Die McMasters (1970)
23KDie McMasters: Directed by Alf Kjellin. With Burl Ives, Brock Peters, David Carradine, Nancy Kwan. When a black Civil War veteran becomes co-owner of the southern McMasters ranch, the incensed local Confederate veterans come gunning for him and his Indian wife.
“u0026#39;The McMastersu0026#39; is yet another film that stands as a testament to the changing values of North American society: another case of u0026quot;Thereu0026#39;s no way that could have been made todayu0026quot;.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eBrock Peters plays Benji, a former slave and Civil War veteran who is adopted by kindly-old-white-man Burl Ives (u0026#39;Mcmastersu0026#39;), and given title to the old manu0026#39;s farm. Conflict with the racist locals, led by the chilling Jack Palance as Kolby, ensues, leading to a violent conclusion.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eTo me the film was almost painfully riveting, and frank in its depictions of violence and racism.The violence in todayu0026#39;s action films is highly stylized, and almost glamorous by comparison: todayu0026#39;s post-Star-Wars escapist fare has no place for the smallest depiction or frank discussion of racism. I found myself getting involved with the characters, cheering them on and yelling advice to the screen. I also loved the western/blacksploitation angle of the film, even though the u0026quot;showdownu0026quot; plot is pretty standard western fare.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe film seems old-fashioned when viewed today: does that mean that society has progressed, or regressed since 1969? You be the judge.”
