Sangre roja

This is a very good movie. It is well done in all respects. It is a good script with good casting. It is a delight to see the two Roberts together even though Julia has a very small role. IF you like good old fashioned tales about good and evil, good guys and bad guys, crooks and decent people, you will love this movie. Dennis hopper does what he does best, play a mean and nasty person - in this case, the railroad baron. Eric Roberts takes on the role of hero and fills that role very well. He is forced into his heroic stance by circumstance not by choice, making it all the more entertaining. This movie has it all, a villain, crooked politicians, good politicians, betrayal, a love story, little guys against giants, people fighting for their land and homes, – what more could you want. Fix yourself some popcorn, turn out the lights, sit back and allow yourself to be entertained in classic fashion. This movie does what all movies should do – no political agenda, no great moral – it is just good, old fashioned entertainment.

When a friend told me about this film, I looked up "Blood Red" on IMDB and was shocked to see that it the pathetic overall score of 3.8. This would seem to indicate that the film is garbage, as even films like "Plan 9 From Outer Space" (once named the worst movie ever made) has a score of 4.0! To earn a 3.8, the film would have to be truly horrible in every way...which, oddly, it isn't. Now I am not arguing that the film is great or even really good....but the only thing about this film that should earn a 3.8 is Eric Roberts' ridiculous and anachronistic hairdo!

The story is set in the late 19th century. The main characters in the film are generations of Italian-Americans who love the land and its healthy vineyards. However, a greedy railroad tycoon (Dennis Hopper) is intent on running his trains right through their farms...whether they like it or not. And, when the farmers won't leave, the railroad responds with violence. But because the railroad has bribed local officials, it looks as if the farmers will have to take care of business themselves.

I have no idea if this story is based on facts or if it's all fiction. But it's an interesting story...and is in some ways like a western in style and plot. In old westerns, a rich bully trying to take everyone's land is among the most common themes.

So why do I think it earned a 3.8? Well, actually, I am not exactly sure. While it's not among the best acted or paced films, it's not boring and kept my interest. The ending, I admit, was handled poorly...and made little sense. It's also a rare film because you can see the siblings Eric and Julia Roberts in the same movie...though Julia's part is quite small.

My review was written in April 1990 after watching the movie on Nelson Entertainment video cassette.

"Blood Red", a saga of oppressed Sicilian winegrowers in 19th century California, is an unsuccessful throwback to earlier forms of filmmaking. First-time screen teaming of siblings Eric and Julia Roberts makes this a definite curiosity item.

Project was announced in 1976 by producer Judd Bernard, filmed in 1986 and given a pefunctory release last summer by Hemdale.

Future film historians will ponder why this wasn't a Paramount picture, since it conforms to the themes and mood of "The Godfather", "1900" and Eric Roberts' first staring pic, "The King of the Gypsies". All that's missing is the late Sterling Hayden.

A robust Giancarlo Giannini is patriarch of one ot two families in Brandon, California, and soon is warring with robber baron railroad magnate Dennis Hopper (fitted with an unconvincing Scottish brogue here determined to get his land for his railroad's right of way.

Giannini's rebellious son, Eric Roberts, is in love with the beautiful daughter (Lara Harris) of another winegrowing clan. Hopper hires Burt Young (miscast) and his gang of mercenaries to convince Giannini and the other growers to clear out, resulting in violence. Pic ends in boring fashon with a whimper.

Ron Cutler's utterly predictable script is mainly to blame for draining "Blood Red" of interest. It emerges as a depiction in black hat/white hat terms of history in the mode of "Heaven's Gate" but without that film's controversial (but awesome) production values. Peter Masterson's direction is flat, and though there are some pretty shots, the love of the land and specifics of winegrowing are not developed.

Eric Roberts is more subdued than usual as the script fails to develop a three-dimensional character for him. His scenes with real-life sister Julia, cast as his sister, are intriguing because of the visual match. She doesn't get much chance to emote, but that nascent star quality already is evident.

Alexandra Masterson is a good match as the third sibling, while helmer's wife, Carlin Glynn (previously featured in Masterson's "The Trip to Bountiful") is solid representing the local gentry in supporting the Sicilan's just cause.

Carmine Coppola delives a romantic musical background that underscores the genre connection.

Sebastian Collogero (Giancarlo Giannini) is the patriarch of a Sicilian family farming and making wine in rural California. His roguish son Marco (Eric Roberts) pursues neighbor Antonio Segestra's daughter Angelica. They are an immigrant community proud to be new citizens. Land baron William Bradford Berrigan (Dennis Hopper) is looking to take over the valley to build his railroad. Sebastian Collogero leads the farmers in opposition. Mr. Berrigan brings in Andrews (Burt Young) and his thugs to kill Collogero. Devoted daughter Maria Collogero (Julia Roberts) witnesses the lynching and Marco leads a war against Berrigan.

Eric Roberts has his fluffy flowing hair and struts around while overacting. The release was delayed and this is actually one of the first acting roles for Julia. That's probably the only interesting aspect of this movie. It is visually more align with a TV movie although director Peter Masterson obviously is shooting higher. The overall quality is not good and its higher aspirations only make it worst.

If this movie hadn't been shot in color, I might have mistaken it for a '40s B Western. Tell the truth: the plot was lifted from The Mark of Zorro and the names were changed, right? At least those '40s actors didn't appear to forget their lines. Or maybe no lines were written for those embarrassing scenes in Blood Red where there are painful, inexplicable gaps in both dialogue and action. This film is noteworthy only as the single film to date in which both Julia and Eric Roberts have appeared together. That's the only reason I watched it as long as I did. And what brilliant, inspired casting! They played brother and sister. My Video Movie Guide is right: this is a turkey.