BBC2 Play of the Week

**_Dynamic and unique Western with Jim Brown and Lee Van Cleef_**

This is a "men on a mission" Western and Blaxploitation hybrid. Some say it borrows from Spaghetti Westerns, but its three main influences are all American films, as follows: Like “The Professionals,” the story revolves around a specialized group navigating dangerous territory for an explicit goal, delivering money to a widow in Mexico. The group consists of an honest cowboy (Jim Brown), a gunfighting gambler (Fred Williamson), and a mute martial arts/dynamite expert (Jim Kelly).

Like “The Wild Bunch,” a machine gun is implemented for stylized violence and a gritty ‘end of an era’ impression. Lastly, like “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” there are similarities in the banter and dynamic of Pike (Brown) and Tyree (Williamson).

The trio of Brown, Williamson and Kelly happened to work together the year prior in “Three the Hard Way” and would team-up again several years later for “One Down, Two to Go,” both of which are Blaxploitation action flicks.

Two other black actors show up almost for comedic effect, but this shouldn’t be considered a black Western as there are several gringos in key roles, such as Van Cleef, Dana Andrews, Barry Sullivan, Catherine Spaak and Harry Carey Jr.

At the end of the day, it’s fun and action-packed with impressive stunts augmented by the great chemistry of every-man Brown and the charismatic Williamson. The addition of a black version of Billy Jack (Kelly) is creative and enjoyable. Yet this doesn’t prevent “Take a Hard Ride” from being what it is, throwaway entertainment. For me, it needed more depth, which would take an imaginative rewrite.

It runs 1h 43m with some prints running 1h 26m; and was shot in in the weeks following Christmas, 1974, on the Canary Island of Gran Canaria, which is located about 135 miles off the coast of southern Morocco (and is considered part of Spain). The Sioux City set still stands near San Augustin on the southeast section of the isle.

GRADE: B-