Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- witty
- eccentric
- adventurous
- classic cinema night
- vincent price marathon
What critics said
Critics generally found the real-life swindle fascinating and the central performances absorbing, while faulting the film's slow pace, hammy acting, and uneven direction.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Reavis manipulates monastery and aristocratic libraries to construct a credible claim to Arizona land.
The protagonist's long con unfolds through disguises, invented ancestry, and audacious social manipulation.
Reavis invents noble lineage and elevates Sofia through an artificial Spanish aristocratic identity.
Libraries and land-grant records determine whether Reavis's invented inheritance can be recognized.
Films like The Baron of Arizona, and why
The Great McGinty
shared western setting, charismatic fraudster protagonist, and elaborate historical con
The Leopard
shared period intrigue, ambitious deception, and morally slippery central character
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
shared western atmosphere, outlaw enterprise, and darkly entertaining historical adventure
Movie Details
- Director
- Samuel Fuller
- Release Date
- 1950-03-04
- Runtime
- 97 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (66)
Cast
- Vincent Price
- Ellen Drew
- Vladimir Sokoloff
- Beulah Bondi
- Reed Hadley
- Robert Barrat
- Robin Short
- Karen Kester
- Margia Dean
- Jonathan Hale
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Criterion Channel
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Baron of Arizona about?
- A master forger engineers an aristocratic identity and a vast land claim in a flamboyant Western con built on archives, marriage, and audacity.
- What is The Baron of Arizona like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Baron of Arizona as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Baron of Arizona violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in The Baron of Arizona.
- What did critics think of The Baron of Arizona?
- Critics generally found the real-life swindle fascinating and the central performances absorbing, while faulting the film's slow pace, hammy acting, and uneven direction.
- Which films are like The Baron of Arizona?
- Films with a similar feel include The Great McGinty, The Leopard, and The Treasure of the Sierra Madre.
- How long is The Baron of Arizona?
- The Baron of Arizona runs 97 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Baron of Arizona?
- In United States, The Baron of Arizona streams on Criterion Channel.
