VALDEZ IS COMING
DIRECTED BY EDWIN SHERIN
A NORLAN-IRA-STEINER PRODUCTION
UNITED ARTISTS
INFORMATION FROM IMDb
Plot Summary
The town constable, Bob Valdez, is forced to kill someone accused by Frank Tanner
of being a murderer. Valdez asks Tanner for monetary help for the man's wife,
but he is ridiculed and almost killed by Tanner's henchmen.
Valdez recovers and summons up his days in the U.S. Cavalry in order to fight them.
Valdez wounds one of the henchmen and sends him back to Tanner with the message,
"Valdez is coming."
Written by Robbie Burns
Cast
Burt Lancaster ... Valdez
Susan Clark ... Gay Erin
Frank Silvera ... Diego
Jon Cypher ... Frank Tanner
Richard Jordan ... R. L. Davis
Barton Heyman ... El Segundo
Hector Elizondo ... Mexican Rider
Phil Brown ... Malson
Ralph Brown ... Beaudry
Werner Hasselmann ... Sheriff (as Werner Hassleman)
Lex Monson ... Rincon
Sylvia Poggioli ... Segundo's Girl (as Sylvia Paggioli)
José García García ... Carlos (as Jose Garcia Garcia)
María Montez ... Anita (as Maria Montez)
Juanita Penaloza ... Indian Woman
Marta Tuch ... Rosa
Juan Fernández ... Mexican Buyer (as Juan Fernandez)
Rudy Ugland ... First Tracker
Tony Epper ... Bodyguard (as Tony Eppers)
Vic Albert ... Townsman
Per Barclay ... Townsman
Allen Russell ... Townsman
James Lemp ... Point Rider
Raoul Castro ... Young Mexican
Directed
Edwin Sherin
Writing Credits
Roland Kibbee ... (screenplay) and
David Rayfiel ... (screenplay)
Elmore Leonard ... (novel)
Produced
Roland Kibbee ... executive producer
Sam Manners ... associate producer
Ira Steiner ... producer
Burt Lancaster ... executive producer (uncredited)
Music
Charles Gross
Cinematography
Gábor Pogány ... director of photography (as Gabor Pogany)
Trivia
When MGM producer Ira Steiner took Elmore Leonard's novel to Lancaster,
the actor agreed to co-produce and co-star as Tanner with Marlon Brando as Valdez,
David Rayfiel as writer, and Sidney Pollak directing.
After the picture was postponed to allow Lancaster to do "Airport,"
the actor decided he wanted to play the title role and engaged Roland Kibbee
to rewrite the role for him.
According to Lancaster's biographer Gary Fishgall, none of Rayfiel's writing was used
although he received co-credit.
Novice director Ed Sherin, who had guided "The Great White Hope" to stage success,
was Lancaster's surprise choice to direct "Valdez Is Coming."
Ironically the film version of "The Great White Hope" directed by Martin Ritt
was filmed in Spain at the same time "Valdez" was filming.
2 of 2 found this interesting | Share this
Final film of Frank Silvera.
Feature film debuts of Jon Cypher and Richard Jordan.
Filmed in 1969.
Raoul Castro listed as the young Mexican is the younger brother of Fidel Castro,
Cuba's former leader.
Goofs
Character error
In the picture of Valdez, taken when he was an Army Scout, he had Sergeant stripes on his shirt.
Later, when he wore the shirt, there were no stripes.
Revealing mistakes
At the end of the film, when Valdez is riding hidden between two horses,
a wire is visible holding the horses' bridles together,
so that they won't separate during Lancaster's close-up.
Filming Locations
Bavispe, Sonora, Mexico
Sierra Madre Occidental, Sonora, Mexico
Bacerac, Sonora, Mexico
Estudios Roma, Madrid, Spain (studio) (studio: interiors filmed in)
Sierra de Gredos ridge, Ávila, Castilla y León, Spain (exteriors filmed in Gredos, Spain)
Tabernas, Almería, Andalucía, Spain (exteriors filmed in Almeria, Spain)