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Pancho Villa (film)

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Pancho Villa
Theatrical release poster
Directed byEugenio Martín
Screenplay byJulian Zimet
(as Julian Halevy)
Story byEugenio Martín
Produced byBernard Gordon
StarringTelly Savalas
Clint Walker
Chuck Connors
Anne Francis
CinematographyAlejandro Ulloa
Edited byAntonio Ramírez de Loaysa
Music byAntón García Abril
Production
companies
Granada Films
Scotia International
Distributed byScotia International Film Distributors
Release date
  • 31 October 1972 (1972-10-31) (West Germany)
Running time
92 minutes
CountriesUnited States
United Kingdom
Spain
LanguageEnglish

Pancho Villa is a 1972 American, British and Spanish spaghetti western film directed by Eugenio Martín. It takes as its starting point the life and legend of the Mexican bandit-revolutionary of that name, but has no other basis in historical fact. The film features Telly Savalas, Clint Walker, Chuck Connors and Anne Francis.[1] Shot in Spain, this "brawling spectacle"[2] has an often-overlooked light-comedy satirical facet, which to this day often confuses viewers. The storyline was developed during the Vietnam War and reflected certain antiwar sentiments in an American society.[3] The title song "We All End Up the Same", with music by John Cacavas and lyrics by Don Black, is sung by Telly Savalas.[4]

Plot

After being double-crossed in an arms deal by a gun merchant McDermott (Luis Dávila) from Columbus, New Mexico, legendary Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa (Telly Savalas) and his American lieutenant Scotty (Clint Walker) decide to exact revenge by raiding a US Army weapons depot in Columbus and seizing McDermott. The detail-obsessed Colonel Wilcox (Chuck Conners) and his army is stationed on the American side of the border. Also on the scene is Flo (Anne Francis), Scotty’s wife, the two of them enjoy a bickering relationship.

Cast

Production

Producer Bernard Gordon wrote in his autobiography that Telly Savalas and Clint Walker did not get along during the shooting of the movie. Savalas made attempts to upstage Walker and even insisted on changing some two-shots into solo shots.[5] Conversely, Clint Walker enjoyed Anne Francis's companionship, unlike his onscreen character.[6] This was important to Walker, as not much time had passed since he had barely survived a skiing accident, which, as he told Gordon, completely changed his life.[5] Gordon stated that the production was finished on time and on budget despite script problems.

See also

References

  1. ^ Pancho Villa at IMDb.
  2. ^ Rodriguez, Clara E. (2004). Heroes, Lovers, and Others: The Story of Latinos in Hollywood. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Books. p. 159.
  3. ^ Rampell, Ed (2005). Progressive Hollywood: A People's Film History of the United States. New York: Disinformation Company. p. 121. ISBN 9781932857108.
  4. ^ "Record Details". 45cat.com. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
  5. ^ a b Gordon, Bernard (1999). Hollywood exile, or, How I learned to love the blacklist: A memoir. Austin: University of Texas Press.
  6. ^ Wagner, L (2011). Anne Francis: The life and career. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland.
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