FuzzyTagz If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

Curapedi I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

Portia Hilton Blistering performances.

Kaelan Mccaffrey Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

HotToastyRag There's a reason why the western genre has, on the whole, died out. They were made ad nauseum from the 1940s-1970s and there were infinitely more "typical westerns" than good ones, so the public got tired of them. Yours truly is not a fan of westerns. They have to be really exciting-or have a serious amount of eye candy-for me to enjoy watching them. Therefore, you understand why I took a chance on Arizona Bushwackers, a western starring the hunky Howard Keel. Unless you're desperately in love with him, you'll probably want to skip this one. John Ireland was supposed to be a one-armed sheriff, but he just had the end of his sleeve sewn into his trouser pocket, and both sturdy shoulders were clearly visible. Yvonne De Carlo tried to give a Jane Russell impression, and Marilyn Maxwell tried to give an Yvonne De Carlo impression. The townsmen with only one or two lines seemed like they either weren't actors or had gone to the John Wayne school of acting. Howard Keel seemed to be mirroring the audience's thoughts, wondering why he was stuck in such a bad movie when he was once king of the 1950s musical genre. Plus, I know the title had an actual meaning at the time, but nowadays, it's way too dated to take seriously.

a.lampert When I see a name like Howard Keel listed for a film, I can't resist having a look, particularly as Keel was probably my first screen hero (perhaps alongside Roy Rogers) as a six year old when I was taken to see Annie Get Your Gun. I still have vivid memories of him in that although it was around 65 years ago. I find it rather sad that stars like Keel ended up having to take jobs in feeble B westerns like Arizona Bushwhackers when they have so much more to give. Rather sad also that he's remembered better for Dallas than Seven Brides for Seven Brothers by some people. However, on to this film, Arizona Bushwhackers is a very tired looking picture that looks like it was made for TV, rather like those Warner Bros series in the 50's like Bronco with sets where everything looks so clean. Everyone wears clean clothes with shirts perfectly pressed and dresses that look like they've just been hired from the fancy dress shop. The movie is packed with actors and actresses who have seen better days, quite big stars some of them in their day like Yvonne De Carlo, John Ireland and Brian Donlevy (who doesn't look at all well here, in fact he died a few years later as did Marilyn Maxwell). Barton McLane although only in his sixties, looks about 80. Actors seemed to age far more quickly back then (1968) than they do today. Too much alcohol and cigarettes I think. The script here is very tedious, nothing I've not seen in westerns hundreds of times before, the colour is washed out and the direction listless and lazy. The final Indian attack is comical as this group of so called renegades just roar into town riding up and down and get picked off by the towns folk waiting for them. Must have been the most stupid Indians ever in a western. The only reason for watching this is to see your favourite old time movie stars of B films which does give one a sort of peculiar warm feeling as their easily recognisable faces appear. I thought John Ireland as a one armed deputy came off best in the acting stakes. Bless them all.

Spikeopath Actually, wearing a blindfold during a sitting for this movie seems like a pretty good idea given how lifeless it is. When you see it's produced by A.C. Lyles then realistic expectations are needed, his low budget Westerns grabbed the aged coat tails of a genre that had moved onto a different plain than the one Lyles now traversed. Lyles was astute enough to fill out these Oaters with names familiar to genre fans, regardless of the advent of time or box office appeal, so some interest in the said picture was there from the off. Some of these Westerns rose above their budget limitations to be better than average, the likes of Johnny Reno, Waco and Stage to Thunder Rock, while not essential Western viewings, are good time wasters for the undemanding fan. The trouble with Arizona Bushwhackers is that it promises so much more than it can ever deliver. Proudly it tells us that it's in Technicolor and Techniscope, and it stars Howard Keel, Yvonne De Carlo, John Ireland, Marilyn Maxwell, Scott Brady, Brian Donlevy, Barton MacLane and James Craig. Hell! The opening narration is even by one James Cagney. And with a plot involving spies and gun runners in the town of Colton, where Union and Confederate operatives dwell, it's all in place for some solid "B" entertainment. Unfortunately it's a lame duck once Caggers has finished his narration.Story limps on as the various citizens of Colton potter around wondering about who is trustworthy? Who will get caught out? Who will survive? And isn't it about time the Indians showed up? The actors, bless em', give it a good go, shuffling about in some sort of one- take wonderland, while director Lesley Selander tries hard to beef up the plot with the odd action scene; including a fight between two one armed men that I'm pretty sure isn't meant to be funny. It all builds to a hopelessly weak finale where the Indians do indeed turn up and they file in for cannon fodder duties. The colour photography is washed out, the scenic locations barely realised, and the musical score is 101 rank and file. Lifeless all told and only fans of the fading stars should seek this out so as to tick off of their completist lists. 3/10

MartinHafer Despite the title, this is not a porno film but a geezer western produced by A.C. Lyles--a man who is today nearing his 100th birthday. I say geezer western because Lyles created a niche for himself during the 1960 making a long string of lower-budget westerns that all starred folks who had once been stars. Now, well past their peak, these folks and their very aged co-stars made some decent films. Few were standouts but most were entertaining and offered a last chance to see film favorites. In this case, the three main stars are actually a bit younger than the typical Lyles film of the day, with Howard Keel (49), Yvonne DeCarlo (46) and John Ireland (53). In supporting roles are Brian Donlevy (67), Marilyn Maxwell (48), Barton MacLane (66) and James Cagney (69) narrating. Oddly, some of the usual supporting characters from Lyles' westerns (such as Lon Chaney Junior and Richard Arlen) are absent in this movie.The film begins by explaining that during the Civil War, Confederate soldiers were sometimes offered a chance to enlist in the Union army and were sent out west to protect the settlers. Whether this is actually true, I have no idea--perhaps it's all fabricated or it really occurred--all I know is that if true, this is a rather obscure notion. In the film, naturally, the residents of a small western town are dubious about having a 'Reb' appointed sheriff in their town--after all, would be really care about protecting a bunch of Yankees?! All I know is that the current sheriff (MacLane) sure looks awfully old to be protecting anyone (by the way, in real life, MacLane was dying from cancer and this tended to make him look a lot older).Soon, the Confederate sheriff (Keel) arrives--and is nearly bushwhacked in the process (in other words, some baddies tried to ambush him as he neared the town). The owner of the local saloon sent the men to kill the sheriff--so you know there will be a final showdown between them. In addition, the deputy (Ireland) is very antagnoistic towards his new boss, as he hates Southerners. For a while, it looks like Keel is a needed force for justice. However, you soon discover that he is actually a spy--working for the Confederacy!! What's next? See the film yourself.Overall, this is a decent film but nothing more. Compared to other Lyles westerns, this one is slightly below average--worth seeing but no more. The stars give it a good try but the script isn't all that convincing--nor is the ending. Adequate.By the way, one of the baddies killed was called Ike Clanton. THE Ike Clanton was at the O.K. Corral and actually died in the late 1880s--not during the Civil War.