Viva Zapata! (1952)

The story of Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata, who led a rebellion against the corrupt, oppressive dictatorship of president Porfirio Diaz in the early 20th century.

Director:

Elia Kazan

Writer:

John Steinbeck

Stars:

Marlon Brando, Jean Peters, Anthony Quinn

Won 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins & 9 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Marlon Brando	...	Zapata
Jean Peters	...	Josefa
Anthony Quinn	...	Eufemio
Joseph Wiseman	...	Fernando
Arnold Moss	...	Don Nacio
Alan Reed	...	Pancho Villa
Margo	...	Soldadera
Harold Gordon	...	Madero
Lou Gilbert	...	Pablo
Frank Silvera	...	Huerta
Florenz Ames	...	Senor Espejo
Richard Garrick	...	Old General
Fay Roope	...	Diaz
Mildred Dunnock	...	Senora Espejo

Storyline

In 1909, Emiliano Zapata, a well-born but penniless Mexican Mestizo from the southern state of Morelos, comes to Mexico City to complain that their arable land has been enclosed, leaving them only in the barren hills. His expressed dissatisfaction with the response of the President Diaz puts him in danger, and when he rashly rescues a prisoner from the local militia he becomes an outlaw. Urged on by a strolling intellectual, Fernando, he supports the exiled Don Francisco Madero against Diaz, and becomes the leader of his forces in the South as Francisco 'Pancho' Villa is in the North. Diaz flees, and Madero takes his place; but he is a puppet president, in the hands of the leader of the army, Huerta, who has him assassinated when he tries to express solidarity for the men who fought for him. Zapata and Villa return to arms, and, successful in victory, seek to find a leader for the country. Unwillingly, Zapata takes the job, but, a while later, he responds to some petitioners from his ...

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Plot Keywords:

mexican revolution | zapata western | based on true story | mexican | outlaw | 

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Taglines:

A BANDIT WHO BECAME A LEGEND!...Roaring Story of Mexico's Tiger on a White Horse!

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | History

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

22 August 1952 (West Germany)

Also Known As:

Beloved Tiger

Filming Locations:

San Ygnacio, Texas, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,800,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

113 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Richard Conte campaigned for the lead in 1949, when the picture was then titled "Beloved Tiger".

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Goofs

Emiliano Zapata's 'dead body' is heavily breathing and changes positions between different shots.

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Quotes

[Upon seeing Emiliano Zapata's bullet-ridden corpse]
Eduardo: Who do they think they're fooling? Shot up that way, could be anybody.
Pepe: He fooled them again.
Innocente: Are you sure?
Eduardo: I rode with him. I fought with him all these years. They think they can fool me? They can't kill him.
Pepe: They'll never get him. Can you capture a river? Can you kill the wind?
Eduardo: No, he's not a river and he's not the wind, he's a man! And still they can't kill him.
Lazaro: Then where is he?
Eduardo: He's in the mountains. You couldn't find him now. But if we ...
[...]

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Crazy Credits

Opening credits prologue: Mexico-1909

A delegation of Indians from the State of Morelos have come to the Capital for an audience with their President, Porfirio Diaz.

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Connections

Referenced in Next Stop, Greenwich Village (1976)

User Reviews

¡Viva esta pelicula!

This film is one of my favorites. I remember vividly seeing this film as a high school student. I was impressed with it then and am impressed with it today. It's still wonderful...but, then, why shouldn't it be? The performances of Brando, Peters, Quinn, Wiseman and others is still breathtaking, but Quinn and Brando steal the show from the get-go. This is one of Brando's finest roles and while Quinn always outdoes himself (even in that god-awful Walk in the Clouds), he IS Eufemio Zapata. There are few reviews here of this film and one reviewer has completely missed the point, but no matter. The film stands on its own and there's always someone to complain at excellence. This script came from none other than Steinbeck and the photography and background is likewise excellent. Is it accurate historically? Well, there are a few embellishments but the thrust of the film is not marred by any deviations from recorded history. This is portrayal of a people's struggle, one which continues today and doesn't pretend to be a chronicle of the actual events that took place in Mexico. As a film, this stands on its merit as a superb work of art. The acting is wonderful. While one reviewer found the music to be like the kind you hear while eating a combination plate on Olvera Street in LA, I might point out, that's what Mexican music is. Rent this film. While it is listed as not being available, I rented it recently and watched it again, for the nth time, as indeed, I plan to watch n times again.