After the opening scene the story has a flavor of "The Most Dangerous Game" going for it. Pardon Chato (Charles Bronson),instead of being hunted by a determined posse, looks more like the hunter in this revenge Western filmed in Spain. That should have been more than apparent to Captain Quincey Whitmore (Jack Palance) and his bunch even before Chato took his first victim, it was easy enough to determine that Chato was leaving a trail for his pursuers to follow.

What disappointed me here was the Jack Palance role in the latter part of the story. Captain Quincey was given ample opportunity to be a stand-up guy in a number of situations and he backed down each time. You could sense the Captain was wrestling in his own mind over what to do about the rape of Chato's wife for example, but he gave the vicious members of his posse a pass to follow their own will. I would have expected a more principled leader to stand in opposition to the thugs, thereby setting up a more momentous confrontation against the Apache half breed they were trailing.

Even so, Quincey's death scene after getting shot by Jubal (Simon Oakland) was pretty interesting. I believe it's the only one which I've seen where the guy who's about to die is still talking when his body gives out. And speaking of dying, is there a more ignominious way to go than the way Jubal got his? Man, three rocks to the head seemed pretty gruesome to me, but the guy had it coming.

As for Chato himself, Bronson didn't need a whole lot of dialog to portray the cunning Indian. Other reviewers here have commented on Bronson's physique in the film, quite impressive for his age and naturally ripped from whatever training regimen he might have followed away from the set. Bronson got to put his body on display in any number of vehicles, and as a contrast, I would point to two guest starring roles he had in TV shows a decade apart. He portrays a boxer in an episode of The Roy Rogers Show from 1952 called 'The Knockout', and again in a One Step Beyond Story from 1962 titled 'The Last Round'. The difference in his appearance is notable in that he's a lot more muscular and heavier in the latter vehicle, looking almost as if he might have been using steroids. All conjecture since I have no way of knowing, but here, another decade later, he has that natural looking physique toned by a rigorous exercise schedule.

WARNING: This film features a rather graphic rape and there is a significant amount of nudity. This scene seemed to be less to show the horrors of rape and more to be 'sexy'....something which I find distasteful and many other viewers will doubtless feel the same way. If you have been a victim of such an attack, do yourself a favor and skip this picture....as the rape was not handled in a very sensitive manner at all.

When the story begins, a local sheriff picks a fight with Chato (Charles Bronson) and tries to shoot him. Chato is faster and kills the horrid sheriff....purely in self-defense. Chato, wisely, runs...and soon a posse is organized to find Chato and kill him. The posse clearly isn't concerned with whether or not Chato was justified...Chato is a half Indian, so he simply deserves to die.

As the posse progresses, it's obvious that there are some seriously sick and disturbed folks among them. Clearly, many of them should be the objects of a posse themselves...and many of these cutthroats essentially take control of the group. Eventually, they catch up not with Chato but his wife...and they take turns raping her. What this ends up doing is making Chato even more angry and ready for retribution. And so, slowly, he begins leading the men further and further into Indian territory as he then picks them off one at a time. And, the viewer is cheering for Chato because he was innocent and the posse in need of killing.

This is a decent western, though as I first mentioned, I did not think the rape was handled appropriately. It seemed to show a lot more of the victim's body than was necessary...in order, presumably, to titilate viewers....which is pretty sad. As for the story itself, it's decent and there are a lot of very familiar actors. A good story....but handled poorly by the director at times and could have been better. Overall, a very grim and often unpleasant film.

By the way, as you watch the film, pay attention to the saguaro cacti. They are often obviously fake and really look little like the real plants.

Charles Bronson and director Michael Winner made the first of several films together in this western that was shot in Spain. Chato's Land boasts a fine cast of players most of whom don't make it through the end of the film.

Bronson plays Pardon Chato a mixed blood Apache just in town for supplies and a racist U.S. Marshal puts the prod to him. That's a big mistake as Bronson kills him in self defense. A bunch of self righteous citizens get up a posse after him. Their brand of justice includes raping his wife and killing his child in the bargain.

Jack Palance plays the nominal leader of the group, but he's got no control over the meanest of the bunch, a trio of brothers Simon Oakland, Ralph Waite, and Richard Jordan. Others in the party include James Whitmore and Richard Basehart.

Charles Bronson is always a nasty man to cross, never more so when on his own turf as he is in the Arizona desert. Bronson has honed this character to perfection. It's no accident that Winner was the director in the first three Death Wish films. Elements of this same plot are also to be found in a particular favorite Bronson film of mine, Mr. Majestyk.

Chato's Land is a good western with an impeccable cast. I do so love that sudden death ending in this film.