Movie Cosmos - Powderkeg

Description:

A Mexican bandit is about to be executed in the United States, so his brother takes over a train and holds the passengers as hostages unless his brother is released. Now both the Americans and Mexicans are baffled as to what to do. One of the passengers — who wrote the letter for their captor — has a suggestion: call mercenaries Hank Brackett and Johnny Reech. They do, and as expected they do come up with a plan, but the president of the railroad is not sure if it will work.

Top Cast >

Rod Taylor

As Hank Brackett

Dennis Cole

As Johnny Reach

Fernando Lamas

As Chucho Morales

John McIntire

As Cyrus Davenport

Michael Ansara

As Paco Morales

Tisha Sterling

As Beth Parkinson

Melodie Johnson

As Miss Baker

Reni Santoni

As Ricardo Sandoval

Luciana Paluzzi

As Juanita Sierra-Perez

Joe De Santis

As Col. Delgado

Jay Novello

As Pablo Sandoval

James Brown

As Sheriff Lynch

Roy Jenson

As Briggs

Todd Martin

William Bryant

As Major Bill Buckner

Top Crew >

Douglas Hayes

Director

Reviews:

Wuchak (8/10)

Unique train-oriented Western with Rod Taylor and several notables of the era

RELEASED IN 1971 and written & directed by Douglas Heyes, "Powderkeg" chronicles events in 1914 when Mexican renegades led by Chucho Morales (Fernando Lamas) hijack a train for leverage to get his brother out of jail in New Mexico (Michael Ansara). Two adventurer-mercenaries (Rod Taylor and Dennis Cole) are enlisted to rescue the 73 passengers and take care of the banditos.

While this was a TV movie, it’s pretty much as good as many theatrical Westerns of the late 60s/early 70s. The two stars, Taylor and Cole, have great chemistry and the tone is snappy with a distinctive story and a couple of unexpected twists. Luscious Luciana Paluzzi is on hand (playing a role in one of the surprises) along with Tisha Sterling and Melodie Johnson in the female department. Reviewers have overstated the action/thrills, but no worries because the drama is interesting.

“Powderkeg” was the pilot for the short-lived Bearcats TV series in ‘71, which consisted of this film and 13 episodes.

THE MOVIE RUNS 1 hour 33 minutes and was shot at Old Tucson, Arizona, and surrounding areas.

GRADE: B+/A-

2018-04-05