Behold a Pale Horse

Intelligent and magnificent film by the great director Fred Zinnemann . It deals with "Manuel Artíguez" (Gregory Peck), he is a popular "maqui" or partisan who after the Spanish Civil War, left the country such as hundreds of comrades to take refuge in France. Twenty years later, "Paco" , a 11 years kid , and son of his best friend passes the Spanish border to ask him for return to Spain and murder the Captain of the Civil Guard, "Viñolas" (Anthony Quinn), in revenge for the death of his father. Artíguez, a resident in the city of Pau is nowadays retired and ignores the request of the boy . But, "Pilar" (Mildred Dunnock) mother of "Artíguez" falls seriously ill, and "Viñolas" decides to prepare a trap that allows capture "Artíguez" . Although a good priest (Omar Sharif) advises Manuel that he's being double-crossed by Carlos (Raymond Pellegrin), Manuel determines to return at whatever cost.

Picture inspired by the novel "Killing a mouse on Sunday" by Emeric Pressbuguer in which the personages undergo a physical wage war and ideological battle in post-Spanish Civil War . At the beginning displays frames of the documentary "Morir en Madrid," with opening montage by courtesy by Frederic Rossif. The film was shot in Franstudio, Saint-Maurice, Val-de-Marne, France and Lourdes, Hautes-Pyrénées, France . There was built a Spanish street that followed once time was terminated the shooting . Pressburger's novel was loosely based on the last raid of real-life anarchist guerrilla Antonio Sabate who was murdered in an ambush in 1959.

This film is almost unknown since it was banned in Spain for its politics issues until subsequent exhibition in 1979. The movie was prohibited in Spain, which was still commanded by Generalissimo Francisco Franco (deceased in 1975), the victorious General of the Spanish Civil War . And it was scheduled to be telecast on a major American network, but was canceled at the last minute, allegedly at the behest of the Spanish government. Fortunately today we can enjoy this splendid masterpiece , a motion picture masterfully realized and played with a top-notch list of first players . The performers hand perfectly their respective characters . The "Manuel" role in his bitterness and deception is awesome , as well as the "Viñolas" in his toughness and rudeness . Furthermore , a large secondary cast formed by veterans as Mildred Dunnock and Paolo Stoppa ; and brief roles by Daniela Rocca ,Jose Luis Villalonga, Claude Berri , Michael Lonsdale, Christian Marquand and Rosalie Crutchley as the ill wife.

This is an interesting and thought-provoking thriller well produced by Alexander Trauner ( also production designer) and Zinnemann . It packs tension , high intrigue , political events and is slow-moving ; however is pretty entertaining . In spite of the fact that the runtime is overlong, is neither tiring , nor dull , but thrilling . The motion picture is stunningly directed by Fred Zinnemann who had a lot of experience from his former classic films as ¨High Noon, From here to eternity, Man for all seasons ¨, among them. Rating : Very Good , better than average. In spite of being such fine movie the picture had a minor success at the box office . Rating : Above average . Essential and indispensable watching , valiant try by all.

This excellent film tells the story of a stubborn Spanish republican, Manuel Artiguez, who refused to give up the fight when his side lost the Spanish civil war to the fascists in 1938. The film takes place twenty years later, when after many successful raids, Artiguez has lost the will to continue. However, his adversary, a Spanish police chief called Vinolas, has not yet given up on capturing or killing him and sets a trap for him. The trap and the question of whether Artiguez will fall into it it will keep you on your seat for most of the movie. Three men caught between Artiguez and Vinolas, an informer, a priest, and an idealistic Spanish exile boy, add a rich psychological and moral dimension to the film, following themes of idealism, revenge, and the uses of violence.

"Behold" is a great thriller with highly complex characters and a profound moral sensibility. The idealism of Spanish republicans like the boy is on the one hand supported by the oily and hypocritical Vinolas, and on the other hand undercut by the rawness and violence of Artiguez. Neither of the adversaries is vindicated, but neither are they equivalent to one another. The ending will set you thinking for hours, if you're so inclined.

