleef time in "Barquero", and the Warren Oates factor is a plus, this talky western borders on boring. Almost the entire film takes place in one location, and the script just doesn't make a lot of sense. I mean if Oates would have at least tried to find a shallow river crossing, instead of obsessing about Van Cleef's barge, things might have moved along at a more tolerable pace. As it is, with all the shouting back and forth across the river, nothing really happens for long stretches. "Barquero" to me was somewhat of a disappointment, and in no way challenges Lee Van Cleef's performance in "The Big Gundown" or some of his other non Leone westerns. - MERK

Naval Western, Italian Style

[SMK-4 · 8/10 · 29 September 1998]

Around 1970 the Western genre had a new lease of life from the success of the Spaghetti Western. This is one of many attempts to marry the classic Western with this new style, and it does it quite convincingly. In the title role we have Lee van Cleef as the most impressive ferryman in film history - making his colleague at the Styx worry about the security of his job. Lee is up against Warren Oates and his bandits who need his ferry to transport their booty. Consequently, we are treated with the rare sight of a naval battle in a Western.

The villains of this piece are rather traditional Western villains (John Davis Chandler plays a delightful little dirtbag) while the heros (van Cleef and Tucker), all enigmatic and a bit on the shady side, seem to have been borrowed from Cinecitta. The excellent music by Dominic Frontiere is also presented in Italian style.

Looks gorgeous on Blu-ray

[PimpinAinttEasy · 6/10 · 18 May 2017]

Frankly, this tepid and slightly mediocre spaghetti western is simply gorgeous to look at on blu-ray. The locales and the sets look so damn authentic. The setting is unique - a village on the bank of a river with a wharf and a barge. The village bank is robbed by a bunch of bandits lead by WARREN OATES. But the river stands between the bandits and freedom. And the only way they can escape is on the barge owned by LEE VAN CLIFF. But CLIFF is attached to his barge and wont let go. The villagers led by CLIFF and FORREST TUCKER escape to the other side of the river on the barge, leaving the bandits stranded in the village. Tensions run deep in both camps regarding the next plan of action.

One of the reasons I bought the Blu-ray DVD was because the film had LEE VAN CLIFF and WARREN OATES facing off against each other. The muscular and sweaty CLIFF is terrific. I wonder whether the director had a soft corner for him because I'm sure the ladies would find him to be eye candy. WARREN OATES does not make much of an impression - his role is ill etched and he looks way too slight and wiry compared to CLIFF. And the supporting cast is poor - the gorgeous MARIETTE HARTLEY in the role of a posh woman coveted by CLIFF's character is irritating at best, the unremarkable MARIE GOMEZ plays CLIFF's girlfriend NOLA, JOHN DAVIS CHANDLER is a poor man's Klaus Kinski while the pudgy FORREST TUCKER and his torture of the bandits were a distraction at best. The dialogues and plot developments are uninspired. It could have been a terrific little film. It had so much going for it - the story and the location had a lot of potential.

The final action scene was pretty cool. Everything in the film looks very authentic including the sweaty sex scene between OATES and a Mexican prostitute. It is sort of a huge opportunity lost. I guess its too late to wish for a remake. Nobody makes westerns anymore.

Unapologetically violent yet fascinating.

[mark.waltz · 5/10 · 27 September 2023]

A group of inhumane mercenaries (led by Warren Oates, Kerwin Matthews and Armando Silvestre) prepare to blast their way to escape across the Mexican border, not caring in any way how brutal they are or who gets killed or how much blood is shed, even their own men if they have to. Oates, the leader, is ruthless and inhumane, responding to a woman's query if they'll see each other again by pumping her full of lead.

Another member of the group, caught messing around rather than following orders, is promptly killed, as is his date. Oates has no value when it comes to other people's lives, but when he goes up against Lee Van Cleef guarding the border, it's clear that he'd met his match. Lots of shootouts and carnage in a most shocking way, highlighted by the presence of Forrest Tucker who has a way with describing his favorite foods. Truly fascinating for how ugly this presents itself, not even caring on how it all effects the viewer. I don't think I'd ever care to watch this again, but I must say as a one-off viewing, it's pretty good.

Unusual, involving western drama

[funkyfry · 8/10 · 3 October 2002]

Finely crafted production by Aubrey Schenck, with most of its action confined to a spot on the Rio Grande where a bunch of "squatters" have set up a primitive frontier town and a man (the "barquero", Van Cleef) has built a barge connected by rope to cross the river. When a bandit leader (Oates) and his group plunder and burn a nearby town, killing everyone, they make fast tracks to the barge, only to find the town evacuated and the barge on the other side of the river, with Cleef and his woodsman friend (Tucker) reluctantly defending the mostly nebbish townspeople. The script's sardonic tone is probably indebted to contemporary Italian oaters, but its ferocious drive and its focus on a personal confrontation between to determined, opposed strangers is very effective. Cleef is good at showing that he has no real concern for the villagers, but is absolutely set on not letting Oates' bandits burn his barge. Oates is a bit over the top (method acting is the worst type to go over the top with), especially in the poorly-conceived scene where he shoots the river. Solid action film with a significant difference going for it.

Oates Steals The Show

[shawnblackman · 6/10 · 15 December 2016]

Lee Van Cleef pulls a barge across the river for a living. Things get turned upside down when Warren Oates and his men kill a whole town and steal a bunch of guns. They then head for the boat with a plan of crossing the river then burning the barge. The two sides finally meet with each one on opposing sides of the river. Warren needs the boat and Cleef won't give it to him to protect the town.

The two actors switch roles as Lee Van Cleef plays a good guy while Warren Oates is the bad guy. Warren of course steals the show with his I don't care about anything attitude. Cleef gives his cold stares and quips a line or two.

If you get a chance to see this please do. It's almost 2 hours but worth the time invested.

Weak Western

[ThomasColquith · 4/10 · 6 January 2022]

I watched "Barquero" on tv hoping to find another good western but sadly this wasn't it. The opening battle is long and violent but nonsensical as the situation wasn't set up well enough beforehand; I didn't know who was who or why they were fighting. And the movie continued on this line. I lost interest halfway through and struggled to finish. It has nice cinematography and scenery though. But I also didn't like how the bargeman went after that other woman when he had a nice one of his own. So not a western that I would recommend. My rating 3/10.