Villa Rides is a 1968 American western war film starring
Yul Brynner in toupee in the title role and Robert Mitchum
as an American adventurer and pilot of fortune.
The supporting cast includes Charles Bronson as Fierro,
Herbert Lom as Huerta, and Alexander Knox as Madero.
Sam Peckinpah wrote the original script and was set to direct but Brynner
didn't like his depiction of Villa as cruel and had Robert Towne rewrite the script
and sought another director.
The screenplay is based on the biography by William Douglas Lansford.
Critical reception
Film critic for the Chicago Sun-Times, Roger Ebert, gave the film a mixed review, writing,
"You would think an interesting picture could be made about Pancho Villa and the Mexican Revolution,
a subject most Americans know next to nothing about.
But we learn nothing except that Pancho was a romantic fellow who had a mustache
and liked to have people lined up three in a row and killed with one bullet.
(That scene, incidentally, got a big laugh.) Frankly, this kind of movie is beginning to get to me.
You can enjoy one, maybe, or two. Or you can enjoy a particularly well done shoot-em-up.
But the Loop has been filled with one action-adventure after another for the last month,
and if Villa Rides is not the worst, it is certainly not the best."
Film critic A. H. Weiler wrote, "Yul Brynner, Robert Mitchum, cavalry,
politicos and even the faint strains of "La Cucaracha" fail to disguise the fact
that Villa Rides which dashed into the Forum Theater yesterday,
is simply a sprawling Western and not history.
As such it incessantly fills the screen with the din of pistols and rifles,
and assorted warfare and wenching, shot in sharp color on rugged Spanish sites
that strikingly simulate Mexico.
Any resemblance to the 1912-1914 campaigns of the bandit-revolutionary
in the cause of liberal President Madero and against General Huerta is purely coincidental."
User Review
Colorful portrayal of the Mexican revolutionary leader , entirely filmed on spectacular Spanish exteriors
23 October 2012 | by ma-cortes (Santander Spain)
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Quote from maDisplay MoreThis exciting historical film about the famous Mexican patriot bandit contains a succession of fights , shootouts , pursuits , raids and breathtaking frames . The film chronicles about the title role , the Mexican bandit and guerrilla leader who flourished in the early part of the XX Century with broadened focus on the filming his feats and actual war . As Mexican rebel Pancho Villa (Yul Brynner) lead a revolution against the ¨Colorados¨ ruled by Orozco ; being helped by an American aviator (Robert Mitchum) imprisoned in Mexico . Later on , when President Madero (Alexander Knox) is overthrown , they fight against General Huertas (Herbert Lom).
This vibrant movie is an uneven rehash of Pancho Villa's legend including epics battles , explosions , chases , spectacular scenes and resulting to be a feast of action for the eyes . Interesting screenplay written by Robert Towne and Sam Peckinpah , based on the novel ¨Pancho Villa¨ by Douglas Lamford . Sam Peckinpah wrote the original script and was set to direct, but Yul Brynner didn't like the script because it made Pancho Villa - a man who had given standing orders to shoot all prisoners - "look like a bad guy" ; Peckinpah was fired and his script was rewritten by Robert Towne to conform to Brynner's idea of what Villa was like . Yul Brynner plays the notorious and rowdy bandit, he is perfect in title role . Robert Mitchum is the flying gunrunner who reluctantly aids Francisco Villa's revolutionary Mexican campaign . And Charles Bronson giving one of the last of his sadistic two-fisted guy portrayal with his trademark mustache , before being promoted to tough big star . Remainder casting is frankly well : Maria Gracia Buzzela as a seducer Mexican woman , Herbert Lom as General Huertas , Frank Wolff as Ramirez , John Ireland and Jill Ireland , this was the first movie to star real-life husband and wife Charles Bronson . Being shot in Spain , there appears great secondaries , some prestigious Spanish actors such as Fernando Rey , Xan Das Bolas , Julio Peña , Jose Canalejas , Jose Maria Prada and seductive Diana Lorys who holds one of the highlights of the movie , when she dances a tempting dance with Yul Brynner . Colorful cinematography by Jack Hildyard , David Lean's usual , and supported by outstanding cameramen as Ricardo Navarrete and John Cabrera. Shot on Spanish location in Casar De Talamanca (Guadalajara) and Colmenar Viejo (Madrid). Rousing musical score by Maurice Jarre , the musician to milk the maxim impact from a lively leitmotif . Considering the talent involved plenty of magnificent actors and excellent technicians results in a good movie . Big-budgeted film by producer Ted Richmond with hundreds extras , a lot of riders , and using trains , planes , helicopter for his filming . Sergio Leone was offered to direct but the turned down , as it was well directed by Buzz Kulik helped by Jose Maria Ochoa , Carlos Gil and Eduardo Garcia Maroto as direction assistants . Kulik was an expert filmmaker of TV movies and occasionally for cinema . He directed notorious series and TV films (The Lindberg kidnapping case , Pioneer woman , Brian's song , Riot , Rage of Angela) and adapted famous films for TV (From here to eternity with Natalie Wood , Women of valor) . Furthermore , he filmed some vehicles for notorious actors as Burt Reynods (Shamus) , Lee Marvin (Sergeant Ryker) , Steve McQueen (The hunter) and Pierce Brosnan (Around the world in 80 days) .
Other films about Pancho Villa are the following : the classic ¨Viva Villa¨ by Jack Conway with Wallace Beery , forever belongs this role ; ¨Villa¨ with Rodolfo Hoyos and Brian Keith ; ¨Pancho Villa¨ by Eugenio Martin with Telly Savalas and Clint Walker and ¨Starring Pancho Villa as himself¨ by Bruce Beresford with Antonio Banderas . The picture is based on true events, thus : Pancho Villa born in Chihuahua with the name Doroteo Arango,from his peasant upbringing he became an outlaw in his youth and adopted the name Francisco Villa from another outlaw.He played a leading role in the Mexican Revolution(1910-1920),winning many victories (as Torreon battle narrated in the film).For a time Villa,who seemed in line for leadership of Mexico,enjoyed the agreeable interest of the United States government;but William Randolph Hearsts media empire's press campaign against him and USA authorities then dropped Villa and supported his rival,Carranza.Villa's resentment resulted in the revenge raid on Columbus