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

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 November 1972 (France)

Also Known As:

Zum Teufel mit Hosianna

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

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: One missing. One drunk. Swell.

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Connections

Featured in Robert Mitchum, le mauvais garçon d'Hollywood (2018)

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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

The mysteries of grace under fire

To some extent Ralph Nelson's "The Wrath of God" spoofs westerns, but like Nelson's "Lilies of the Field," under the comedy is, I think, a deeply felt belief in divine grace. Both movies focus on unlikely human materials having a vocation they fail to recognize and consciously resist. Herein, Robert Mitchum plays a con man masquerading as a priest and a Catholic martyr in the tradition of Thomas à Becket or Thomas More mistaken by many as a hedonist.

In her last screen performance Rita Hayworth has preternaturally red hair (fire-engine red, not a color of any natural human hair), few lines, and is required to look devout (which she manages to do). As her flamboyantly traumatized and traumatizing son, Frank Langella gets to chew up the scenery, which he does with great relish (before "Dracula," after his memorable film debut in "Diary of a Mad Housewife" and Mel Brooks's adaptation of "The Twelve Chairs"). Ken Hutchinson does fine as the token normal guy who is embroiled in others' plots, including the romantic subplot that involves him with a mute Indian maiden (Paula Pritchett). In a Sidney Greenstreet-kind of role as a corpulent and corrupt gun-runner Victor Buono is suitably droll. Still, it is Mitchum's movie, and he is as compelling when he takes his priestly role seriously as when he plays the usual disengaged but competent existentialist who expects nothin' from nobody. <bt><br> A motley gang of foreign mercenaries getting involved in the confusions of the long-running Mexican revolution and taking a side against their financial interest recurred in a number of late-1960s and early-70s movies, including "The Wild Bunch", "The Professionals", and "A Fistful of Dynamite." The latter two use considerable humor within the genre of expatriates taking sides (which in Mexican settings of different eras includes "Vera Cruz", "Old Gringo", and "Bring Me the Head, of Alfredo García").