Subtitles:

English (SDH), Spanish, none

Extras:

Produced by Darryl F. Zanuck and directed by Elia Kazan, this film follows the life of Mexican revolutionary leader Emiliano Zapata (Marlon Brando) from his peasant upbringing, through his rise to power in the early 1900s, to his death. The film presents an interesting but fictionalized picture of Zapata. Zapata, the child of tenant-farmers, was joined by Pancho Villa in his rebellion against tyrannical President Porfirio Diaz. The film romanticizes Zapata and in doing so unfortunately distorts the true nature of the wars he waged. Zapata fought, not to conquer Mexico but to free the land for the peasants of Morelos and other southern provinces. The Oscar-nominated screenplay by John Steinbeck ignores some historical details in order to focus on the corruptive influence of power. Marlon Brando won an Academy Award nomination for his work, as did Anthony Quinn, who took home the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his headstrong, hard-fighting, hard-drinking, intensely romantic character who does not hesitate to die for love. The film also features a beautiful score by Alex North, who also received an Academy Award nomination.

Whatever vague and misty memories the rest of the world may have of Emiliano Zapata, the Mexican Indian who led wild revolts of hungry peasants in the south of his country while Pancho Villa was doing the same in the north, a very strong recollection of him is in the mind of Twentieth Century-Fox. In that studio's "Viva Zapata!", which came to the Rivoli yesterday in as lively a swirl of agitation as has been stirred in quite a time, the Mexican rebel leader, whom Marion Brando plays, is recalled as a man of savage passion devoted to the poor and the oppressed. He is also recalled as a champion of matchless integrity, unswerving in his belief in the people—a romantic ideal in every way.

This fervent conception of Zapata may not agree in all details with the little that is really known about him, nor may John Steinbeck's hotly penned account of his troubles with noisome politicians be consistent with history. There is some question from the record whether Zapata was quite the selfless soul, devoutly domesticated, that he is made to appear in this film. But certainly this ardent portrait of him throbs with a rare vitality, and a masterful picture of a nation in revolutionary torment has been got by Director Elia Kazan.

Gary Tooze

May 2nd, 2013