PANCHO VILLA

US, 1972, 92 minutes, Colour.
Telly Savalas, Clint Walker, Chuck Connors, Anne Francis.
Directed by Eugenio Martin.

Pancho Villa is a conventional presentation of the Mexican general and the battles between himself and America. There have been many versions of this Mexican American clash. Wallace Beery was successful in portraying him in Viva Villa in the thirties. There have been such later versions as Buzz Kulik’s version of Villa Rides with Robert Mitchum and Yul Brynner.

The ‘print the legend’ version was And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself, directed by Bruce Beresford with Antonio Banderas and the story of making films about Villa, with himself.

1. An entertaining American Western? The status of Pancho Villa and the mythology about him? A valuable entertainment about him?

2. The Mexican genre, war, Mexican/American relationships? Pancho Villa as the rebel general? mercenaries, battles?

3. Photography, colour, locations, music? Special effects for battle sequences etc?

4. Audience interest in Pancho Villa? His role in Mexico, the rebellion, General Goyo? Influence of America and Villa's attack against America? His administration and ruthlessness? Character study, character sketch? His associates?

5. Telly Savalas as Pancho Villa, how credible? A blend of comic, sinister, foolish, a general? Personal relationships, leadership, ruthlessness? Invasion of America?

6. Villa and the American who supported him, guerrillas, loyalty, relationship with Flo?

7. Colonel Rucox and the mocking of the Americans and his madness? The ludicrous details of his administration, towards his men in training, in the mess hall and the flying, his bad judgment against Villa?

8. Flo as a conventional wife?

9. The gun, the poor Mexicans, Maria and her wanting to assassinate Villa? her relationship with him? with Rucox?

10. A humorous, superficial treatment of Pancho Villa?