source: Posse

This outlandish and politically incorrect Western concerns about an ambitious, pompous sheriff named Nightingale (Kirk Douglas) he's looking for a dangerous robber as platform for his US Senate political career, under the ironic title ¨To the polls, sons of freedom¨. When Jack Strawhorn (Bruce Dern)is double-crossed , he escapes and seek vengeance against Penstleman(David Canary). Later on , Strawhorn is captured and carried a town . After that, happens the getaway and Jack want to take over the loot that was taken him. Then Nightingale finds townspeople are siding with the bandit. There's much historical revisionism in this offbeat and pleasantly subversive Western as well as reversals of the ordinary 'Good guy' against 'Bad guy' format, similarly as happens in Spaghetti Western sub-genre. ¨Posse¨ attempts at a new rendition the Old West but at its core it's throughly conventional. Excellent Kirk Douglas as cynical sheriff who tries to fulfill political aspirations by detaining a known gunfighter. Bruce Dern steals the show as intelligent and resourceful outlaw . Secondary cast is frankly well as Dick O'Neill as ubiquitous photographer recording everything for future , James Stacy as cripple journalist, the Mexican Alfonso Arau who recently turned into film-maker, and Luke Askew and Bo Hopkins as members of the marshal bunch. This over-directed and fine-written movie extends to style as well as content, though packs some bit flaws. Colorful cinematography by Fred Koenekamp (Patton) and atmospheric musical score by Maurice Jarre (Doctor Zivago, Laurence of Arabia). This solid motion picture is well produced and directed by Kirk Douglas . Kirk's direction and production was taken in various films as ¨The light at the edge of the world¨, ¨Brotherhood¨, ¨Grand Prix¨, ¨Paths of glory¨ but he only directed ¨ Scalawag¨ and ¨Posse¨, though he told that made some scenes of ¨Spartacus. Rating : 6,5, good and well worth watching.

Bet you didn't know that Kirk Douglas took the director's chair a couple of times, POSSE being one of them. If you like westerns, like me, you'll probably find this decent. The movie does suffer from the middle third of the movie, where the story pretty much grinds to a halt. Though this part wasn't really boring, it will probably make you wish they would get on with it. Also, the actions taken by certain characters near the end, though having some justification, didn't seem to have enough justification. On the positive side, POSSE is well shot, well acted, good production values, and an interesting ending. It's worth seeing. P.S. - Leonard Maltin's description of this movie isn't exactly how the movie plays.

Kirk Douglas' second stab at film directing garnered him some favorable reviews, however this western with political flourishes is full of hot air rather than excitement. A US Marshal, beloved by the residents of a small dirt town, plans the ambush of a gang of bank robbers; their leader (Bruce Dern), who gets away, would be the feather in his cap for the Marshal, who is also running for State Senator. Though this is probably the only time in movie history a crook escaped from prison using a broomstick (!), this screenplay from Christopher Knopf and William Roberts is loaded down with the usual western clichés (mostly visual, though we are not spared the muttering old coot who works the printing press). With an extremely weak cast and unattractive locales, Douglas has only himself as an actor and the picture's marginal technical merits to fall back on. Some saw this as a political allegory; if so, it isn't a very incisive one, nor an entertaining or important one. *1/2 from ****

kirk douglas being a rather intelligent man, I was still a little surprised the way this movie turned out. I didn't think he had that much OOMPH in him or whatever. The good guy is the bad guy and the bad guy is the good guy - that's always a good start. But then the good/bad guy gets too greedy and forgets about paying his men decently and then they leave him. If it was only like that in reality! Things have become too complicated today with too big societies and the crooks just too stupid and coward. they don't steal from the rich anymore - they steal from the poor and when they don't get caught they get to be presidents or whatever. Where is the modern day Robin Hood? Nowhere or maybe the media just refuse to write about him - who knows? Anyway, great finish on a film that, without this glorious OOMPH, would have been mediocre. Kirk belonged to the old school of decency and he shows it here. By the way, it's he, who plays the bad guy, in case you would miss it.

