DURANGO

REVIEWED BY ERIN DAMAN

Our rating: 5 out of 5

Rated:

Set in the lush Irish countryside just before World War II, Durango is a charming tale about adventure, love, and courage. Young Mark Doran is tired of being cheated each year when he sells his cattle. Every year the same buyers come and every year they offer far too little for the townspeople’s cattle. But the nearest village is 40 miles away, so how is one to get his cattle to a better market? Mark has a plan, a plan that a few before him have considered but none have dared to attempt -- an Irish cattle drive! 

At first the townsfolk are reluctant to join Mark on his trek. But after he convinces Fergus Mullaney, an influential man in the village, to send his cattle with Mark, the townspeople are convinced and they begin to rally behind Mark. They volunteer to help on the drive and send along their cattle to be taken to Trolloch, where a good price will be paid for them. In spite of the local buyers’ objections and forebodings of disaster, the drive is soon arranged, and early one misty morning Mark and the rest set out.  

As the drive begins, so do the adventures…  A hazardous course is before them, fraught with peat bogs, rivers, and haunted hills. But if they succeed in their venture, the cattle will bring twice as much as they would in their village. With a mischevious rector scouting ahead for them, Mark’s eccentric Aunt Maeve driving the supply wagon, two squabbling brothers, several other villagers, and the aide of a clumsy deserter, the intrepid bunch heads for Trolloch and the hope of a prosperous business transaction. And if the journey wasn’t dangerous enough, Mark finds a few nasty surprises at the end of the road...

The cattle drive is only half of the story. Mark and Annie Mullaney have been in love for quite some time and wish to get married. The problem? Fergus doesn’t know anything about the relationship.  Mark is understandably afraid to ask for Annie’s hand in marriage, for Fergus is a very strong man and has said in not so pleasant terms what would happen to anyone who tried to take his Annie away from him. So Mark is faced with a dilemma -- ask Fergus for his blessing on their marriage and have his head removed from his body in an especially unpleasant manner, or secretly elope with Annie?

Durango is a charming romance, an exciting adventure, and a hilarious comedy rolled into one delightful film.  Wonderful acting, quirky characters, Irish wit, and beautiful scenery add to the delight of this filmed-in-Ireland treasure. There is precious little to be wary of; one use each of “d_mn” and “the devil," a tiny bit of innuendo, some kissing, and a few brawls are the only points of possible concern.  There are also a few incidents of threatening people with guns but they are so funny it’s hard to see them in a bad light. Several good points I’d like to mention are the several reverent uses of God’s name and the many good lessons on courage, honesty, and perseverance. The deserter is a good talking point a family might want to discuss after the film. All in all, Durango is an excellent movie that I would heartily suggest to anyone. I loved it!