The Wrath of God (1972)

Set in the 1920s, several foreigners held by a South American military group are offered possible freedom if they accept to topple a local crazed military leader.

Director:

Ralph Nelson

Writers:

Jack Higgins (as James Graham), Jack Higgins (novel) (as James Graham)

Stars:

Robert Mitchum, Frank Langella, Rita Hayworth

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert Mitchum	...	Father Oliver Van Horne
Frank Langella	...	Thomas De La Plata
Rita Hayworth	...	Señora De La Plata
John Colicos	...	Colonel Santilla
Victor Buono	...	Jennings
Ken Hutchison	...	Emmet Keogh
Paula Pritchett	...	Chela
Gregory Sierra	...	Jurado
Frank Ramírez	...	Carlos Moreno
Enrique Lucero	...	Nacho
Jorge Russek	...	Cordona
Chano Urueta	...	Antonio
José Luis Parades	...	Pablito
Aurora Clavel	...	Señora Moreno
Victor Eberg	...	Delgado

Storyline

Irish adventurer Emmett Keogh finds himself partnered with a hard-drinking priest named Van Horne in revolutionary Central America. Tricked into delivering guns by smuggler/con man Jennings, the three end up joining forces against despot Tomas de la Plata, who treats his subjects ruthlessly and who has a special hatred for priests. Van Horne, who seems to be a priest in costume only, decides to stand up to de la Plata and lead a revolt against him.

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Plot Keywords:

ammo belt | ammo | belt | cartridge belt | cartridge | 

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Taglines:

They offered them a choice - THE FIRING SQUAD . . . or The Wrath of God

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Western

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

One night during production when the film company was based in Mexico City, publicist Tom Miller dined out with Rita Hayworth. When they got back to her hotel, there was much excitement. The Mexican equivalent of the Academy Awards were being presented in the large convention hall in the hotel. Rita was tuned on. "Let's go!" Rita said. Miller replied, "But Rita, we don't have an invitation!" She looked back at him and said, "But I am Rita Hayworth!" And Miller said, "So you are." He spoke to someone at the door, who excitedly ran up to the front of the room and whispered to the MC, who announced to the crowd the presence of a surprise guest. And she went up on the stage to a standing ovation.

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Goofs

When Keogh is knocked backwards on a balcony, the stuntman intends to fall back out of sight before a second double for Keogh comes into sight and rolls down the adjacent stairs. But for a moment, both "Keoghs" are visible at the same time.

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Quotes

Father Oliver Van Horne: [laughing] Well, I'll be goddamned.
Señora De La Plata: What is it, Father?
Father Oliver Van Horne: It's... a gospel... according to Van Horne.

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Connections

Featured in Robert Mitchum, le mauvais garçon d'Hollywood (2017)

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Soundtracks

Gloria
from "Misa Criolla"
Music by Ariel Ramírez
Lyrics by Alejandro Mayol, Jesus G. Segade and Osvaldo Carena

User Reviews

Terrific fun , plenty of action with some flaws , but overall , the film is entertaining

This is a Zapata western set early XX century on the overlong Mexican civil when happened the confrontation executed by Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata against Porfirio Diaz , and , later on , against Carránza and Obregón . A misfit group formed by a bandit priest (Robert Mitchum) , an IRA Irish young man (Ken Hutchinson) and a gunrunner (Victor Buono) , all of them are hired by a Mexican colonel (John Colicos) to kill De la Plata (Frank Langella) , a Mexican tyrant .

The picture displays lots of action , battles , tongue-in-cheek , shootouts and a little bit of violence like the brutal killing a little boy . The casting is frankly well , Robert Mitchum (¨Night of the hunter¨ , ¨5 card stud¨ , ¨Bandido¨) is excellent in his usual facade of indifference and lazily acting as a greedy priest and wielding a Thomson machine-gun . Mitchum chewing up scenery in this peculiar role . The newcomer Ken Hutchinson provides added depth as an Irish terrorist with a bitter past ; however , this one being his most important role , as he went back England and only acting in TV movies . Frank Langella (¨Drácula¨) plays an elegant psycho killer who bears a deep hatred to Catholic Church . The famed secondary Victor Buono (¨What ever happened to Baby Jane¨ , ¨Hush , hush..sweet Charlotte¨) plays convincingly an avaricious gunrunner . Enjoyable performance by Rita Hayworth in his last completed film (her previous movies during her downfall were the Italian ones : ¨The bastards¨ and ¨The rover¨) , despite Alzheimer disease . In fact , she had difficulty remembering her lines and the crew believed it was because of alcohol abuse , but only later did they realize they were seeing the early stages of her Alzheimer's condition . Besides , there appears habitual secondaries who usually work in American productions shot in Mexico , such as : Gregory Sierra , Enrique Lucero and Chano Urueta . The motion picture was rightly directed by Ralph Nelson who made other good Westerns as ¨Soldier Blue¨ and ¨Duel at Diablo¨ . This offbeat Western will appeal to Robert Mitchum fans.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 November 1972 (France)

Also Known As:

The Wrath of God

Filming Locations:

Bavispe, Sonora, Mexico

Box Office

Budget:

$2,500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cineman, Rainbow Releasing

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1