Customer Reviews

Take a Hard Ride

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4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
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This is the type of film they don't make anymore (sadly). A good, old-fashioned, western. Jim Brown's the stalwart, Fred Williamson's the charltan you don't know how he's going to turn, and Jim Kelly's the one who's tougher than both of them. To top it off, the old pro Lee Van Cleef is along for the ride, and he'd like to see all of them dead.

We also get to see seasoned vets Dana Andrews (albeit in a small, but pivotal, part), and Barry Sullivan. And Harry Carey, Jr., who's one of the most likable people in filmdom (I know. I've met him.) is memorable as a scuz.

To top it off, Jerry Goldsmith has one of his most memorable scores, and that's saying something. The music for TAKE A HARD RIDE is every bit as outstanding as Goldsmith's westerns such as 100 RIFLES, RIO CONCHOS, and BREAKHEART PASS.

A good actioneer, and a fun western.

One of my favorite western movies. I have always liked Jim Brown's westerns. He was in great form in this one. Lee Van Clief was great as the bounty hunter. The surprise was Jim Kelly. Some of his best martial arts fight scenes are on this movie. This is the type on movie I can watch over and over again.

Take A Hard Ride starring Jim Brown,Lee Van Cleef,Fred Williamson, and Jim Kelly, features alot of gunplay and action, going for the gold plot, Brown has the task of hauling a good size bankroll from one destination to another and everybody from every side of the county wants a piece of the action, including Van Cleef who plays a small part as an ruthless bounty hunter. Brown can't seem to figure out if Fred Williamson who plays a gambler is friend or foe and Jim Kelly co-star of "Enter The Dragon" is a mute bodyguard with some martial art skills. Also starring Catherine Spaak. Take A Hard Ride,delivers the goods,but something seems to be missing in this one, everything seems to get caught up in a whirlwind,good audio,video,Anchor Bay,16x9 widescreen.

Take A Hard Ride may sound like a porno, but it's actually a spaghetti western-A good one too! A spaghetti western directed by "Anthony Dawson" (who in reality is Antonio Margheriti, who every man, woman and child knows directed the box office smash, CANNIBAL APOCALYPSE), and starring Lee Van Cleef, Jim Brown, Fred "The Hammer" Williamson, and Jim Kelly. If that doesn't get the ol' mouth watering, I'm not sure what will.
The genre was on it's way out around this time, so the films had to try and push new angles if they were to survive. As you can see by the cast, this was an attempt to cross over the blaxploitation genre with the western genre. In the movie, Jim Brown has sworn to his dying business partner that he will take a large sum of gold to Mexico to his buddy's daughter. Soon, Brown finds himself the target of just about every bounty hunter, outlaw, blacksmith and shoemaker in the west. The most dangerous adversary is bounty hunter Lee Van Cleef, who gathers a small army to get Brown. How all these people found out about Brown's mission and the fact that he's carrying gold is a mystery. It's not like Brown went around town announcing what he intended to do. How the hell does everybody know what Brown is doing? Brown gets a small group of companions as well that include Fred Williamson, a sneaky gambler who carries snakes around with him. Jim Kelly(as a Native American!) and a prostitute chick also join the expedition. Basically it's a lot of chases and gunfights on the way to Mexico.
Not a bad movie, quite entertaining actually. Probably not for the average Baby Mama fan, but for goofballs like me.

take a hard ride is a movie from 1975 in the tradition of other old fashioned westerns, moreso from the 50s and 60s. it adds a splash of blaxploitation in the casting of jim brown, jim kelly and fred williamson. other than that, there is nothing "B-movie" about it-- it was a major studio production and it shows. very good movie.

solid performances. i liked jim brown's understated turn as the guy just trying against all odds to do the right thing. williamson was charming as ever and definitely fit the profile of the shady old west gambler. jim kelly was good-- the part of a half indian/half black speech impaired young man suited him. he looked the part plus it was nice to not have to hear him deliver his lines mechanically, as he was famous for in other movies.

the stand out, tho, was lee van cleef. already a heavy hitter from several classic westerns, he deftly played the bounty hunter bad guy. it almost seemed like it was too easy for him to portray this part-- he was just that convincing.

most of these type of movies,you watch once and wished you had not,but this one is better,mainly due to some big name stars of the day and the dubbing is top grade,also moves fast and action is great,good late night viewing with a six pack

"Take a Hard Ride" barely transcends the routine. What distinguishes it from other films of it's ilk is the chemistry between Jim Brown's iconic trail boss and Fred Williamson's suave gambler. The two riff off each other like a smooth running machine. One could only imagine if their talent were better utilized by more skilled craftsmen like, say, Sergio Leone. A bonus is the presence of Leone veteran Lee Van Cleef who may be grayer but hasn't lost any of his steely eyed menace. The film disappoints, however, because it doesn't deliver on the promise of a satisfying showdown between Brown and Van Cleef's characters.