Read the full synopsis of viva villa, 1934, directed by jack conway, with wallace beery, leo carrillo, fay wray, at turner classic movies. Most of all, they loved that villa had an instinct for using the pressand hollywood. And this wasnt a cheap film three directors, footage lost, actors replaced all this explained below in trivia. This precode western directed by jack conway was based upon edgecumb pinchons 1933 biography of the mexican revolutionary pancho villa entitled viva villa. Wallace beery katherine demille original vintage 1934. The film was nominated forthree academy awards, and was one of the major boxoffice successes of1934, but, truth be told, conway didnt really direct all of it. Mgm, 1934 is a rousing, well made biopic about the legendary banditpatriot pancho villa, who led the war for mexican independence in the 1910s. The film is based on a story by arthur caesar, who won the academy award for best original story.
The movie also provided one of the earliest roles for mickey rooney, who played gables character as a child. Buy viva villa movie posters from movie poster shop. Although it takes some liberties with the historical record, the film nonetheless perfectly captures the spirit that fuels any political revolution, and that is the all consuming desire. Before fay wray became famous as a star of horror films, she appeared in a slew of westerns and romantic dramas.
Van dyke, and starring clark gable, william powell, and myrna loy. Find movie and film cast and crew information for viva villa. Viva villa is one of wallace beery best movie this is a excellent movie from 1934 with and all star cast this movie is very good and wallace beery at his best. Though not historically accurate, its an entertaining and worthwhile film, and in its own way presents the truth about what it means to be. With wallace beery, fay wray, leo carrillo, donald cook. Wallace beery katherine demille original vintage 1934 viva. See what the critics had to say and watch the trailer. Jan 12, 2016 in this fictionalized biography, young pancho villa takes to the hills after killing an overseer in revenge for his fathers death. Whalen theres a scene in john fords the man who shot liberty valance 1962 when a newspaper man says this is the west, sir and when legend becomes fact, print the legend. The film was shot on location in mexico and produced by david o. After an overseer beats his peon father to death, a young pancho villa spills his first blood when he enacts revenge on the man. It is a heavily fictionalized account of the life of mexican bandit and revolutionary pancho villa.
Retreating to the hills, villa wallace beery spends a number of years as a vicious bandit, brutally attacking the wealthy, which earns him the respect of the poor. After enacting revenge on the overseer who murdered his father, pancho villa becomes a bandit, earning the respect of the poor by brutally attacking the wealthy. And this wasnt a cheap film three directors, footage lost, actors replaced all this explained below in. In spite of the stereotypes built into panchos portrayal, viva is a solid film. Filmed in part on location in mexico city, during production, a plane carrying movie footage to culver city crashed, requiring. Representing 1934 among films nominated for best picture. Was not sure if movie would be to jada, old style to enjoy. Gallery of 39 movie poster and cover images for viva villa. Details about wallace beery katherine demille original vintage 1934 viva villa mgm dbw photo. The screenplay was written by ben hecht, adapted from the book viva villa.
The famous bandit leads a revolution in mexico, is exiled, and wins a second revolution in this mostly fictionalized account. He then befriends american reporter johnny sykes, before a meeting with visionary francisco madero transforms villa from an avenging bandit to a revolutionary general. Jun 25, 2017 in spite of the stereotypes built into panchos portrayal, viva is a solid film. May 22, 2014 wallace beery plays villa as a stereotype which takes away from the role that pancho villa played in the history of mexico and frankly makes them all. The film was nominated forthree academy awards, and was one of the major boxoffice successes of1934, but, truth be told, conway. The gay bride 1934 was a disappointment, despite the. When the local lords confiscate the lands of the peasants, panchos. Viva villa is a 1934 film directed by jack conway, starring wallace beery. The film starts with villa as a teenaged boy in mexico. A recovery of the real pancho villa, peon, bandit, soldier, patriot. From here sprang decades worth of ugly mex stereotypes, big, greasy louts that rape and kill, have a terrible sense of humor and almost undoubtedly smell bad. Wallace beery katherine demille original vintage 1934 viva villa mgm dbw photo. We first meet the young villa when his father is beaten to death. Viva villa 1934 arguably the only good movie to ever contain an exclamation point in itstitle, director jack conways viva villa.
Conway inherited the biopic after howard hawks was fired, and both the film and ben hechts screenplay were nominated for academy awards. Classiclady given that i have no interest in the mexican wars or pancho villa, i was totally bored by this movie. A far from factual filmed biography of mexican patriot pancho villa, viva villa. In this fictionalized biography, young pancho villa takes to the hills after killing an overseer in. I dont think any hollywood movie set back the image of mexicans more than mgms viva villa. In this fictionalized biography, young pancho villa takes to the hills after killing an overseer in revenge for his fathers death. Retreating to the hills, villa wallace beery spends a number of. Its a movie clearly of its time, so much so that its important to note. The film came out in 1934, the year the production code was enforced, and this necessitated several cuts upon its release which are all restored on this disc. In 1972s pancho villa, hes clint walkers gunrunner. A scene fom the 1968 film villa rides yul byrner, robert mitchum, jill ireland.
Discover what genre viva villa, 1934, directed by jack conway, with wallace beery, leo carrillo, fay wray, belongs at turner classic movies. Were your movie poster source for new releases and vintage movie posters. Fay wray starred opposite wallace beery as pancho villa in the 1934 viva villa. A gutsy actiondrama about the career of a mexican rebel.