Powerful

Fresh and Exciting

best movie i've ever seen.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Don Siegel and Clint Eastwood made a very good first film together in the form of "Coogan's Bluff." I naturally expected their next collaboration to be just as memorable. Sadly, this is not the case with "Two Mules for Sister Sara." I was quite irritated by this film. First of all, I am not a fan of Shirley Maclaine as her kind of acting tends to leave a horrible taste! I could never warm to her and she's no different here. Secondly, the plot is woeful and totally unbelievable. How is Clint Eastwood that dumb that he falls for all of the deception that comes his way from his leading lady? One expects a lot from the audience to digest glaring narrative errors which tend to bite pretty hard! Some things in a story you can't just take at face value. The lack of action is notable throughout and boredom soon sets in. The photography is ok in itself but that can't save "Two Mules for Sister Sara." There is absolutely no one in the supporting cast to recognise or to remember for that matter. Surely a couple of familiar American character actors like John Vernon would have helped? The acting honours go to the snakes and the horses. Don Siegel is a highly talented artist but I really can't understand why he had to direct this mess. Clint Eastwood does his usual and no doubt thought his paycheck the only worthy thing from this film.

While traveling from the United States into Mexico a cowboy by the name of "Hogan" (Clint Eastwood) comes across a scene in which a nun named "Sister Sara" (Shirley MacLaine) is about to be raped by three outlaws. He promptly shoots all three men and agrees to accompany Sister Sara to the nearest village. One thing leads to another and they eventually end up traveling to the same destination with the identical goal of helping the rebellious Mexicans in their revolution against the French. But even though they both need each other to carry out their mission, Sister Sara has a big secret that she keeps hidden from Hogan until the very end. Now rather than divulge any more of this movie and risk ruining the film for those who haven't seen it I will just say that this was a pretty good Western with nice touches of humor along the way. In many respects this movie shares a similarity with Clint Eastwood's previous "Spaghetti Westerns" except that the addition of Shirley MacLaine adds another dimension to this film which was lacking from the others. Now that's not to say that this movie was necessarily better as it had a couple of long extended scenes here and there which slowed things down a bit. But I still enjoyed it and I rate it as above average.

Well crafted Western with interesting and engaging screenplay written by Albert Maltz from a story by Bud Boetticher . It deals with a nun called Sara (Shirley MacLaine) and two mules (second mule was actually a burro) , as she is attacked by three outlaws , being rescued by a drifter named Hogan (Clint Eastwood) , who is on his way across Mexican desert and becoming wary of her religious nature . Gringo Hogan arrives in Mexico do some reconnaissance, for a next mission to capture a French fort , so he decides to help her in return for information about the defences . Inevitably both of them become good friends but Sara has a twisted secret . At the end takes place a needlessly violent slaughter against Maximiliano army . Hogan is the deadliest man alive , he takes on a whole army with two guns and a fistful of dynamite! .This classic as well as diverting Western results to be a good fun that contains thrills , humor , slow and deliberating filming , elaborate shoot-outs , and portentous battles with bloodbaths included . It's a special following to original ¨Dollars trilogy¨ with Eastwood as ¨Man with no name¨ ; as this new role as Hogan bears remarkable resemblance . Clint returns his classic character of ¨The man with no name¨ and MacLaine is an unlikely nun in this amusing comedy Western . Shirley MacLaine did not get along during the shoot with director Don Siegel , with whom she openly fought . While in Austria filming ¨When eagles dare¨, Clint Eastwood was approached with the script by Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton's wife at the time, with the notion of starring together in the film ; however, Universal Pictures was unwilling to pay Taylor's high salary . Being a Mexico/USA co-production in the picture appears numerous Mexican secondary actors such as Manuel Fabregas , Enrique Lucero , Armando Silvestre , among others . Maestro Ennio Morricone composes a groundbreaking and streaking soundtrack , including some comic touches . Colorful and evocative cinematography in Panavision by excellent Mexican cameraman Gabriel Figueroa and uncredited Robert Surtees , being filmed in Cuaútla, Morelos, Jantetelco, Tlayacapan, Mexico .The motion picture was rightly produced by Martin Rackin and well directed by Donald Siegel . His first feature as a director was 1946's The Verdict (1946). He made his reputation in the early and mid-'50s with a series of tightly made, expertly crafted, tough but intelligent "B" pictures , among them : The Lineup (1958), Riot in Cell Block 11 (1954), Invasion of the body snatchers (1956)), then graduated to major "A" films in the 1960s and early 1970s. He made several "side trips" to television, mostly as a producer . Siegel directed what is generally considered to be Elvis Presley's best picture, Flamingo Star (1960). All of Eastwood's later Western and his ¨Dirty Harry¨ movies owe a considerable debt to Sergio Leone and Donald Siegel . As Donald directed Eastwood in various films , such as : Coogan's bluff , The beguiled , Dirty Harry , Escape from Alcatraz and , of course , this ¨ Two mules and sister Sara¨. He had a long professional relationship and personal friendship with Clint Eastwood, who has often said that everything he knows about filmmaking he learned from Don Siegel . ¨Two mules and sister Sara¨ is an enjoyable film for Clint Eastwood and Donald Siegel enthusiasts , including their usual trademarks , it's full of which made their films so memorable, others might find it a bit long but no one can deny its sense of style what achieved a great burst of world-wide popularity .

This movie was a pleasant surprise. I was expecting perhaps a spaghetti western comedy, but what I got was an exciting plot that moved right along, with good performances from the two leads, some nice scenery, good dialogue and a great buildup to a nice climax. Shirley Mcclaine was perfectly cast, and boy did she look absolutely splendid. The scene where Clint questions her morals as a nun who shuns the physical feelings is deft and wonderfully written and acted, it was my favorite scene. The action goes from entertaining to more entertaining. Clint is simply wonderful, this was one of his best movies I thought. The chemistry between them is great. I like how the romance develops replete with some twists that you may or may not see coming. Don Siegel is such a talented director, he always seems to make movies that not only movie right along but manages to get good performances from everyone involved. We need more directors like Siegel in this day and age. The music was trademark Ennio Morricone cowboy music, he is always spot on. This is the kind of movie that they just don't make anymore, perfect entertainment for a weekend on the couch. Catch it if you can.