Kirk Douglas proves that his first choice for a career--in front of the camera--was a good one, directing Posse, a weak and silly "message" western about a politically ambitious US Marshall on the hunt for a notorious outlaw and the promotion that will result from his capture. It is interesting seeing Douglas run his PR spin machine in the Old West, and Bruce Dern, as the outlaw, is both cunning and charming (and not the psycho we all grew to love and hate). There is so much character-actor star-power in Posse, that I remember liking it despite its wheezy moralizing and Watergate-era world-view. Yet, if you've got nothing better to do than watch a late entry into the genre, with a strong cast more comfortable than good and a story more parody than satire, I'd just about recommend Posse. Just tie your standards to the hitchin' post.

Having Kirk Douglas on leading role and direction this western won't disappoint nobody, but a little sins almost unnoticed to crying for, Bruce Dern is always in a blue jeans impeccable clean, the escape inside the train wasn't convincing among another little mistakes, in first part of the movie the ambush at the river the fine landscape is unforgettable, the cinematography is quite good, alfonso Arau is another high point, however died so early, shall be better exploited during of the picture! Resume: First watch: 1985 / How many: 4 / Source: TV-DVD / Rating: 7.25

The Anti-Western had been Around for a while so Producer, Director, Star Kirk Douglas was Bandwagoning a bit and Chronologically it was Not as Unexpected as Moderns might Think. The Difference here is the Political Story-Line not often Used in the Genre. Western Fans are more Comfortable with the Traditional. Kirk Douglas was never known for His Restraint as an Actor relying on Bombasticity most of the Time to Literally Jump off the Screen. That Less than subtle Approach was Transferred to the Director's Chair. It's Clear from the Opening Who the Villain is here. But still, it is Fascinating to Watch "White Hat vs Black Hat" Characters Exchange Roles in this Solid Telling of an Ambitious and Selfish Marshall with Senatorial Ambitions. Bruce Dern is Perfectly Cast as the Smart and somewhat Charming Outlaw. Basically His Ability to be Insightful and Pragmatic in His chosen Profession and is much More Likable than the Duplicitous Douglas. Overall, Above Average Watergate Western with enough Good Character Actors in Support and Good Professionals behind the Script and Cinematography that make this one a Must See for Fans of the Genre and Might even Impress Viewers Not Usually Drawn to Tales of the Old West.

Not a bad western, but not a real winner either. Most of the acting was good, but some of the performers need to go back to drama class and bone up a bit. Douglas and Dern kept the show going with their give and take, although I don't think the real lawmen and desperados actually carried on in this fashion. I think Strawhorn was more of a realist than a truly bad person; he saw the reality of life and became practical because of his vision. Dealing with 2 faced con men like Nightingale merely solidified his outlook on life.

U.S Marshal Howard Nightingale is a man who has big political aspirations and to achieve this dream. He and his posse of deputies go after an out-law Jack Strawhorn. When Nightingale captures Strawhorn, just like his other captors or conquests he exploits it through the media for public support. Strawhorn would be Nightingale's ticket into the US senate, but Strawhorn thinks otherwise. Can westerns be too low-key? 'Posse' felt so. Kirk Douglas directs and stars in this understated, but thoroughly ambitious under-the-radar western that had something cynical to say when it came to its closing credits. Quite heavy-handed and aware of its messages (money buys loyalty with the guys donning their badges being no better than the outlaws and representing an image (the people's?) to manipulative achieve a politically upper-hand), but the story's format is just so odd and subversive. The western conventions are there, but by the end William Roberts and Christopher Knopf's cleverly sharp (if sly) material basically turned it upside down with an ironic turn of events. It has that fragrance of the pioneer Hollywood westerns, but its punishing violence and sexual inclusions with a quiet, but powerful conclusion roots it in the 70s. The unusual theme to it and the effortlessly collected and cool-witted performances of Kirk Douglas and Bruce Dern (who shared a terrific chemistry) cover for how mechanical the film did look. Nothing totally skillful or stylish about it. Douglas' direction is raggedly rough and a little too plain. However some action shootouts and chase sequences were competently entertaining, but when the violence did hit, it wasn't presented in such a meaningless parade. It went hand-to-hand with the thoughtful nature of the script. Dick O'Neill's taut, but at times flashy photography is fluidly shot and Maurice Jarre's uncanny score is strongly delivered. Supporting Douglas and Dern (who's character's made great for sparing confrontations) is excellent performances by Bo Hopkins, James Stacy, Beth Brickell, Dick O'Neill and Alfonso Arau. A western that's too interesting to pass up because of the calculating tone lurking underneath.