The fifties saw a series of existential Westerns - whatever that means - and this is one. It is the story of a gringo with a past (Mitchum) who comes north over the Rio Grande to buy weapons illegally during Mexico's chaotic late nineteenth century for a warlord. he gets injured and has to stay while the guns go south and go missing. Up pops Julie London, smouldering trashy wife of the US Army major in charge of the area, and Mitchum becomes confused. But he has to hightail it south again when he shoots someone in self-defence. Cue long scenes of Mexico (shot in Durango which you will recognise from 'Major Dundee' and other later films!) and US dignitaries/industrialists trying to make profits out of the shifting sands of a country in revolutionary ferment. Yes, the film (Mitchum was Executive Producer) makes some heavy handed comment on US interventions in third world countries during the fifties, but it does not really satisfy either strand - Western or Satire. The pace is too slow, the direction stodgy, the characters almost Pinteresque in opacity, and symbolism too obviously to the fore. Mitchum was trying to do something different, but it was not remembered as one of his better efforts!

Based on a story by artist Tom Lea (who cameos as a barber), The Wonderful Country stars Robert Mitchum, Julie London, Gary Merrill, Charles McGraw & Pedro Armendáriz. It's directed by Robert Parrish, the score is from Alex North with Floyd Crosby & Alex Phillips on cinematography around the Durango location shoot.A rich western that admirably crams in a lot of genre based themes and boasts a lead protagonist of high complex value. Tightly directed by Parrish (Saddle The Wind), who is aware that this needs no action overkill, it's really with Mitchum and Robert Ardrey's script that the film owes its success. Give or take a couple of missteps with the accent (he is playing a gringo pistolero) Mitchum dominates with his stature and laconic form of acting. He's playing Martin Brady, a man who finds himself being pulled emotionally on both sides of the Mexican/American border, the contrast between both lands, and Brady's persona too (he's effectively a man without a country), is very interesting. There's a number of well drawn characters who file in and out of Brady's life, all serving purpose to the plot, with Julie London's love interest thankfully having a more darker edge than others that were often seen in the genre. There's even an appearance of Baseball Hall Of Fame inductee Leroy 'Satchel' Paige as part of an all black army regiment. Yet another strand in this multi angled movie.Very sedate in tone but with deep character drama at its core, Parrish's film is a thinking persons movie. Some critics have called it routine, while others have said it's complicated! I just think it's a film that needs to be watched more than once to fully digest its themes. It's not one for the action fan as such, but it is excellently written and performed by the principals. It's also a truly gorgeous movie visually and aurally. A fine film that rewards further on repeat viewings, especially for fans of the great Robert Mitchum. 7/10

The two main interests of this passable western: Mitchum is very cool (and almost blonde!), while his female pair is attractive and nice. Mitchum has a large and quite compact role, picturesque, and not a badly written one. He looked unusually ,unexpectedly well as gunman and smuggler that trades guns and silver for the Mexicans.The plot is in itself quite interesting. The Wonderful Country (1959) is a drama, an action drama set in a western dimension. The director obviously didn't find the fittest approach; while the film's name tells nothing about its content, though it's probably meant to be acidly ironic and disillusioned. For once at the westerns, I was interested in seeing a love story; but not much happens this way. The movie looks like an interesting exercise—like something much better could of been made with this content. But then again, most westerns may give this impression. The directing is, as I said, _uninventive, yet competent on its level. I mean, it keeps the film from looking ridiculous, involuntarily funny or something.Mitchum's part is certainly very likable, very well performed, and eminently enjoyable. It's almost like a study of Mitchum's aptitudes.A certain very virile and mysterious (i.e., rich in intuitive content and cognition) aspect of Mitchum's role reminded me of the Rourke of the '80s. In this western, Mitchum is as interesting, in the same way I mean, as was Rourke in the '80s.What the film needed were action and a pace.But, notwithstanding, interesting western.

Hi. I remember watching this movie (The Wonderful Country) when I was a young man. I have always wanted to buy it on DVD or VHS. It's like it never existed. Has anybody seen this movie anywhere? Robert Mitchum was great. The movie was filmed in Mexico and the scenery was fantastic. The music soundtrack is very good. If you have not seen it, you should. I am not sure who directed the movie, but it was well done. Good acting through out the movie. This movie must have been forgotten by everybody, since I cannot find anybody who knows about it. Robert Mitchum was one of the great actors who made many great movies. This one has been left out for DVD or VHS. Come on.