Blu Ray Review: The Valdez Horses (aka Chino) with Charles Bronson (1973)

Kino Lorber has released one of Charles Bronson’s best western films, The Valdez Horses, on blu ray. Better known under the title Chino, this film has been made widely available in various public domain collections, but the Kino release boasts far better quality at every level.

Bronson stars as Chino Valdez, a lonely horse rancher living out in the wilderness. A young boy riding alone happens upon Chino’s ranch and, connected by their similar circumstances, Chino takes him in. Later on, Chino is visited by Catherine Maral (Jill Ireland) with the intention of doing business, despite the fact that her brother (Marco Bozzuffi) despises him. When Chino and Catherine fall in love, he is concerned that he will lose is coveted independence.

Director John Sturges had worked with Charles Bronson before in the films The Magnificent Seven and The Great Escape. A western film stylist, Sturges directed such genre classics as Last Train From Gun Hill, Joe Kidd, Gunfight at the OK Corral, and the aforementioned Magnificent Seven. Sturges takes advantage of the beautiful Spain location scenery while spotlighting Bronson’s lead character nicely. He was not satisfied with The Valdez Horses, however, believing Jill Ireland to be miscast. As a result, the subsequent retakes were directed by Duilio Coletti. Charles Bronson appeared in many westerns during the 1970s, and several are available from Kino Lorber. The Valdez Horses is one of the best. The actor’s stoicism and economy of movement fits the character perfectly.

Unlike the many public domain prints of this movie, Kino Lorber’s blu ray is sharply focused and presented in a restored 2K version of the film’s original 1:85:1 aspect ratio as well as an alternate restoration of the 1:37:1 Master with Italian titles and credits. Special features include an interesting interview with Vincent Van Patten, excellent audio commentary by film historian Paul Talbot (the Bronson’s Loose books), as well as trailers, TV spots, and alternate credits.

The Valdez Horses (Chino) is highly recommended and available at this link: VALDEZ/CHINO