Life of Villa (1912)

Although some scenes were re-enacted after the fact, this is a real documentary on the struggle of Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa to overthrow dictator Porfirio Díaz . Directors Christy... See full summary »

Director:

Christy Cabanne

Stars:

Pancho Villa, Don Luis Terrazas

Cast

Credited cast:
Pancho Villa	...	Himself
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Don Luis Terrazas	...	Himself

Storyline

Although some scenes were re-enacted after the fact, this is a real documentary on the struggle of Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa to overthrow dictator Porfirio Díaz . Directors Christy Cabanne and Raoul Walsh took a camera crew to Mexico during the Mexican Revolution of 1912 and traveled with Villa, filming footage of his army on the march and engaged in battle with federal troops (director Walsh confirmed in an interview the long-rumored story that Villa insisted on the filming of execution by firing squad of several dozen federal prisoners, but that when he returned to Hollywood the studio thought the footage too grisly and cut it out).

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Plot Keywords:

mexico | revolution | pancho villa | mexican revolution | character name in title

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Genres:

Documentary | War

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Details

Country:

USA

Also Known As:

Vita di Villa

Filming Locations:

Chihuahua, Mexico

Company Credits

Production Co:

Biograph Company

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Did You Know?

Trivia

First movie that Charles Rosher filmed.

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Connections

Followed by The Life of General Villa (1914)

User Reviews

D.W. Griffith as Supervisor

In the same way that a graduate wanting to get into the film industry would start off as a Runner, Production Assistant, Production Manager, Line Producer, or 3rd, 2nd and 1st Assistant Director, D.W. Griffith also did miscellaneous jobs in the industry as a supervisor in 1912 at the age of 37.