CANNON FOR CORDOBA
US, 1970, 106 minutes, Colour.
George Peppard, Giovanna Ralli, Pete Duel, Raf Vallone, Don Gordon.
Directed by Paul Wendkos.
Cannon for Cordoba is routine colourful Mexican adventure drama, starring George Peppard at the height of his heroic lead popularity and directed by Paul Wendkos, a veteran of many adventure films and telemovies.
1. How successful a western Mexican adventure?
2. The use of standard conventions? Standard plot? The importance of Panavision, colour, locations, action conventions? Rousing musical score?
3. The reasons for continued audience interest, suspense, the quality of action? The impact of the violence?
4. Themes of violence, greed, harsh relationships, the ugliness of human nature?
5. What kind of hero was Douglas? His hardness and harshness? His dedication to his work? His allowing people to die rather than betray his mission? His work on his missions? His relentlessness? His using of men? Using
of women, for example the stripper? His using of Warner in times of danger? What was his achievement in rounding up his men, carrying them through their mission, getting Cordoba and the cannons? What kind of hero was he?
6. How important was the contrast with Harkness? His brother’s death and its constant reminder during the film? His motivation for revenge on Douglas yet his following him? His loyalty, yet the final confrontation of violence, his inability to harm Douglas?
7. The contribution of Rice and Andros to the mission? Their prison background, their genial personalities, American and Mexican loyalties? Their contribution to the mission, the irony and pathos of their deaths? The role of
Guttierez? A Mexican patriot? His motivations against Cordoba?
8. How credible a villain was Cordoba? As a cruel tyrant? His sadistic assistant? His ruthlessness? His capturing of the cannon? His susceptibility to women? His actually being tricked? The irony of his being shot by his soldiers?
9. The contribution of Leonora? Her personality, her revenge on Cordoba, her betrayal of Guttierez, her participation in the final escape?
10. The contribution of the minor characters, the American soldiers and cowboys, the Mexicans, Cordoba’s men, Warner and his money-making betrayal, General Pershing?
11. The cannon as symbolic of this kind of adventure in the west?