Performances by Peck (Artiguez) and Quinn (Vinolas) are great. Peck is less stuffy than usual. I'm not generally a fan of earnest, wet-eyed Sharif (the priest), but his performance here suits the movie quite well. I can still hear his voice saying "Did the informer escape? Is the bandit safe?"

My only complaint is that for all of its thematic complexity and richness of character the film is at times somewhat melodramatic and the dialogue is sometimes a little clunky. And for some reason its parts, good characters, good plot, good actors, all excellent, do not quite add up into a perfect whole. Nor is it as good as some of the movies it slightly resembles: Guns of Navarone, Battle of Algiers, Wild Bunch. However, it is definitely worthwhile for fans of 'thoughtful thrillers'.

When the Spanish War was finished, winners devoted to go after anybody who reflected the red light of the communism or any other color they dislike. On the other hand, few guerilla fighter continued his actions against the winners. But their strength was lower every time. One of this guerrilla was Valentin González "el campesino", which figure is portrayed in this film in a free form (not in an historical form).

Twenty years after the Civil war conclusion, the Spanish police has a good option to capture one of these ex-combatants, who was in exile in France. The description of the methods and day-to-day life of the Spanish police could be the reason which explains that the Spanish Government forbade any more Columbia's film in Spain.

You need no knowledge about the twenty Century Spain's history to understand the film, although you can enjoy more it if you know something. In fact, the film put in a specific political situation the psychological confrontation between two men. It could be a good exercise to understand the motives which impulse his actions.

There have not been many English-language movies made about the Spanish Civil War, and those that have been made (with the exception of Land and Freedom) tend to shy away from both politics and action, often slow-moving, contemplative affairs. In that vein Behold a Pale Horse, based on a novel by Hungarian screenwriter Emeric Pressburger, is a meditation on loyalty, trust and faith, not in religion but in religious institutions and individuals. The Spanish Civil War, or rather its aftermath, are the backdrop for these themes. But despite this ruminating premise the picture just about manages to save itself from terminal dullness.

A lot of this has to do with director Fred Zinnemann. Zinnemann was not exactly a dynamic director but he had a certain way of drawing us into a story and holding our interest. During the opening credits his camera tracks along a line of nameless faces, encouraging us to look over every line and notice every blink, introducing a quietly human picture. And yet he is also placing people within their context, showing young Paco dwarfed amid the houses of Pau, mirroring the mountains from which he has descended, or panning down from the figure of Christ to a reverent Anthony Quinn (shades here of Zinnemann's other Christian-themed pictures A Nun's Story and A Man for All Seasons). Above all Zinnemann is a master of tension without over-manipulation. Events seem to unfold in real-time, with a sprinkling of point-of-view shots to draw us into the unfolding action.

It is interesting to see Gregory Peck and Anthony Quinn playing the hero and villain. Both men are possessed of dark hair and sharp, stony features. Both have a stern bearing and charismatic presence. One can imagine them playing brothers; a good twin and a bad twin perhaps. They are both very good here, but the best performance I feel belongs to Omar Shariff, grappling with some kind of a conscience, refusing to make the meek priest into a stereotype. Italian character actor Paolo Stoppa, familiar from a lot of European co-productions, is very good too. Finally, watch out for a brief but typically mesmerising bit part by Rosalie Crutchley as Quinn's wife.

A strong cast and thoughtful direction are enough to keep this picture moving. Also of note is the Maurice Jarre score. This was by now an era in which you didn't have to have a blaring orchestral score (and thankfully those irritating free jazz scores of the late 50s were going out of style). Behold a Pale Horse features sparse and staccato Spanish guitar, fitting for both the location and the nervous and somewhat melancholic story. This is far from being a war movie, but it is a picture of great solemnity, atmosphere and touching humanity.

I get surprise when see that only a few people see this film because I think that it is one of the best zinnemann film.The story which is about alone man that is far from of best years of his life and right now is desolate and subsist in very hard condition(spiritual)is so nice.Peck,Quinn and Sharif all are in their best. Scene that vinolas(Quinn)pray in church is unforgettable.