Vera Cruz (1954)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Robert Aldrich

Writers:

Roland Kibbee (screenplay) and
James R. Webb (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

25 December 1954 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Western

Tagline:

The Giants Battle In The Biggest Spectacle Of Them All!

Plot:

During the Mexican Rebellion of 1866, an unsavory group of American adventurers are hired by the forces of Emporer Maximilian to escort a countess to Vera Cruz.

Plot Keywords:

Emperor | Countess | Gold | Escort | Mexico

Cast

Gary Cooper	...	Benjamin Trane
Burt Lancaster	...	Joe Erin
Denise Darcel	...	Countess Marie Duvarre
Cesar Romero	...	Marquis Henri de Labordere
Sara Montiel	...	Nina (as Sarita Montiel)
George Macready	...	Emperor Maximillian
Jack Elam	...	Tex
Ernest Borgnine	...	Donnegan
James McCallion	...	Little-Bit
Morris Ankrum	...	General Ramírez
James Seay	...	Abilene
Henry Brandon	...	Capt. Danette
Archie Savage	...	Ballard
Charles Bronson	...	Pittsburgh (as Charles Buchinsky)
Charles Horvath	...	Reno

Runtime:

94 min | Argentina:95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish | French

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.00 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

West Germany:12 (nf) | UK:A (original rating) | Germany:12 (DVD rating) | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | USA:Approved (PCA #16980, Adult Audience) | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Chapultepec, México D.F., Mexico

Company:

Flora Productions

Trivia:

For a film made in the mid 1950's, this film has quite fast cutting rate. In 90 minutes of action, the film contains about 1130 edits and other transitions. This equates to an average shot length of just under 5 seconds.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: Joe Erin says "Always did like kids. How about you, General?" to General Ramírez, who replies "Certainly" without opening his mouth.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Benjamin Trane: Howdy. You an American?
Joe Erin: You interested in me or the horses?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Cartouches gauloises (2007)

Soundtrack:

Vera Cruz

Where double crossing rules.

Vera Cruz is one of those westerns that came out so right, the great thing about it is that although it was big budgeted it did not try to make any statement, it just tried to tell a good story in the best way possible. That was quite an achievement at the time of "High Noon" and "Shane". Burt Lancaster is excellent, nobody after seeing this film will forget his smile, showing all his teeth. The scenery, the locations, and also the beautiful colours they all make this an outstanding western.