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5.3/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 5.3/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. The Man from Monterey remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Look, if you are looking for a deep cinematic experience, keep moving. But if you have a soft spot for grainy, black-and-white westerns that do not overstay their welcome, you will probably have a decent time. Hardcore John Wayne fans will enjoy seeing him find his footing here. People who need complex dialogue or modern pacing are going to hate every single second of it. 🐎
It feels like one of those movies made over a long weekend. The story is thinner than a piece of parchment, but it moves fast enough that you do not really have time to poke holes in the logic.
John Wayne is fine, I guess. He is not quite the icon he would become, but he has that same walk. He looks like he is constantly trying to figure out where the camera is hidden.
There is this one scene near the ranch where the background mountains look like they were painted on a bedsheet. I am pretty sure I saw a piece of the set wobble when someone walked past it too fast. It is charming in that "we are running out of budget" kind of way.
There is this moment where the land grabbers are arguing about their scheme, and the guy playing the lead villain is so over-the-top that I actually chuckled. He is constantly stroking his chin like he is in a silent movie from a decade prior.
Compared to something like The Lights of New York, this feels like it has a bit more space to breathe, even if the script is just as basic. It does not have the same frantic energy, which is a relief.
The pacing is honestly all over the place. Sometimes people are galloping at full speed, and then suddenly the movie stops dead for three minutes of awkward exposition. It feels like the editor fell asleep at the wheel.
Honestly, it reminds me of some of those smaller films like Thunderbolt Jack where the plot is just a thin string connecting one stunt to the next. It is not trying to change your life. It is just trying to get you to the end of the reel without the projector catching fire.
It is definitely not as weird or experimental as Where Now Are the Dreams of Youth?, but it gets the job done. If you like the smell of old celluloid and simple, black-and-white justice, you will be fine. Just don't expect a revelation.
IMDb —
1917
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