Cannon for Cordoba

This film takes place in 1912 along the border between Mexico and the United States where a Mexican bandit by the name of "General Hector Cordoba" (Raf Vallone) has been participating in a revolution against his government and often makes raids across the Rio Grande to acquire valuable merchandise to help supplement his army. Not content with the Mexican government's efforts to stop these raids the United States dispatches "General John J. 'Blackjack' Pershing" (John Russell) to put a stop to them. Unfortunately, not long after arriving there he suffers the loss of six of his cannon which are stolen by General Cordoba's forces. Furious at this setback -and unable to take his army into Mexico-General Pershing orders a small group of misfits under the command of "Captain Rod Douglas" (George Peppard) to infiltrate General Cordoba's headquarters, destroy the cannon and bring the bandit back alive to face trial. Needless to say, this is an extremely difficult assignment which becomes even more difficult by the fact that one of Captain Douglas' own men by the name of "Jackson Harkness" (Don Gordon) has vowed to kill him because of an earlier incident involving his brother. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this was an entertaining film for the most part even though it does have a couple of scenes which defy all sense of reality. I also thought that the ending could have been drawn out a bit more but all things considered I enjoyed this film and I have rated it accordingly. Slightly above average.

Once you sit down to see this film " A Cannon for Cordoba " you get the feeling it's going to be a great. The reason? The film begins with a rousing score by noted composer Elmer Bernstein who gave us such memorable themes as 'The Great Escape and the Magnificent Seven.' Indeed, when you read the opening credits headlining the cast is none other than George Peppard as Capt. Rod Douglas, you know it's going to have action and lot's of it. Furthermore when you see actor John Russel playing General John J. Pershing, you know you're in for a heroic saga. The story is taken from the annals of the Mexican revolution and involves the U.S. in a border town dispute with the Mexican bandits who cross the Rio Grande in the early 1900s. Among the most brazen of the rebel leaders is General Cordova (Raf Vallone). With his army of Mexican revolutionaries, he attacks Pershing, kills his men and steals some valuable artillery pieces. Since the United States Army cannot enter Mexico legally, Capt. Douglas is sent on what is slated a suicide mission, without orders and without aid from Pershing. His mission is to retrieve the Cannons, destroy a rebel stronghold and bring Cordova back alive. Selecting the roughest, toughest, most experienced, certainly the most insolent men available, Douglas enters Mexico and attacks the nearly impregnable fortress. Dramatic action follows, as does lots of explosive excitement. If one is asks for criticism, I would say the choice of heavies. Vallone and John Larch are not very menacing. Not so with the men who side with Peppard. Pete Duel and Don Gordon (Who is superb.) Nevertheless, this movie is recommended as good viewing. ****

one states don't waste your time.......? I agree its not the best western around and it does resemble other movies of its genre. Peppard's is OK......but he did not carry the movie......for me. What surprised me, though it shouldn't have, was the nothing role of Andy Rice, Duel's performance was spot on and made the character pop when ever the camera was on him, Gordon also top notch and spot on. The whole movie I found myself looking for these 2 and if they were in the scene I was watching and hushing the room. But then Gordon has always played a great heavy and Duel....Well too bad we did not get a chance to see him push his way to the top, He definitely seemed to have the talent to have gone much further. so basically I liked it but I like action movies , the plot was OK and if your a Peppard fan its a must. Heck if you're a Duel fan it it showcases his talent even though it obviously was meant to. As I said before, you want to see some good acting that carries the film keep an eye out for Pete Duel and Don Gordon.

