Pleasant classic Western with magnificent Gregory Peck who steals the show as a merciless revenger gunfighter . He is relentless in his vengeance , deadly in his violence but he learns that he has become no better than those he hunts . A Hollywood production full of action , exaggerated characters , shootouts and lots of violence . For revenge, he doesn't care why he kills or how ¡ ... . An errant Jim Douglas (Gregory Peck) sees the atrocity over his family and executes a single-handedly revenge, as he ravages and murders each person involved in his vendetta . Douglas has been relentlessly pursuing the four outlaws (Albert Salmi , Henry Silva , Stephen Boyd and Lee Van Cleef) who killed his wife, but finds them in prison about to be hanged . But the prisoners escape and villagers enlist Douglas' aid to capture them . The conflict is a simple one between avenger Douglas and oppressors, nasties bandits commanded by cruel Bill Zachary (Stephen Boyd) . Douglas along with a posse set out in pursuit the outlaws and he faces the vicious bandits.

It's an exciting western with breathtaking showdown between the protagonist Gregory Peck against four heartless bandits . In the film premiere attained success , nowadays is well valued and I think it turns out to be a good classic Western. The picture is fleshed out with a marvelous cast as Gregory Peck who is excellent as a good father turned revenger . Nice too is Henry Silva as the brash Mexican young gun and Andrew Duggan as the amiable Padre . Joan Collins gives a good performance as Jim's former girlfriend , she does a well measured portrayal of a woman who still loves her previous sweetheart and who promises to leave with him which ultimately can never be . Stephen Boyd as a cruelly baddie role also is terrific . The film packs violence , gun-play , high body-count and it's fast moving and quite entertaining. There is plenty of action in the movie , guaranteeing some shootouts or stunts every few minutes . This is a dark downbeat story of an avenger gunfighter perfectly performed by Gregory Peck told with genuine realism and honesty . Stylishly written by prestigious by Philip Yordan-Johnny Guitar- , the screenplay was based on an original story by Frank O'Rourke. The movie was directed with a positive flair by Henry King . There are many fine technicians and nice assistants as Lyle Wheeler and Walter Scott in charge of Art Direction and Set Direction respectively . Good production design creating an excellent scenario with luminous outdoors, dirty and rocky landscapes under a glimmer sun and a fine sets on the Mexican landscapes . The musician Lionel Newman composes a nice soundtrack and well conducted , being helped by the maestros Hugo Friedhofer and Alfred Newman , tough uncredited ; it's full of agreeable sounds, and a haunting musical leitmotif . Sharply photographed with striking cinematography by Leon Shamroy in Technicolor, Techniscope with negative well processed and outdoor sequences filmed in Jalisco, Mexico Morelia, Michoacán,St Jose Perua mountains, Mexico.

Henry King 's direction is well crafted , here he's less thought-provoking and broody and more inclined toward violence and too much action , because he's a expert on compelling Adventure/Western genre . Henry King directed other classic Western as ¨ Jesse James(1939)¨and ¨The gunfighter(1950)¨ with Peck again . Koster was specialist on Adventure genre as proved in ¨Untamed , Captain King , Captain of Castilla , Black Swan , Stanley and Livingstone ¨and many others . Rating : Better than average . Worthwhile watching .

It's very odd that Gregory Peck is not often associated with Westerns--even though many of his best movies stand among the finest examples of the genre. Considering the number of Westerns he made, most of them were highly successful and entertaining. Remember, this is the same man who starred in THE BIG COUNTRY, THE GUNFIGHTER and YELLOW SKY--yet he is more commonly seen as an actor in contemporary dramas. THE BRAVADOS is yet another in a long string of hits, as it somehow manages to transcend a genre that often seems derivative.

In this film, Peck plays a complex character--neither a villain nor a hero. He has been on a relentless pursuit to kill the men who he is convinced killed his wife--and like Captain Ahab, he won't give up or consider and options other than their deaths. Along the way, he stumbles up a young and very beautiful Joan Collins--in one of her better screen roles.

I really don't want to tell you more, as it would spoil the plot, but rest assured it is masterfully made like other Peck Westerns and one not to be missed.

Jim Douglas (Gregory Peck) rides into Rio Arriba and is met with suspicion. The town is getting ready to execute four outlaws; Alfonso Parral (Lee Van Cleef),Bill Zachary (Stephen Boyd),Ed Taylor (Albert Salmi) and Lujan (Henry Silva). Jim suspects them of murdering his wife. In town, he reconnects with former flame Josefa Velarde (Joan Collins).

I love Peck's grim relentlessness in his performance. Sometimes, he's a little too clean. The man is a little perfect in his looks. First, I love that he took a nap before joining the chase. That's a great unusual start. There are minor issues like getting knocked out by the senora. For a man of his skills, it's silly to end up like that. It does have a great reveal but that needs a bit of foreshadowing. The moral conflict is interesting and Peck is uniquely capable in embodying that inner turmoil. He is often the moral center and any flaw usually shows on his face. Overall, this is a great lesser remembered western.