The Wonderful Country
The Wonderful Country

The Wonderful Country

1959Movie98 minEnglish

Having fled to Mexico from the U.S. many years ago for killing his father's murderer, Martin Brady travels to Texas to broker an arms deal for his Mexican boss, strongman Governor Cipriano Castro. Brady breaks a leg and while recuperating in Texas the gun shipment is stolen. Complicating matters further the wife of local army major Colton has designs on him, and the local Texas Ranger captain makes him a generous offer to come back to the states and join his outfit. After killing a man in self-defense, Brady slips back over the border and confronts Castro who is not only unhappy that Brady has lost his gun shipment but is about to join forces with Colton to battle the local raiding Apache Indians.

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IMDb7.0/10
Director: Robert RossenGenres: Western, Drama, Romance

Plot Summary

In 1880s Texas, a drifter named Lafe Harker finds himself caught between the law and a Mexican warlord when he crosses the border with a stolen horse. He becomes involved in a range war and a love triangle, facing danger from both sides of the law and his own past. Lafe must navigate treacherous alliances and his own conflicted desires to survive and find a place for himself in a lawless land.

Critical Reception

The Wonderful Country received mixed to positive reviews upon its release, with many critics praising its atmospheric cinematography and the performances of its lead actors, particularly Robert Mitchum. Some found the plot a bit convoluted, but overall, it was considered a solid, if not groundbreaking, entry into the Western genre during its era.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its mature handling of Western tropes and strong performances.
  • Cited for its visually striking cinematography and sense of place.
  • Some reviews noted a somewhat predictable narrative arc.

Google audience: Audience reception information is not readily available for this older film.

Fun Fact

The film was shot on location in Mexico, adding to its authentic atmosphere, but this also presented logistical challenges and was a significant factor in its budget.

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TMDB Reviews

2 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

This is really just a film for Robert Mitchum fans. He is "Brady", a hard-nosed drifter who manages to get embroiled in some gun-running on the US/Mexican border, then to break his leg, then to have to fight off the designs of Julie London'...
Wuchak

Wuchak

_**Robert Mitchum caught between Mexico and America**_ A man from Missouri now living in Mexico and working for shady officials breaks his leg while conducting business in a West Texas town across the river. He has time to consider his f...