Charley One-Eye Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.0

Charley One-Eye Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf July 22, 2025

1973’s “Charley One-Eye” is billed as a western, but it really resembles more of a play, focusing on an unusual relationship between an outlaw and a Native American stuck together in the middle of a Mexican desert. Screenwriter Keith Leonard isn’t reaching for much thematically or dramatically, preferring to remain on this developing partnership as it endures long stretches of travel and trust challenges. The features stays on the men as they work out communication, touching on elements of racism and denial along the way, but Leonard is in no hurry to introduce escalation to the endeavor, and it shows. “Charley One-Eye” is a bit of a patience-tester, as director Don Chaffey goes slow with the tale, which fails to build tension and personality as it goes.

It's 1866, and Ben (Richard Roundtree) is a U.S. Army man on the run, wanted for murder of an officer who caught him in bed with his wife. He’s made his way into Mexico, wandering around the desert looking for shelter, soon running into The Indian (Roy Thinnes), a half-Caucasian Native American with a bad foot also trying to survive the punishing elements. Ben has a knife, forcing The Indian to do his bidding as they begin to cross the land together, making discoveries along the way, which helps to strengthen a burgeoning friendship. On their tail is The Bounty Hunter (Nigel Davenport), a vicious man out to collect Ben, getting closer to his target by the day.

“One-Eyed Charley” doesn’t pursue a story, preferring to remain with a series of encounters for the main characters, including their initial pairing, which finds Ben putting The Indian in line with help from his giant knife. The captive is mostly silent, limping as he walks, making him easy prey for Ben, who’s trying to survive after getting out of the U.S., leaving him on the verge of madness. And Roundtree really plays up this part of his character, keeping him cackling throughout “Charley One-Eye” as Ben delights in the torment of his captive.

Ben and The Indian’s relationship is the core of “Charley One-Eye,” following the development of a partnership of sorts, with the Native American slowly earning the outlaw’s respect as they march across Mexico. And this trek is most of the viewing experience, following the pair as they move along, finding an abandoned church to explore and a dead man’s cart to plunder, which includes live chickens, with one becoming a beloved pet to The Indian. The Bounty Hunter shows up at the hour mark, making most of “Charley One-Eye” devoted to monologuing from Ben and staring contests between the characters, occasionally broken up by travel sequences handed a rock-ish score by John Cameron. Tension is sorely lacking in the movie, even when the material finally gets around to dangerous confrontations.

Charley One-Eye Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation for "Charley One-Eye" is listed as "newly scanned and restored in 4K from its 35mm original camera negative." Detail reaches as far as possible with softer, dustier cinematography, capturing decent skin particulars on the roughed up cast, securing sweatiness and makeup additions. Clothing carries tattered textures. Exteriors maintain depth as the tale wanders around a Mexican desert, and few interiors offer dimension. Western cinema hues are sustained, with a drier appearance as sandy browns and blue skies dominate. Livelier colors are found on some clothing choices and signage, and chickens maintain their white and red appearance. Skin tones are natural. Delineation is satisfactory. Grain is heavy and film-like. Source is in good condition.

Charley One-Eye Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix provides a straightforward listening experience for "Charley One-Eye," securing decently clear dialogue exchanges, preserving accents and performance choices, including all the fake laughing one could ever want from a movie. Music retains sharpness, with crisp instrumentation on rock-infused scoring selections. Vocals are defined. Sound effects are appreciable, extending to snappy gunfire and chicken activity.

Charley One-Eye Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features film historian Toby Roan.

• "Chicken Shoot" (34:04, HD) is a making-of for "Charley One-Eye," featuring interviews with first assistant director Nick Granby, continuity supervisor Ann Skinner, assistant editor Geoffrey Mackrill, and boom operator David Stephenson. The shoot occurred in Spain, putting the cast and crew in touch with extremes of nature and locations. The team also struggled with actor Richard Roundtree, who didn't want his hair cut short for the part, eventually forced to comply with production requirements. Technical challenges are detailed, pulling tales of struggle from the interviewees, who were forced to endure Spanish heat and wind to maintain a smooth shoot. Anecdotes are plentiful here, with each crew member in possession of a different perspective concerning the creation of "Charley One-Eye," and some had more fun than others. The chickens on the shoot definitely didn't have a good time, living during moviemaking years when animal welfare wasn't a concern.

• "One Eye on the Neg" (24:33, HD) is an interview with first assistant editor Geoffrey Mackrill, who worked alongside Mike Campbell, building a relationship with the editor dating back to the early 1970s. The interviewee shares a few technical details from the cutting room experience, and his days around colorful colleagues, finding some excitement on the job. Experiences with director Don Chaffey are recalled, who had a bit of a drinking problem at the time, but remained in control of the production, often wielding incredible profanity to do so. Time with other crew members are detailed, and producer David Frost is remembered, with Mackrill sharing a story about a bit of bloody animation that was originally intended for the picture. The interviewee analyzes "Charley One-Eye," describing it as a very "seventies" film, and highlights other technical achievements as the effort was assembled in post-production, dealing with a "friendly crew."

• "Richard Roundtree's Final Film" (10:07, HD) is an interview with "Thelma" director Josh Margolin. The interviewee examines his fondness for the actor, learning more about his warmth and "coolness" while meeting Roundtree for a part in "Thelma." Memories of the actor on-set, handling his character, are shared, along with his interactions with cast and crew. Roundtree's illness is also mentioned, getting a look at the finished picture just before his passing. The featurette closes with an appearance by June Squibb from a post-screening Q&A, sharing an anecdote about her co-star.

• "Twixt Orchestral and Minimalist" (17:56, HD) is an interview with composer John Cameron, who examines professional relationships, including producer David Frost, who eventually brought the musician on to provide music for "Charley One-Eye." Technical details and instrumentation are analyzed, contributing to the themes and characterizations of the movie.

• "A Force to be Reckoned With" (16:11, HD) is an appreciation piece by film historian Josiah Howard, focusing on the career of actor Richard Roundtree.

• And a Trailer (2:39, HD) is included.

Charley One-Eye Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Charley One-Eye" delivers a few depictions of racism, helping to understand anger simmering inside the main characters, also connecting them through experience. It's open for inspection, but there's not much else to the endeavor, which is primarily devoted to performances from Roundtree and Thinnes, who provide committed work for Chaffey. And the helmer hopes to get atmospheric enough to keep the picture mildly mysterious. "Charley One-Eye" deals with arguments, threats, animal violence (not simulated), and torture, and it's difficult to fully understand how such a thin script actually made it into production. It's not an especially thought-provoking offering, but for Roundtree completists and people who absolutely hate chickens, there may be highlights here worth sticking around for.