Aggiungi una trama nella tua linguaThe invasion of Mexico by Cortez, as seen by a young Spanish officer fleeing the Inquisition.The invasion of Mexico by Cortez, as seen by a young Spanish officer fleeing the Inquisition.The invasion of Mexico by Cortez, as seen by a young Spanish officer fleeing the Inquisition.
- Regia
- Sceneggiatura
- Star
- Candidato a 1 Oscar
- 1 vittoria e 1 candidatura in totale
- Reyes
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- Doña Hernandez
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- Mercedes De Vargas
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- Doña Maria De Vargas
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- DeLora
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- Aztec
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Recensioni in evidenza
A film firmly split in two halves, Captain From Castile may at times over stretch its aims on the, but the sweepingly gorgeous texture is quite something to behold. Tyrone Power takes up the lead role of Pedro De Vargas and firmly cements his star status with a wonderful performance, handsome and brave, he carries the film easily on its joyous course from Spain to Mexico, whilst stoic male support comes from Cesar Romero (Cortez and never better), Lee J. Cobb (Juan Garcia) and John Sutton (Diego De Silva). Head female duty falls to a vibrantly young Jean Peters (in her film debut) as Catana Perez, pretty and beguiling, her gorgeous green eyes shining bright in this Technicolor spectacle, she is the perfect foil to Power's dash and swagger.
Production costs are thought to have been over $4 million, yet even though the film sadly lost money, the money spent is still evident at every turn and it proved to be very popular with critics and film lovers alike. Director Henry King wonderfully utilises the panoramic vistas of the Mexican locale and the costumes come right out of the top draw, but one of the most striking things in this magnificent production is the score from Alfred Newman. Stirring and emotionally hard, it has to rank as one of the best scores to have ever been composed. I strongly recommend the isolated score option on the excellent Region 1 DVD. It's a far from perfect film for sure (the no battle pay-off at the finale is a great disappointment), but the harking back to old historical days of yore can induce a tingle on the spine, and in that respect the piece delivers handsomely. Just like its leading man ironically enough. 8/10
Alfred Newman gives a reprisal of his music from The Black Swan, with the substitution of a Spanish flair for the pirate flair, and in Technicolor, the lush costumes and on-location backgrounds are very pretty to watch-not to mention the prettiness of the lead. After Ty's family is accused, tortured, and killed unjustly in the Inquisition, he joins a band of rebels bent on taking down the bad guys. Ty never takes on an accent during these swashbuckling movies-although you can catch him with an Irish accent in a couple of others-but he puts his heart into his heroes, so it hardly seems to matter, even when everyone else around him puts on an accent.
You'll have to search hard to recognize Cesar Romero, the lead of the fighting rebels, for he's covered up in a helmet and a beard and doesn't look at all like his usual handsome self. He does smile a couple of times, and you can tell it's he's in there. Thankfully, Tyrone Power is thoroughly prettied up with long, curly hair, making him look like George Clooney. While it's normally an effort to tear your eyes away from him when he's on the screen, during the seductive dance between him and Jean Peters, it's practically impossible. His lustful expression is even more distracting that his beautiful, perfect nose in profile.
If you're undecided as to your opinion on old swashbucklers, this might not be the best to start with, also if you're not interested in the time period. But if you do like this genre, or if Ty is your favorite of the bucks, you'll want to watch it. Also, you'll get to see a very young Jean Peters in her first movie, and since she didn't make many, it's fun to see her while you can.
This doesn't have the spectacular effects of today's films. It is just an excellent "old school" adventure film which deals with honor and loyalty which are pretty much lacking in today's films. It fired my young imagination and encouraged me to read the book by Samuel Shellabarger upon which it was based.
It has a wonderful cast including Ty Power, Jean Peters, Lee J. Cobb, John Sutton, Caesar Romero, and a lot of veterans in minor rolls including Jay Silverheels (Tonto). Alfred Newman's score is good.
Power was great as usual and Jean Peters turns in an excellent performance -- this was her first film.
Much of the film was shot in Mexico following the actual route that Cortez followed when he was conquering the Aztecs. (Check out the live volcano in the background that was erupting while the film was shot. That ain't a painted background.)
I highly recommend this film especially if you haven't seen a Tyrone Power film because this is one of his best.
Lo sapevi?
- QuizIn several of the scenes in Mexico, a large smoke cloud is seen on the horizon. At the end of the movie smoke is shown rising from a volcano. This is most likely a fortuitous eruption of the Paricutin volcano in 1947, when the movie was filmed, standing in for the eruption of Popocatepetl on Cortez's day.
- BlooperEarly in the film in the prison, several characters are shown in separate scenes carrying a lantern and appear to be dragging an electrical cord attached to one of their legs. Although there is a candle in the lantern, the light coming from the lantern is so constant and bright that it is obviously coming from an electric light bulb shining down from the top of the lantern.
- Citazioni
Coatl: I think of what you do for me in Spain. I think I speak to you now. Maybe I understand better why you come here. This is my country, senor. These are my people, my gods. We not come tell you to stop loving your gods. We not come to make you slaves. Why do you do this, senor?
Pedro De Vargas: Well, I'm afraid I haven't any answer for that. It isn't right for men to worship idols. There's only one true God.
Coatl: Maybe your God and my God same God. Maybe we just call him by different names.
- ConnessioniFeatured in 20th Century-Fox: The First 50 Years (1997)
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Dettagli
Botteghino
- Budget
- 4.500.000 USD (previsto)
- Tempo di esecuzione2 ore 20 minuti
- Colore
- Proporzioni
- 1.37 : 1