Magnificently photographed with a brilliance hitherto unmatched in the usually patchy DeLuxe color medium, "One Hundred Rifles" comes to us with superb action sequences, but unfortunately we are let down by the ill-advised casting of Jim Brown in the central role. Although the rest of the cast give him strong support, this is a part that was plainly meant for someone like Gary Cooper or Burt Lancaster. Pleasing through it is to find Jim heading the cast, it's difficult to identify with him in the hero's role here. Why not? It's hard to tell. Perhaps because we're not used to making such an identification? Or is it that we don't feel with him simply because he lacks a photographic charisma? Now that's a hard ask. I could easily give you a list of fifty great stage actors who never made the grade in movies. They just simply didn't come across on film. That's why we have film tests. On the other hand, I could give you a list of at least thirty great film stars I knew personally that just simply didn't come across in real life. But put them in front of a camera, and something magical happened. The camera loved them so much, it not openly smoothed out all their bad vibes, but gave them a charisma that they actually lacked in real life.

"100 Rifles" is an adventure western set in Mexico with former pro football player Jim Brown cast as a sheriff and Burt Reynolds as a Mexican who purchased the titular number of rifles. Raquel Welch is the daughter of a revolutionary soldier who is hanged at the beginning. These three unlikely allies team up to contend with Fernando Lamas and Eric Braeden. Director Tom Gries is better known for his realistic Charlton Heston cowboy classic "Will Penny." Although "Will Penny" is a better all-around western with a largely believable plot, "100 Rifles" qualifies as an exciting, scenic western set below the border that appeared after Spaghetti westerns had popularized the Mexican revolution. Nevertheless, "100 Rifles" is a lot of fun. Reportedly, Raquel Welch and Burt Reynolds got off on the wrong foot, and the beautiful Welch hated Reynolds so much that when they co-starred again with him in "Fuzz" she had most of her scenes filmed when Reynolds was not present. Fans of Mexican revolutionary westerns will enjoy this bullet-riddled romp. When "100 Rifles" came out, interracial romances were in their infancy on the big screen. Brown and Welch share a couple of scenes together. Jerry Goldsmith's orchestral score is very atmospheric and contributes to the suspenseful tension. The advertising campaign for this outdoors film was clever. "This picture has a message—watch out." Novelist Clair Huffaker, who wrote the novel for the John Wayne western "The War Wagon," co-scripted this turn-of-the-century horse opera with Gries, based on Robert MacLeod's novel. For the record, MacLeod penned the novel that served as the basis for the Marlon Brando oater "The Appaloosa." "100 Rifles" was lensed on location in Spain.

Burt Reynolds plays a half-breed who stole some money to buy the title amount of items for his people, Jim Brown is a sheriff pursuing him, and Requel Welch is a revolutionary having witnessed a hanging of a family member. All three eventually team up to defeat the Mexican general Fernando Lamas and his men for all the cruel acts they committed. With what I just described, this was quite entertaining what with all those action scenes, a steamy love scene, and Ms. Welch's assets almost exposed whenever her close-ups come on. Really, I don't have anything else to say except that 100 Rifles is worth a look for fans of the above players.

this my not be the best western ever made but for my money this is a great action flick. the action has not dated to bad. this is an action movie with the next battle more a priority than plot or story. I'm not saying this is a bad thing because we have see umpteen storys of this type before, so what tom grimes is give us a solid action movie in a western setting.as for the cast they are just outstanding, especially rachael. I'm a burt fan so he can't do no wrong but the surprise is big jim brown probably his best role. all the extras were good excluding some poor death scenes throughout but hay it is also a western and that comes with the territory. 100m rifles is truly worth seeing and the DVD look stunning a good transfer probably looks better than ever. if you have not watch a western before give it a go if your a western fan give it another go you will be surprised how well it has stood the test of time.