In 1912, the Texas-Mexico border was ablaze with raids by hordes of Mexican bandits calling themselves revolutionaries. To combat them, the U. S. government sent General John (Blackjack) Pershing to deal with the bandit raiders, one of the most dangerous of which was General Hector Cordoba. Some cannons have been stolen by a Mexican gang led by Cordoba. So Captain Douglas (George Peppard) is assigned by General Pershing (John Russell) a dangerous mission, he along with a group of misfits (Don Gordon) set out in pursuit of outlaw gunslingers on the Texas border, circa 1912. Meanwhile, Douglas attempts to liberate a Mexican village besieged by a nasty gang that is ravaging the small town. Douglas is determined to take a group of prisoners (Nico Minardos and Pete Duel, who committed suicide the following year) and strike a blow against the Mexican bandits. He goes to the territorial prison, where a group of renegades and other prisoners are given a chance to redeem themselves. Later, the captain tries to take the stolen cannons and catch the bandit Córdoba (Raf Vallone), with the help of a Mexican officer named Antonio (Gabriele Tinti) and the beautiful Leonora (Giovanna Ralli). They aimed it at the fortress of Córdoba and pulled the trigger! The army followed to pick up the pieces!

The story is partially similar to Richard Brooks' "The Professionals", adding Robert Aldrich's "The Dirty Dozen" with the usual gang of outlaws made up of an eclectic team with diverse specialties, such as dynamite or guns. Implausible story but real action, tense emotion and fun at all times. The film has Western action, exciting driving, explosions, shootouts, it is fun and entertaining, although nothing new, but it shows a TV style at times. The film contains some moments of grisly violence and even touches on the relationships between George Peppard and Giovanna Ralli. This is a so-so and inferior imitation of the original and enduringly popular "The Magnificent Seven" by John Sturges (in fact, it's the same producer Walter Mirish), and turns out to be standard action fare. George Peppard as a two-fisted officer who employs soldiers of fortune is quite good and Don Gordon is likable as his stubborn assistant. Great supporting cast consisting mainly of American actors like John Larch, John Rusell, Greek Nico Minardos, imposing Frenchman Hans Meyer and Italians like the beautiful Giovanna Ralli, Raf Vallone and Gabriele Tinti. And being Pete Duel's last film; in fact, shortly after his character was released from prison, he puts a gun to his head and pulls the trigger. A year after the release of this film, while shooting the second season of the series The Two Musketeers (1971), Duel would commit suicide in this way. For the more experienced, and film buffs who like actors, they can take a look and catch the brief appearances of ordinary Spanish secondary characters from Spaghetti, such as Luis Barboo, Barta Barri, Cris Huerta or Aldo Sambrell.

Filmed in Spain in locations in Hoyo Manzanares, La Pedriza (Madrid) and Andalusia, Almería, where hundreds of Spaghetti Westerns were filmed in the 60s and 70s. In fact, although the production is North American, there is a lot of Spanish technical support, such as the cameramen Antonio Macasoli and Ricardo Navarrete; the first assistant director José María Ochoa; the prestigious expert in 'matte painting' Emilio Ruiz del Río; the special effects and miniatures of Francisco Prósper; the artistic and set designers José María Tapiador, Rafael Salazar, Emilio Ardura, among others.

It has a bright and colorful photography by cameraman Antonio Macasoli . As always, an impressive and memorable soundtrack by maestro Elmer Bernstein in a style similar to his classic 'The Magnificent Seven'. The movie was professionally directed by Paul Wendkos, a regular TV movie director although he also made some westerns for cinema such as 'The Face of a Fugitive' and 'The Magnificent Seven Ride'. Rating: 6/10, acceptable and passable.

Tipical golden-age western plot, a bunch of reluctant heroes in a suicide mission against the bad guy (and, as usually, his army of well armed companions). The main problem with this movie, like many other American commercial movies, especially westerns, is originality. Elmer Bernstein score is like one hundred other westerns music scores, the main character, George "Breakfast at Tiffany's" Peppard as the captain Douglas, is very much annoyed all the time; Giovanna Ralli and Raf Vallone apparently in paid holiday and the director Paul Vendkos (poor guy!) has made the capital mistake, I really think he has seen "The Professionals" by Richard Brooks (1966), that is the better version of the same story (by the way, is a masterpiece). The most notable thing of this unfortunate movie is George Peppard's cigar that you can see in "The A-Team" television series all through the eighties.