Genre:
Comedy
/ War
/ Western
Tagline: CLINT EASTWOOD...the deadliest man alive...takes
on a whole army with two guns and a fistful of dynamite!
Plot Summary:
|
Set in Mexico, a nun called Sara is
rescued from three cowboys by Hogan, who is on his way to do
some reconnaissance, for a future mission to capture a French
fort. The French are chasing Sara, but not for the reasons
she tells Hogan, so he decides to help her in return for
information about the fort defences. Inevitably the two
become good friends but Sara has a secret..
|
|
User Comments: Average
User Rating:
6.8/10
(2,455 votes)
| |
| |
Shirley MacLaine |
.... |
Sara |
| |
Clint Eastwood |
.... |
Hogan |
| |
Manuel Fabregas |
.... |
Col. Beltran (as Manolo Fa;bregas) |
| |
Alberto Morin |
.... |
Gen. LeClaire |
| |
Armando Silvestre |
.... |
Bandit #1 |
| |
John Kelly |
.... |
Bandit #2 |
| |
Enrique Lucero |
.... |
Bandit #3 |
| |
David Estuardo |
.... |
Juan |
| |
Ada Carrasco |
.... |
Juan's mother |
| |
Pancho Cordova |
.... |
Juan's father |
| |
Jose Chavez |
.... |
Horatio |
Runtime: 116 min
Country:
USA /
Mexico
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Sound Mix:
Mono (Westrex Recording System)
Certification:
Canada:G
(Quebec) /
USA:PG (re-rating) /
Canada:PG
(Manitoba/Ontario) /
USA:M (original rating) /
Finland:K-16
/ Norway:16
/ South
Korea:12
/ Spain:18
/ Sweden:15
/ West
Germany:16
/ UK:15
/
Singapore:PG
Trivia: While in Austria filming
Where Eagles
Dare (1968), Clint Eastwood was approached with the script by
Elizabeth
Taylor,
Richard
Burton's wife at the time, with the notion of starring together in
the film. However, Universal Pictures was unwilling to pay Taylor's high
salary.
Goofs: Anachronisms: The story takes place during the
European intervention in Mexico which lasted from 1861 to 1867. Hogan is
using a Colt Peacemaker pistol, which did not come into use until 1873.
Quotes:
[toasting Sister Sara]
Gen.
LeClair: To your virtues... and especially your vices, Sara
Awards: 1 win 1 nomination |
Comments:
Shirley MacLaine plays a nun who helps the
poor, including the enemies of some French soldiers. Or, is there more to
her than that? The soldiers take umbrage at this, and pursue the nun. In
rides Clint Eastwood, in a role that is highly reminiscent of his roles in
"The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly," "A Fistful of Dollars, and "For a Few
Dollars More," and he becomes the reluctant champion and protector for
MacLaine. They can barely tolerate each other, but also make a good team,
and even come to respect one another.
According the editorial reviews that I have read, Elizabeth Taylor was
originally cast as the nun. I just don't see that working well. I can think
of a number of actresses who, at the right age, could have done the role
justice, including Deborah Kerr, Debbie Reynolds, Audrey Hepburn, and
Suzanne Pleshette. I would not have chosen Elizabeth Taylor, nor Shirley
MacLaine, but Ms. MacLaine hit just the right balance between pious and
feisty, resulting in a holy crusader for justice, who was a bit in over her
head. Charles Bronson could have played the protector role, but Clint
Eastwood was just fine. The scenery is starkly beautiful, without being a
distraction.
The result? A strange little Western movie with an odd name, that has a
definite charm to it, and is quite memorable. Eastwood and MacLaine produce
lots of friction, some good teamwork, and even a touch of
romance-that-could-not-be. I enjoyed it all three times I saw it. --C.
MCCALLISTER
|
