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The Wonderful Country

The Wonderful Country

Western · 1959

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.

Movie details

The Wonderful Country

“A Face...A Man...A Motion Picture as Proud and Violent as Tom Lea's Bold and Powerful Novel!”

1959 Western 1h 38m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.1 / 10

Community rating

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.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over The Wonderful Country?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Nevada Smith

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A one-time rodeo star and washed-up horse breeder takes a job from an ex-boss to bring the man's young son home from Mexico.

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A former gunslinger is forced to take up arms again when he and his cattle crew are threatened by a corrupt lawman.

True Grit

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The murder of her father sends a teenage tomboy on a mission of 'justice', which involves avenging her father's death. She recruits a tough old marshal, 'Rooster' Cogburn because he has 'true grit', and a reputation of getting the job done.

McLintock!

McLintock!

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Aging rancher and self-made man, George Washington McLintock is forced to deal with numerous personal and professional problems. Seemingly everyone wants a piece of his enormous farmstead, including high-ranking government men and nearby Native Americans. As McLintock tries to juggle his various adversaries, his wife—who left him two years previously—suddenly returns. But she isn't interested in George; she wants custody of their daughter.

Red River

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The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Robert Parrish

Written by

Walter Bernstein · Robert Ardrey

Robert Mitchum

Robert Mitchum

Martin Brady

Julie London

Julie London

Helen Colton

Gary Merrill

Gary Merrill

Major Colton

Albert Dekker

Albert Dekker

Cap. Rucker (Texas Ranger)

Pedro Armendáriz

Pedro Armendáriz

Cipriano Castro

Jack Oakie

Jack Oakie

Travis Hyle

Charles McGraw

Charles McGraw

Dr. Stovall

Court is in session

Put The Wonderful Country on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Auteur Devotee

“Patience is part of the point.”

Duration becomes texture. The film asks you to inhabit its world instead of merely processing its plot.

The prosecution The Adrenaline Seeker

“A test of endurance, your honour.”

Stillness keeps submitting itself as meaning. At some point, contemplation needs something worth contemplating.