Abandoned and nearly forgotten, "El Condor" is a frequently profound, near great western, easily in my 25 all time best westerns. If so, WHY is it abandoned and nearly forgotten? "El Condor" has many strikes against it, arriving just after the peak of the "Spaghetti Western," lost among the "A Cast" Westerns, owned by a then nearly defunct movie company and Jim Brown. By "El Condor," Jim Brown was pretty well wearing out his welcome as an actor. Brown, who received fine notices in "Rio Conchos" and great ones for "The Dirty Dozen" substituted ego for acting, first in "100 Rifles," then here. Even now, it's hard for a black male lead to appeal to the much larger white audience; and as the "blaxploitation" era wound down, worthy films such as "El Condor" was sucked down with them.Brown plays a convict who escapes from a work detail to reclaim his stolen loot and finance an assault on "El Condor," a fortress contains millions in Aztec gold confiscated by the Spainish and held by the Mexican federalizes. Brown enlists Lee Van Cleef (funnier than one would ever expect), a "Commanchero," to convince an Indian chief to siege El Condor with his braves and take it from Patrick O'Neal, commandant of El Condor. O'Neal, a cultured, intellectual, nonetheless, keeps Marianna Hill, his mistress as a virtual sex slave. Hill knows will Happen to her if O'Neal's attentions wane. Neal will give Hill to his men for their "amusement." In other words, to be gang raped."El Condor" contains so many gamy elements, it's no wonder even the "Spaghetti Western" crowd doesn't embrace it. However, "El Condor" also has many surprisingly profound visual and plot twists, it's hard to dismiss it. However, explaining those requires spoilers.WARNING: SPOILERSHere is Patrick O'Neal, a cultured intellectual man keeping a sex slave, and willing to sacrifice himself and all his men to defend The secret of EL CONDOR, which there is NO gold, in order to save his country's economy and his own prestige. Here is Van Cleef, entertaining as Eli Wallich (Tuco in "The Good, The Bad and the Ugly"), easily more likable than the "hero," Jim Brown, throwing Everything he's acquired in his life (the loyalty and friendship of the Indian tribe) because he's unwilling to share TONS of "gold," more than one man could spend in a lifetime. Here's Marianna Hill, seeing Jim Brown as a "savior" from her her situation, exposing herself, full frontal, to distract the guards from Brown, Van Cleef and the braves scaling the walls. Hill's action is a visual testimony to the repeated rape she has suffered at the hands of O'Neal exposed "for all the world to see."Jim Brown and Marianna Hill are the only ones who survive to end of "El Condor" because they are willing to accept the truth both of the world and inside themselves. This isn't the kind of thematic splendor one often sees even in serious dramatic films. It's even more rare in a movie as multigenred (western, action, comedy) as "El Condor"I love the small touches of "El Condor." O'Neal gives his federale garrison permission to leave the fort and go into the peaceful village nearby. The federalizes enter the village and separate the most desirable women from their families at gunpoint to be raped repeatedly at their leisure. One federale standing behind one of the women, reaches around her and closes his hand over her full right breast. Her head turns toward him, revealing the face of a girl about twelve. Later, an attack by Brown, Van Cleef and the Indians on the federalizes in the village, exposes two of the federale officers in bed together. I've already discussed the full frontal display by the well-endowed Ms. Hill, having a higher purpose of social commentary. However, there's also two pieces of dialog that provide great but humorous social commentary:" Village woman to son,who's running off: "Get back here, you little bastard!" Van Cleef to woman: "You shouldn't call him that." Village woman: "You want to marry me?" Van Cleef: "Well, no." Village whore: "Then YOU adopt him!" Van Cleef to Brown as Van Cleef is welcomed with open arms by the chief and surrounded by adoring squaws: "I sell them guns that don't work; liquor'd make a WHITE man go blind; I violate their women; and, they STILL love me. The latter piece of dialog is the most I've ever heard in ANY motion picture, and could be about ANYONE who's popular in the public mind.END OF SPOILERS"El Condor" needs to be seen. At worst, it's an entertaining, if adult movie. At best, it's profound and a near-great, if not great film. I give "El Condor" an "8".

