Set in the Southwest during 1902, a wealthy businessman (Robert Duvall) employs an old bounty hunter (Clint Eastwood) to pursue a Mexican revolutionary (John Saxon) who is resisting unfair practices and has taken refuge with his followers in the mountains. Don Stroud appears as one of the man’s enforcers. "Joe Kidd" (1972) is often considered among Clint Eastwood's less impressive Westerns, though I personally found it more enjoyable than Sergio Leone’s celebrated trilogy from 1964 to 1966. It benefits from a strong cast, an excellent musical score, and beautiful scenery, plus the direction of John Sturges, who is responsible for well-regarded films such as “The Law and Jake Wade” (1958), “Chino” (1973) and “The Eagle Has Landed” (1977). It’s true that reports suggest Sturges was dealing with alcohol issues during filming, and the narrative seems to lose focus at times in the second act while taking place in the mountains, but overall it's a successful film where all elements ultimately converge for the final confrontation. Initially, Saxon’s character, Chama, was intended to be portrayed as more of a hero, but this changed after Clint joined the project and Joe Kidd became the amusingly brave protagonist, positioned between two opposing sides. Very little about the movie is conventional, from the distinctive costumes and weapons to the unusual plot developments and the humorous ways that the central character finds himself in and resolves tricky situations—like the ladder/trapdoor scene, the swinging water jug sequence, the sniper standoff, and the strange train journey. Stella Garcia (Helen) and Lynne Marta (Elma) have roles as well. Those who prefer Eastwood’s other Westerns should discover much to appreciate in this one. The movie has a running time of 1 hour, 28 minutes and was filmed at Old Tucson & Sonoran Desert, Arizona, and Alabama Hills & Inyo National Forest, California. GRADE: B+

Source on TMDB