Barbarosa (1982)

A young cowboy hooks up with a legendary outlaw, and before long both are on the run from the law.

Director:

Fred Schepisi

Writer:

William D. Wittliff

Stars:

Willie Nelson, Gary Busey, Isela Vega

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Willie Nelson	...	Barbarosa
Gary Busey	...	Karl Westover
Isela Vega	...	Josephina
Gilbert Roland	...	Don Braulio
Danny De La Paz	...	Eduardo
Alma Martinez	...	Juanita (as Alma Martínez)
George Voskovec	...	Herman Pahmeyer
Sharon Compton	...	Hilda
Howland Chamberlain	...	Emil
Harry Caesar	...	Sims
Wolf Muser	...	Floyd
Kai Wulff	...	Otto
Roberto Contreras	...	Cantina Owner
Luis Contreras	...	Angel
Itasco Wilson	...	Mattie

Storyline

Karl Westover, an inexperienced farm boy, runs away after unintentionally killing a neighbor, whose family pursues him for vengeance. He meets Barbarosa, a gunman of near-mythical proportions, who is himself in danger from his father-in-law Don Braulio, a wealthy Mexican rancher. Don Braulio wants Barbarosa dead for marrying his daughter against the father's will. Barbarosa reluctantly takes the clumsy Karl on as a partner, as both of them look to survive the forces lining up against them.

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Plot Keywords:

mexican | on the run | law | cowboy | outlaw | 

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Taglines:

One Was a Legend, The Other Would Become One.

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Genres:

Western

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 February 1982 (USA)

Also Known As:

Барбароса

Filming Locations:

Fredericksburg, Texas, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$11,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$285,312, 21 February 1982, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$1,736,123

Company Credits

Production Co:

Incorporated Television Company (ITC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min 85 min (TV)

Sound Mix:

Mono Mono (Todd-AO)

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In an August 1990 interview with Australian film magazine 'Cinema Papers', director Fred Schepisi said of this film, "...you could do wide shots at both ends of the day, because of the way that the mountains were structured. And as you moved into to do closer work, there was always a direction you could point where you would get great light and good texture on the backgrounds".

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Goofs

There is no tractor pulling something as the horse racers round the home stretch. It is clearly a wagon pulled by horses. They actually did a good job of having it in the background in the three quick shots that showed the racers.

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Quotes

[Don Baulio has chosen the next one to go after Barabarosa]
Don Braulio Zuvalla: Eduardo. You are the one. You will go after Barabarosa. Will you know him?
Eduardo: Si, I will know him. From the songs we sing and the stories we tell, I will know him.
Don Braulio Zuvalla: Kill him; kill this Barbarosa. Bring me his cojones. Bring them to me on a stick so we can see them and honor you.

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Connections

Edited into Voskovec & Werich - paralelní osudy (2012)

User Reviews

A Western with an original storyline

We've have seen all of the formula Westerns; evil cattle baron, reformed gunslinger, alcoholic sheriff,damsel in distress, kind but shrewd gambler. It goes on and on. How about real history-like the way Texas was in the 19th century. It was a center of lawlessness and the golden rule, "them that has the gold makes the rules" more interesting than any screen writer could imagine. How about this? Gary Busey playing a second generation German American farm boy being pursued by Old World family members to avenge a death. Ironically, he teams up with Willie Nelson to escape his executioners only to find that Willy is being pursued by Mexicans who call him "Barbarosa".

Busey is excellent as the farm boy and Nelson just plays himself in this unique Western that appears to utilize great scenery to include authentic 19th century farmhouses and a great plot. Gilbert Roland, in a classic supporting role, plays the elder of the Mexicans who utilizes his respect in the Mexican community to whip up hatred towards "Barbarosa".

This acknowledges that Texas, like the rest of the U.S., was formed and shaped by many ethnic groups. A great movie and entertainment.