Burn! (1969) Queimada (original title)

Director:

Gillo Pontecorvo

Writers:

Franco Solinas (story) &
Giorgio Arlorio (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

21 October 1970 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

The man who sells war. The bloodier the battle - the higher the price. He's going to make a fortune on this one.

Plot:

The professional mercenary Sir William Walker instigates a slave revolt on the Caribbean island of Queimada...

Plot Keywords:

Sugar | British | Island | Portuguese | Rebel

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Marlon Brando	...	Sir William Walker
Evaristo Márquez	...	José Dolores (as Evaristo Marquez)
Norman Hill	...	Shelton
Renato Salvatori	...	Teddy Sanchez
Valeria Ferran Wanani	...	Guarina
Giampiero Albertini	...	Henry Thompson
Carlo Palmucci	...	Jack
Dana Ghia	...	Francesca
Joseph P. Persaud	...	Juanito
Álvaro Medrano	...	Soldier (as Alvaro Medrano)
Alejandro Obregón	...	Engl. Major (as Alejandro Obregon)
Enrico Cesaretti
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Cicely Browne	...	Lady Bella (uncredited)
Maurice Rodriguez	...	Ramón (uncredited)

Directed by
Gillo Pontecorvo

Writing credits
Franco Solinas		(story) &
Giorgio Arlorio		(story)
Franco Solinas		(screenplay) &
Giorgio Arlorio		(screenplay)
Gillo Pontecorvo		(story) uncredited

Produced by
Alberto Grimaldi	....	producer

Original Music by
Ennio Morricone

Cinematography by
Marcello Gatti		(director of photography)
Giuseppe Ruzzolini		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Mario Morra

Production Design by
Sergio Canevari

Art Direction by
Piero Gherardi

Costume Design by
Marilù Carteny		(as Marilu Carteny)

Makeup Department
Mauro Gavazzi	....	makeup artist
Anna Graziosi	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Mario Del Papa	....	unit manager
Sergio Merolle	....	production manager
Averoe Stefani	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Salvatore Basile	....	assistant director (as Salvo Basile)
Rinaldo Ricci	....	assistant director
Abraham Salzman	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Francesco Bronzi	....	set dresser
Franco Vanorio	....	assistant set decorator

Sound Department
Eugenio Rondani	....	sound

Special Effects by
Aldo Gasparri	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Eugenio Lardani	....	title designer (as Lardani)

Stunts
Alessandro Sozzi	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Luigi Filippo Carta	....	camera operator (as Filippo Carta)
Elio Polacchi	....	camera operator
Otello Spila	....	camera operator

Editorial Department
Enzo Ocone	....	supervising editor

Music Department
Bruno Nicolai	....	conductor: orchestra

Other crew
Giovanni d'Eramo	....	press (as Nanni D'Eramo)
Franco Giordano	....	percussion advisor
Anna Korda	....	dialogue director
Anna Maria Montanari	....	script supervisor
Jennifer Oppo	....	press

Production Companies

• Les Productions Artistes Associés
• Produzioni Europee Associati (PEA)

Distributors

• United Artists (1970) (USA) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• United Artists Pictures (1971) (Finland) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1970) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Criterion Collection, The (USA) (laserdisc)
• Emerald (2012) (Argentina) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1987) (Finland) (TV) (MTV1)

Also Known As:

"Queimada" - Italy (original title)
"Burnt" - International (English title) (literal English title)
"The Mercenary" - Canada (English title)

MPAA:

Rated R for some violence and nudity (re-rating) (2005)

Runtime:

Argentina:115 min | Italy:132 min | UK:112 min | USA:112 min | USA:132 min (restored version) | Germany:121 min

Country:

Italy | France

Language:

Italian | Portuguese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Sweden:15 | USA:GP (original rating) | USA:R (re-rating) (2005) | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 (cut) (1971) | UK:12 (video rating) (2004) | South Korea:15 | UK:AA (original rating)

Filming Locations:

Cartagena, Bolívar, Colombia

Company:

Les Productions Artistes Associés

Trivia:

Sir William Walker, a real historical figure portrayed in the film by Marlon Brando, was neither British nor knighted. Walker was an American adventurer and his title of "sir" was one he adopted on his own.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Looking through his spyglass, Sir William can see Jose Delores up close. Later, when he hands the glass to a British officer the view is much more distant. Spyglasses of that era (1850s) would have had 3X-6x magnification. The extreme close up view would be impossible.

Quotes:

Sir William Walker:Gentlemen, let me ask you a question. Now, my metaphor may seem a trifle impertinent, but I think it's very much to the point. Which do you prefer - or should I say, which do you find more convenient - a wife, or one of these mulatto girls? No, no, please don't misunderstand: I am talking strictly in terms of economics...
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in Brando (2007) (TV)

A Complex Political Thriller

Albert Oyahon (a previous review) seems to have said it all. This indeed is a deeply complex, gripping and deeply political film. For those who are used to simple moral tales it will seem confusing, uncomfortable even, but for those who relish the complexity of the human condition it is a challenging and thoughtful film. The number of truly outstanding political thrillers can be counted on the fingers of one hand (A Man For All Seasons and Z come to mind) but this ranks amongst the best. With the possible exception of On The Waterfront, it is difficult to think of a film in which Brando gave a better performance. He is outstanding as a complex political manipulator. The film also has qualities that arise only when different cultures (in this case Europe and The Americas) come together. To an intelligent filmgoer I cannot recommend this film too highly.