Vera Cruz

_**Dynamic Mexico-oriented Western with Gary Cooper and Burt Lancaster**_ After the Civil War, two soldiers-of-fortune (Gary Cooper and Burt Lancaster) meet in the heart of Mexico and end up taking a job for Maximilian I, Emperor of Mexico, to escort a lady aristocrat (Denise Darcel) from Mexico City to Vera Cruz on the coast. Although they have help from imperial troops, they are assaulted by Juarez’s rebels because there’s gold to be had. “Vera Cruz” (1954) is an overlooked powerhouse Western that was made back-to-back by Cooper with “Garden of Evil.” I think they’re both really good Westerns, but give the edge to this one. It has comic book qualities that I don’t like (e.g. the trivial conflicts and superhuman marksmanship), but is otherwise an austere, action-packed, life-or-death adventure with spectacular Mexican locations, featuring the magnificent Pyramid of the Sun, not to mention two beautiful women (Denise Darcel and Sara Montiel). This is one of Lancaster’s top roles as he plays the lusty anti(non)hero with his charismatic grit-teethed grin counterbalanced by Gary Cooper’s aged, brooding antihero. One of these two is redeemable while the other isn’t. It’s kind of obvious, but the climax reveals all. The peripheral cast includes notables like Cesar Romero, Ernest Borgnine, Charles Bronson and Jack Elam. The movie is short-and-sweet at 1 hour, 34 minutes, and was shot in areas east of Mexico City, including the Pyramid of the Sun. GRADE: A-/B+