VIVA MAX
US, 1969, 93 minutes, Colour.
Peter Ustinov, Pamela Tiffin, Jonathan Winters, John Astin, Keenan Wynn, Alice Ghostley, Harry Morgan, Kenneth Mars.
Directed by Jerry Paris.
A hit and miss oddball comedy. It is a satire on and parody of American jingoistic attitudes. It probably made much more impact on its release in 1970 with the preoccupation of the United States about war and Vietnam. While the satire on historical and American military activity is valid enough, it does not seem to merit the rather heavy-handed. style of this comedy. However, there are some very funny moments in it, there is a poking fun at the sacred cows of Texas, the Alamo and American hawkish attitudes. Peter Ustinov is quite at home in this role and seems to relish the Mexican background. A group of veteran comedians is in solid support and Pamela Tiffin makes an attractive if somewhat extraneous heroine.
Probably much more effective in the United States where its targets mean much more, the film is, nevertheless, an interesting example of anti-war satire in the year of M.A.S.H. and at the time of Vietnam.
Direction is by one-time actor Jerry Paris who has done a lot of television work. His feature films have been moderately successful, The Grasshopper, How Sweet It Is, his version of Neil Simon’s The Star Spangled Girl.
1. An enjoyable and satisfying comedy? Expectations from the cast? From the subject? American satire and parody, 1960s, 1970s style ?
2. The visual style of comedy? The parody of westerns? Mexico, the road to Mexico and the rag-tag army? San Antonio township? The visuals of the Alamo museum? The use of sound effects for the battle? The importance of the editing for humour and pace? Songs and lyrics? The verbal humour and Peter Ustinov’s impersonations? The American comedians in suporting roles?
3.The targets and tone of 1969-70? The war, Vetnam, the military, the Nixon Administration? American glorying in the past? The South and Texas? Mexico?
4. Peter Ustinov’s portrayal, would-be leader? General? A bumbler? His pretensions? His reliance on Valdez and being deceived by him? His military force? The setting out on the expedition, his Ieadership? The encounter with the tourist car? His disguising himself and the humorous clothes? His visit to the museum and the book shop? The leading of the men into the town, the capture, the taking of Paula, as hostage? discussions with Paula? His motivation, possibility for success?
5. American response to the Alamo? Texas and its history? Tourists? The tourist guide and, her style and reverence? The explanation of the picture and the passwords: John Wayne and Richard Widmark? The Alamo as subject for satire and parody?
6. Valdez, as a character, the oily subordinate? His pressures on the men? The details of his manoeuvres? The discovery of his techniques? The personalities of the soldiers themselves, their confusion? the action against Valdez? Succeeding without his pressures?
8. Paula and her work in the shop, the background of student demonstrations at the time, her sympathy for Max, arguments against him?
9. The San Antonio people, the authorities in the city and the exercise of their power: George Sylvester and the exasperated Chief of Police, General La Comber and the air attack, the serious strategy? General Billy Joe Hallson and the sentries and National Guard style? The mocking of the military especially through General Hallson? Their tactics, routing by Max’s men?
10. The old lady taken as hostage, her comic style, her getting in touch with her son, fear of the Chinese? Her son and his insane group arriving, attacking, complicating the situation?
11. The importance of showing the military strategies, the jokes?
12. How serious was the parody? Max being able to ward off the National Guard - especially wth no ammunition? The return to Mexico and Max’s achievement? The satire of the Ieaders of the city bickering ?
13. The jokey ending against the United States - what the audience was left with? An interesting Iook at attitudes towards America around 1970?
