Product Description
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Viva la revolución! O® winner Yul Brynner stars as Pancho
Villa in this thrilling story of the Mexican Revolution. Along
for the ride are legends Robert Mitchum with Charles Bronson at
his sneering best. A gritty screenplay by Sam Peckinpah (The Wild
Bunch) brings out the chemistry between the stars and makes this
action packed tale of real life desperados a must see!
Review
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The Italian western craze of the 1960s added new life to the
genre, but it also quickened the end of the traditional American
western's noble heroes, simplistic stories and clear morals. To
survive, American westerns almost immediately became darker in
theme and more cynical in outlook. Some American producers
followed the Italians to Spain, coming up with hybrid productions
of their own. 1968's Villa Rides! is an expensive show with
assets most Italian producers only dreamed of: big stars, top
creative talent and battle scenes worthy of an epic. Yul Brynner,
Robert Mitchum and Charles Bronson look very impressive together
on a marquee. […]
Using a 'borrowed' airplane, American Lee Arnold (Robert Mitchum)
runs s to the Federales. A local blacksmith repairs the
plane's landing gear, allowing Lee to meet the lovely Fina
(Grazia Buccella). Federale officer Ramirez (Frank Wolff) rapes
Fina and executes eight men including her her before Pancho
Villa (Yul Brynner) counterattacks. Relieved of his money, Lee is
prepared for execution by Villa's second in command, Fierro
(Charles Bronson). But Villa bargains with Lee for his services
as an aerial spotter and bombardier in a major battle. When
Arnold complains that Villa delayed attacking the village to give
the people more reason to hate the Federales, the General
compensates by marrying Fina, restoring her honor. Unfortunately,
Villa has married many women in the same way. More problems come
from Villa's political rival General Huerta (ert Lom), who
plots to ensure that Villa's army is wiped out in battle. The
naïve President Madero (Alexander Knox) orders Villa not to cause
trouble. Pancho takes a town without firing a , only to be
arrested and put before a firing squad. Villa is convinced that
his beloved President will intervene, but Madero is hundreds of
miles away in Mexico City. […]
All of this is told through the experience of Robert Mitchum's
Yankee aviator Lee Arnold, who wants a fast buck but keeps
getting sucked into Pancho's idealistic battles. Like a fly on
the wall, Arnold witnesses mass hangings and executions while
never being particularly important to the plot. His girlfriend is
raped and his money stolen, and he spends more than a little of
his time hoping that Charles Bronson's trigger happy General
Fierro won't use him for target practice.
The impressive production musters hundreds of costumed extras, an
armed battle train and exciting aerial sequences with Arnold's
WW1 pursuit plane. The pyrotechnics and stunt horse falls are
expertly done. Top talent like ace British cinematographer Jack
Hildyard put a gloss on all technical aspects, and the cast is
quite capable. […] An unexpected casting success is Alexander
Knox, a spet in stuffy English authority figures. Knox is a
compelling President Madero, and has a fine time play-acting in a
black beard, mustache and wig.
Legend Films' DVD of Para's Villa Rides! is a very good
enhanced transfer of elements in fine shape. The only funky s
are the barely-adequate blue screen composites that insert
Mitchum into the airplane in flight. Another highlight is Maurice
Jarre's spirited, classy score. It's not as lively as his work on
The Professionals and some of the more lyrical passages clash
with the violent subject matter, but Jarre's music is a definite
plus. No extras are included. Unlike most of the other Legend
releases, the cover graphic uses original art. --Glenn
Erickson of DVDSavant.com