Behold a Pale Horse (1964)

Director:

Fred Zinnemann

Writers:

Emeric Pressburger (novel)
J.P. Miller (screenplay)

Release Date:

October 1964 (Austria)

Genre:

Drama | War

Plot:

Manuel Artiguez, a famous bandit during the Spanish civil war, has lived in French exile for 20 years...

Plot Keywords:

Bandit | Police | Trap | Exile | Spanish Civil War

Cast

Gregory Peck	...	Manuel Artiguez
Anthony Quinn	...	Viñolas
Omar Sharif	...	Francisco
Raymond Pellegrin	...	Carlos
Paolo Stoppa	...	Pedro
Mildred Dunnock	...	Pilar
Daniela Rocca	...	Rosana, Mistress of Vinolas
Christian Marquand	...	Zaganar
Marietto	...	Paco Dages (as Marietto Angeletti)
Perrette Pradier	...	Maria, Hussy (as Perette Pradier)
Zia Mohyeddin	...	Luis, Guide of Paco
Rosalie Crutchley	...	Teresa, Wife of Vinolas
Molly Urquhart	...	Hospital Nurse
Jean-Paul Moulinot	...	Father Esteban
Laurence Badie	...	Celestina
Martin Benson	...	Priest
Jean-Claude Bercq
Claude Berri
Claude Confortès		(as Claude Confortes)
Michael Lonsdale	...	Reporter
Alain Saury	...	Lt. Sanchez
José Luis de Vilallonga	...	Horse Dealer (as Jose-Luis Vilallonga)
Elisabeth Wiener	...	Cafe Girl
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Pierre Dux	...	(uncredited)
Albert Michel	...	(uncredited)
Albert Rémy	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Fred Zinnemann

Writing credits
Emeric Pressburger		(novel)
J.P. Miller		(screenplay)

Produced by
Alexandre Trauner	....	associate producer (as Alexander Trauner)
Fred Zinnemann	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Maurice Jarre

Cinematography by
Jean Badal		(photography)

Film Editing by
Walter Thompson

Production Design by
Alexandre Trauner		(as Alexander Trauner)

Art Direction by
Auguste Capelier

Set Decoration by
Maurice Barnathan

Costume Design by
Joan Bridge
Elizabeth Haffenden

Makeup Department
Marc Blanchard	....	hair stylist
Michel Deruelle	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Louis Wipf	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Paul Feyder	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Jean Monchablon	....	sound

Camera and Electrical Department
Henri Tiquet	....	camera operator

Casting Department
Margot Capelier	....	casting

Editorial Department
Tom Rolf	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Maurice Jarre	....	conductor

Other crew
Walter Kelley	....	dialogue coach
Ruth Roberts	....	dialogue coach
Frédéric Rossif	....	opening montage by courtesy of (as Frederic Rossif)
Nicole Stéphane	....	opening montage by courtesy of (as Nicole Stephane)
Alice Ziller	....	continuity

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Corporation (presents)
• Highland-Brentwood Production (uncredited)

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1964) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1967) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Columbia Films (1964) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• Columbia-Bavaria Filmgesellschaft m.b.H. (1964) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2013) (Germany) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Poste Parisien  recording
• S.I.M.O.  re-recording (as SIMO)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

118 min | France:121 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | Canada:PG (Ontario) | West Germany:12 (f) | USA:Approved (MPAA rating: certificate #20642) | Portugal:(Banned)

Filming Locations:

Franstudio, Saint-Maurice, Val-de-Marne, France

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

The movie was banned in Spain, which was still ruled by Generalissimo Francisco Franco, the fascist victor of the Spanish Civil War.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: In the first 5 minutes of the movie it is supposed to be 1939 and the Loyalist (Republican) soldiers are crossing into exile on the French border. As they cross over they are turning in their guns and the first one to turn in his gun turns in a Russian PPSh-41 submachine gun. The PPSh-41 was not developed until 1941.

Quotes:

Francisco:Only two years ago one of our priests was in the bank in San Marco when you robbed it. It knocked him loose from his senses and he has never recovered.
Manuel Artiguez:Priests should stay out of banks.

Movie Connections:

Features Mourir à Madrid (1963)

A psychological confrontation in an historic background.

When the Spanish War was finished, winners devoted to go after anybody who reflected the red light of the communism or any other color they dislike. On the other hand, few guerilla fighter continued his actions against the winners. But their strength was lower every time. One of this guerrilla was Valentin González "el campesino", which figure is portrayed in this film in a free form (not in an historical form).

Twenty years after the Civil war conclusion, the Spanish police has a good option to capture one of these ex-combatants, who was in exile in France. The description of the methods and day-to-day life of the Spanish police could be the reason which explains that the Spanish Government forbade any more Columbia's film in Spain.

You need no knowledge about the twenty Century Spain's history to understand the film, although you can enjoy more it if you know something. In fact, the film put in a specific political situation the psychological confrontation between two men. It could be a good exercise to understand the motives which impulse his actions.