When he is part of a chain gang, Luke overhears talk of a fort where millions of dollars worth of gold is hidden under the guard of part of the Mexican army. He escapes from his captors and enlists the help of gold prospector Jaroo to help him recover the gold. Jaroo has connections with a tribe of Indians who will be told it is a political matter and promised horses and guns for their help. The duo set out with their enlisted army to attack the fort of General Chavez and steal the gold.This film looked interesting to me because it had a black star in the lead as well as the grizzled Van Cleef. I didn't know anything about the plot but decided to give it a go. Despite some good touches along the way, there isn't really much that makes this western stand out – it's all pretty standard stuff. The ending has a good twist and a downbeat ending but it's nothing that unusual for a western of this sort. The film does have some good bits of light humour, however it also tries to have all the usual clichés thrown in as well – we have the two leads fighting, Jaroo being kind to a child (with sappy Mexican music in background), nudity and Wild Bunch style excessive violence at each stage.The film is still passable as long as you know what you're watching and don't expect too much. As a western it is quite fun if you're just after something undemanding with lots of gunfights. However more than that and you'll be disappointed. The cast carries the film at several points; or at least the lead two do. Jim Brown is a pretty good screen presence even if his skills as an actor leave a little to be desired. Here his physical presence and (slightly out of place, period wise) swagger. Van Cleef has a better character and it's a shame that he plays second fiddle to Brown for much of the film – but he is still very interesting to watch. O'Neal is only so-so, Iron Eyes Cody has little to do and Hill is pretty but not much else.Overall this is a passable western as long as you don't expect too much. It is nicely driven along by the screen presence of Brown and Van Cleef. Other than them and the odd good touch here and there, this film is quite unremarkable as westerns go.

This motion picture is in my opinion, undoubtedbly Jim Brown's best cinematic performance . The action and cinematography reminded me of The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly (Lee Van Cleef probably had something to do w/ it) He also does an excellent job. The plot is well-scripted, and the motion picture is paced well. I don't know the name of the lead actress in the picture--but man, she must've been working out or something because she is/ was pretty fine. All in all, a definite thumb up picture.

Extremely enjoyable western adventure in the classic style of the late 60s and early 70s. The plot concerns a pair of rogue adventurers who team up with a tribe of Apache Indians to steal a fortune in gold from a huge fortress in Mexico during the mid 1860s. The heroes are extremely well portrayed, with Jim Brown as Luke, in a pioneering performance for African American actors in the early 70s; a non racially specific heroic role. Brown displays the cool confidence he showed in 'The Dirty Dozen' and '100 Rifles', showing once again that he was one of the most underrated action heroes of the 60s and 70s. Lee Van Cleef is also superb. Going against his usual casting as a polished, cool villain, Van Cleef plays a scruffy ne'r-do-well named Jaroo, who is first seen spitting whiskey into the camera. In spite of Jaroo's greed and unsavory habits, he is still a very sympathetic character. Just watch the great scene where he gives a Mexican boy one of his prized gold nuggets. Other characters of note are Iron Eyes Cody as Santana, the Apache Chief, and Patrick O'Neal as Chavez, the cruel yet honorable commandanté of the Fortress of El Condor. Mariana Hill is stunning (and totally naked at one point!) as the mistress of Chavez, a fickle beauty with the power to make men or break them. The battles are truly epic in scope, particularily the scenes of the final assault on El Condor, with hundreds of Mexican soldiers and Apaches clashing in the courtyard of the immense fortress. The music by Maurice Jarré is wonderful. One of his best scores, along with 'Lawrence of Arabia' and 'The Professionals'. No one can say that 'El Condor' is a message movie, or socially relevant or challenging, but if you want an action packed western with larger than life heroes and villains, beautiful women and impossible odds, El Condor is the film for you! I have watched this film literally dozens of times since first sneaking into the living-room to catch it on the late show as a kid in 1979, and I never ever tire of it. I watch this film more often that 'The Wild Bunch', 'The Magnificent Seven' or 'The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly'! Buy a copy RIGHT AWAY!