BEHOLD A PALE HORSE

US, 1964, 119 minutes, Black and white.
Gregory Peck, Anthony Quinn, Omar Sharif, Mildred Dunnock, Raymond Pellegrin, Daniela Rocca, Paolo Stoppa, Christian Marquand.
Directed by Fred Zinnemann.

Behold a Pale Horse (a quotation from the New Testament book of Revelation, indicating vengeance) is a strong but sombre and talkative drama. Graphically photographed in. black and white, it opens during the Spanish Civil war but moves on to the mid 50s. The film focuses on the confrontation between a republican hero and the Franco-supporting mayor. There is a confrontation between Gregory Peck and Anthony Quinn. Also drawn into the conflict Omar Sharif as a young priest.

There is a strong supporting cast led by Mildred Dunnock as Peck's mother, Christian Marquand as the mayor's assistant as well as a group of French and Italian actors in supporting roles. The film considers the background of the civil war, its issues and loyalties. Set on the French Spanish border, it highlights the long lived enmities between the two sides, the vindictive mayor wanting to prove himself, the local hero forced to come back when his mother becomes ill. The conscience issues are elaborated and discussed. The film was directed by Fred Zinnemann, Oscar winner for From Here to Eternity and A Man for all Seasons as well as director of such dramas as The Search, Act of Violence, High Noon and a variety of films which range from Okalahoma to The Sundowners.

1. Impact of the drama? The Spanish French border setting? The civil war? The 50s? Vengeance, power, conscience?

2. Black and white photography, panavision, the strong cast? Spanish atmosphere? The musical score?

3. The title, the quotation from the book of Revelation? Significance for the themes?

4. The prologue with the Civil War, the effect on Spain, the dividing of the people, loyalties, republican and loyalist? The republicans migrating to France at the end of the war? The local hero going into exile?

5. The picture of Spain and the fifties, the long aftermath of the war, the Franco regime, the police chief and his control, his arrogance (with the horse, with women)? His control over the men? The vengeance deaths, revenge? The role of government? the Catholic church and its loyalties, support of the government? Expectations of the church, pro government and anti republican?

6. Gregory Peck as the retired hero? His role during the war, the raids across the Spanish border? His living in the town? The loyalty of his friends and associates? His age, tired? Questions of vengeance? The boy holding him as a hero, the boy's arrival, the request for Vengeance? The motive of the children playing in the streets? The hero looking at the children and remembering? The issue of his sick mother? The varying reports? Carlos, friendship, offer of guidance - betrayal? The testing of Carlos and the confrontation? The hero and his beliefs? The boy destroying the priest's message? The taking of the priest, their discussions? Believing the truth? Testing Carlos? The waiting, the dilemma? The boy and the reconciliation? His assistance from his friends? His mother's death, his decision to return - the return infiltrating the hospital, the confrontation? his death? Returning to die? His motives?

7. The boy, his journey, finding the hero's friend, enlisting his support, the plea, playing with the children, the ball? His hostility to the church? Not believing the priest? Destroying the message? His change of attitude, not being believed? His denunciation of Carlos? His effect on the hero and his return?

8. Anthony Quinn as the chief of police, bravado? His hold over his assistant? His wife and her illness, the phone calls? His mistress, the planned trip to Lourdes? His testing the horses? Loyalty to the government, spying, networks, information? Taking the mother and putting her in the hospital? Surveillance and the hospital being surrounded? His plan, the lure? The spies, Carlos? The build-up to the confrontation, the hero's death, his success and his celebrating?

9. The Spanish police, their loyalties? The police assistant, information, supporting his chief?

10. The exiles from Spain, living on the French border, ageing, their memories, heroism and courses? Their support for one another?

11. The priests, the monastery, supporting the government? Anti the heroes of the civil war? Omar Sharif as the young priest, his age, experience, ministry, visit to the hospital, encountering the mother, the seal of confession, her request? His decision, writing the letter? Going on the pilgrimage, delaying, the encounter with the boy? Taken, at the house, the discussions with the hero, the threats, the conscience? with the priests at Lourdes, his arrest, his own conscience and his being treated as a prisoner by the chief of police?

12. The mother, her illness, her defiance, anti authority, anti church? Telling her son not to come? the encounter with the priest, enlisting his help? The irony that her son could not believe that she would get the help of a priest?

13. Strong drama, issues of war, causes, vengeance, conscience?