Two Mules For Sister Sarah (1970)

This would have been perfect for my salute to Clint Eastwood’s Spaghetti westerns – Clint more-or-less plays the Man With No Name, even though he goes by “Hogan.” 

Synopsis: Mysterious mercenary murders Maximilian's Mexicans, meets monkish miss, manages mutinous military maneuvers. 

Blurb From the VHS Jacket: “Get set for plenty of action as the deadliest man alive takes on a whole army with two guns and a fistful of dynamite.” 

What Did I Learn?: 1) Whisky can make a man hear anything. 2) Rattlesnakes are good eatin’. 3) In Mexico, a nun can travel safely among murderers and thieves. 4) Apparently, discipline within the French army improved tremendously within a single calendar year. 

You Might Like This Movie If: You'll watch anything that features Shirley MacLaine.

 

Really?: 1) See: “What Did I Learn?” So, the entire plan of attack depends upon the garrison troops getting piss-drunk on Bastille Day, and when our heroes discover the fort’s defenders aren’t hammered, they decide to attack, anyway? That seems a little reckless. 2) I realize Sarah needs to pretend to be a nun, but I had a hard time believing she would show as much concern for the remains of her would-be-rapists as she does. Considering she’s a smart cookie, I’m sure she could have found a convenient excuse for leaving them for the vultures. 

Rating: Directed by Don Siegel of Dirty Harry fame, Two Mules For Sister Sarah is a fun action-packed adventure. Interestingly, while MacLaine tried to get out of making this film, she shares some great chemistry with Eastwood, and provides both a love interest for the protagonist, as well as nearly all of the comedic relief. 8/10 stars. 

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065134/?ref_=nv_sr_1