Guns for San Sebastian (1968)
"La bataille de San Sebastian" (original title)

Leon Alastray is an outlaw who has been given sanctuary by Father John, whom he then escorts to the village of San Sebastian. The village is deserted, with its cowardly residents hiding in ... See full summary »

Director:

Henri Verneuil

Writers:

William Barby Faherty (novel), Serge Gance,

Stars:

Anthony Quinn, Anjanette Comer, Charles Bronson

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Anthony Quinn	...	Leon Alastray
Anjanette Comer	...	Kinita
Charles Bronson	...	Teclo
Sam Jaffe	...	Father Joseph
Silvia Pinal	...	Felicia
Jorge Martínez de Hoyos	...	Felipe Cayetano
Jaime Fernández	...	'Golden Lance'
Rosa Furman	...	Agueda
Leon Askin	...	Vicar General
José Chávez	...	Antonito
Ivan Desny	...	Col. Calleja
Fernand Gravey	...	Governor
Pedro Armendáriz Jr.	...	Father Lucas
Jorge Russek	...	Pedro
Aurora Clavel	...	Magdalena

Storyline

Leon Alastray is an outlaw who has been given sanctuary by Father John, whom he then escorts to the village of San Sebastian. The village is deserted, with its cowardly residents hiding in the hills from Indians, who regularly attack the village and steal all their supplies. When Father John is murdered, the villagers mistakenly think the outlaw is the priest. Alastray at first tells them he is not a priest, but they don't believe it, and an apparent miracle seems to prove they are correct. Eventually, he assists them in regaining their confidence and defending themselves.

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Plot Keywords:

outlaw | sanctuary | shootout | peasant army | passionate kiss | 

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Taglines:

The epic of a town that became an army [UK]

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Western

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Details

Country:

France Italy Mexico

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 May 1968 (Mexico)

Also Known As:

The Guns of San Sebastian

Filming Locations:

Durango, Mexico

Company Credits

Production Co:

Compagnie Internationale de Productions Cinématographiques (CIPRA), Producciones Enríquez S.A., Filmes Cinematografica

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min 115 min (theatrical) 105 min (cut)

Sound Mix:

Mono 70 mm 6-Track (Australia)

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Col. Calleja: [upon finding the village deserted] The guns go back! Men, dismount! We leave in the morning!
Leon Alastray: [later in Leon's room] Well, goodnight. Happy dreams, my son.
Col. Calleja: Goodnight. Thank you.
Leon Alastray: I suppose we are leaving before sunup?
Col. Calleja: 'We'? We leave?
Leon Alastray: Well, I must face my bishop, and you the governor.... and report OUR failure.
[feigns apathy by thumbing through a Bible]
Col. Calleja: What failure?
Leon Alastray: Our mission.
[goes back to pretending to read a Bible]
[...]

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Connections

Featured in Lionpower from MGM (1967)

User Reviews

" If miracles are all you believe in, Then you forget what God's purpose is "

The original story written by William Faherty was called " 'A wall for San Sabastian' and later under the direction of Henri Vernevil changed to " Guns For San Sabastian. " The late great Anthony Quinn plays the titled character Leon Alastray, a fugitive outlaw and bandito running from the military police. Wounded and helpless, he takes refuge in a Catholic Church under the protection of Father Joseph (Sam Jaffe) and Sanctuary. With the good priest being sent to a forgotten mission, where it's residents live in fear of the Native American, Yaki Apache, Alastray stows away and arrives at the distant mission, where Father Joseph is murdered. Due to circumstances, Leon take's the old priest's place and serves as protector and counselor to the frightened populace. Among the heavies of the film, audience members will see a very young, Charles Bronson, Jorge Martínez De Hoyos and Jaime Fernández as 'Golden Lance.' The story is slow to develop, but does rise to the occasion when expected, to such a degree it has become a Western Classic. Fine casting and good story. Recommended. ****