an ambitious but ultimately ineffective debut endeavor.

The movie is wonderful and true, an act of love in all its contradictions and complexity

The biggest problem with this movie is it’s a little better than you think it might be, which somehow makes it worse. As in, it takes itself a bit too seriously, which makes most of the movie feel kind of dull.

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Madron is directed by Jerry Hopper who co-adapts the screenplay with Edward Chappell from a story written by Leo McMahon. It stars Richard Boone, Leslie Caron and Gabi Amrani. Filmed in Israel and Hollywood, cinematography is by Marcel Grignon and Adam Greenbereg and music is by Riz Ortolani.A nun (Caron) survives a wagon train massacre and teams up with a gunslinger (Boone) in a battle for survival.I'd like to say that the fact the similar themed Two Mules for Sister Sarah was released the same year is the reason this is little known. But that simply isn't true. For Madron (AKA: His Name Was Madron) is a poor movie, saved from stinker damnation by Boone's fun performance as the grizzled title character. Film consists of Boone and Caron trekking thru the barren sands finding each other as they fight off bandits and injuns in a series of poorly executed action scenes. Script is weak and plot holds no surprises, like wouldn't you know it, once Nun Caron throws off the Habbit, she's a foxy babe! The Israeli vistas hold up as a Western backdrop, but they are barely realised by the photography and the colour is decidedly flat, while the score and title song (Till Love Touches Your Life-Richard Williams & Jan Daley) sounds like something from a soft core porn movie of the 70s. The ending has a decent enough kick to it, and the odd spurt of violence lifts the film out of its stupor; with one scene probably more fitting for Soldier Blue, but really this is only one for Boone enthusiasts. 5/10

This film has an interesting background. It's the first filmed in Israel that was meant to be set elsewhere; i.e. the American West. Richard Boone was hoping to help the infant Israeli film industry with its birthing pains. Each day of filming was beset with financial woes. At the end of every day Richard Boone, who was involved with production, had a meeting with the financiers. Somehow they managed to find enough money to complete the film. It holds together.The script wasn't that great but Leslie Caron and Boone gave their best performances. The romance between the nun and the gunslinger made sense within the context of the story. It was refreshing to see Boone play a not-so-bad guy once more. The death of the hero rather than the heroine makes for an unexpected and poignant ending.A word: Use caution if you're disturbed by graphic violence. In the theater version a man was emasculated in graphic and bloody detail. This scene has been edited from most versions of the film.If you get a chance to see MADRON, don't pass it by. It's worthwhile for Richard Boone and Leslie Caron. They were brilliant.

I grew up watching westerns. I'm an American now living in the UK just to explain. I caught this film one lazy afternoon and was chuffed to see craggy ole Richard Boone with the lovely Lesley Caron.Its the little bits that made this film interesting. Instead of just grabbing the hot coffee pot they use something to protect their hand. He gives her the definition of 'yonder'.The ending song is a bit cheesy OK, its dreadful, but the hero dies and the female hero rides off into the sunset. An interesting twist on the typical rough guy falling in love with an unsuitable woman, who is usually the one to die. You know, mythic hero's true love must die to keep him on his journey blahblahblah.A enjoyable little B Western.

I majored in film in college which means I have watched a lot of movies ... all types of movies made by all types of people in all types of places. I have a very open mind towards movies. But Madron left me speechless. Madron could possibly be the worst film I have ever seen, and I have seen some really bad stuff. The best way I can describe Madron is that it's like a 70's porn film, but without the porn. It's poorly constructed, numbingly boring, and crude. Each scene seems like a repeat of the last. Sometimes I like bad movies, because they are so bad they are funny. Madron is not funny, it's sad. The talent has been in other good films though ... so I'm going to have to blame this feature-length mistake on the director and other behind the scenes folks.I would say the one redeeming characteristic of Madron it is that this film has made me appreciate good movies that I had started to take for granted.