Notah Shatner, Westerns are a Bad Choice
Johnny Moon (William Shatner) and his twin brother Notah (William Shatner) couldn't be more difficult as whilst Johnny has become a cowboy, embracing their father's white side Notah is a leader of Comanches and a trouble causing one who is addicted to Peyote. Having grown tired of always getting the blame for Notah's crime Johnny tells him he either stops the nonsense or they will have to fight it out. Arriving in Rio Hondo to await for Notah to make up his mind Johnny once again finds himself on the brunt of his brother's troubles as sheriff Logan (Joseph Cotten) is not happy to see him neither is Kelly (Rosanna Yanni) who was assaulted by Notah when he held up the stage.
I've watched a few pointless westerns in my time but I reckon "White Comanche" might just win the award for being the most pointless. What we get is little more than an excuse for William Shatner to appear in two roles and that means with him playing enemy twins that there has to be a showdown. Along the way is some predictable confusion as we watch Johnny get mistaken for his brother and having to deal with someone trying to kill him whilst finding some romance with Kelly who initially thinks he is the guy who attacked her but that is about all there is. And whilst at the time of being made Shatner was on a break in-between Star Trek seasons his performance is not enough to carry the movie.
You see look beyond the novelty of William Shatner appearing in the dual role and the rest of the movie is weak with flat characters, flat storyline, time filling scenes and ridiculous action. It is basically devoid of style and so becomes a slow slog of a movie especially with other than Shatner the only recognizable star is Joseph Cotten who has very little to do other than lend his name and face to the movie. Yes there is the attractive Rosanna Yanni as Kelly but this came from early on in her career.
What this all boils down to is that "White Comanche" is a poor western and not even one which is enjoyable for being bad. But I guess for those who became fans of William Shatner through Star Trek will get a kick out of seeing him playing warring twins in a western even if it is a bad movie.
