ma-cortes Entertaining , moving and violent film set in Mexican Revolution in which a pair of two-fisted characters confront enemies in diverse sides . During the Mexican Rebellion of 1866 , an unsavory group of American adventurers are hired by the forces of Emperor Maximilian to escort a countess to Vera Cruz . Napoleon III, emperor of France , creates in Mexico a vassal state governed by Maximilian (George Mcready) of France . The French troops control the country and the fate of its inhabitants . There soon emerges a rebel leader , Benito Juarez, whose supporters took the name of "juaristas" . Two soldiers of fortune find themselves in different camps , as "Benjamin Trane" (Gary Cooper was 52 at the time of filming, although his character was only supposed to be a couple of years older than Burt's role) is the good guy and "Joe Erin" (Burt Lancaster) is the bad guy , both of whom along with their motley group (Ernest Borgnine , Jack Lambert , Jack Elam , Charles Bronson) decide serve the Emperor Maximilian . Meanwhile , Benjamin Trane falls in love for a beautiful Mexican rebel (Spanish Sara Montiel) . During a party celebrated by Marquis Henri de Labordere (Cesar Romero) they meet the Countess "Marie Duvarre" (Denise Darcel) , both gunmen must protect her from possible attacks of the revolutionaries . In fact , they are planning seize a stagecoach filled with valuable gold . The picture was partially based on historical events , as Maximilian was proclaimed Emperor of Mexico on 10 April 1864, with the backing of Napoleon III of France and a group of Mexican monarchists who sought to revive the Mexican monarchy. Many foreign governments, including that of the United States, refused to recognize his administration. This helped to ensure the success of republican forces led by Benito Juárez, and Maximilian was captured and executed in 1867.Interesting as well as action-packed Western full of thrills, emotion , intrigue , shootouts and marvelous outdoors from Mexico . The two giants , Cooper and Lancaster , battle in the biggest spectacle of them all . Anthological performance by Burt Lancaster is fabulous , his character would influence profoundly in Spaghetti Western ; he steals every scene as the black-dressed , smiling gunfighter . As the roles are more cynical , selfish and unscrupulous than traditional western . In fact , this film is sometimes called the "first spaghetti western," due to its reputed influence on the Italian directors such as Sergio Leone who popularized the genre . The screenplay by Roland Kibbee and James R. Webb is pretty basic but holds your interest until the exciting climatic Shotdown . Rousing as well as emotive musical score by the classical Hugo Friedhofer . Gorgeous cinematography by Ernest Laszlo , being the first film to be made in the SuperScope process. Luxurious sets and spectacular production design and one of the first major Hollywood films to be made on location in Mexico . Film-making legislation in Mexico meant that a local director had to be involved in the production in some capacity, though he wasn't actually used ; however , the Mexican authorities were appalled at the way their citizens were depicted in the film so any subsequent Hollywood productions had to conform to some strict rules . The motion picture was compellingly directed by Robert Aldrich and produced by Burt Lancaster's own production company for $1.7 million, it went on to become a sizeable hit, grossing over $11 million. It was Robert Aldrich's personal favourite , he particularly enjoyed the fact that it had a hero and an anti-hero. Aldrich directed a considerable plethora of genres but almost all of his films contained a subversive undertone and violent scenes . He was an expert on warlike (Dirty Dozen , The Angry Hills , Attack , Ten seconds to hell) and Western (The Frisko kid , Ulzana's raid, Apache , Veracruz , The last sunset) . Raing : Above average , it's a must see and a standout in its genre .

kellyadmirer I had a junior high school teacher once, Mr. MacGowan, who asked us to list the qualities a man should have. Others quickly piped up with "tough," "strong," "fearless," the usual. But when I said "smart," I faced open opposition. Old Mr. MacGowan, though, nodded and wrote it on the blackboard. "Vera Cruz" illustrates the point, being smart beats being tough any day.This is a terrific film about Maximilian Mexico. Featuring Gary Cooper at his most laconic and Burt Lancaster at his most engaging, along with a wonderful supporting cast, this is one of the classic westerns that any fan of the genre or of the stars should see.As usual in Maximilian films ("Undefeated," "Indio Black"), there's gold at stake, and everyone wants it. This film, though, has a humanity that the other films (and, in fact, most westerns) completely lack. Everybody - and I do mean everybody - is plotting and scheming and figuring who they absolutely have to cut in and who they safely can cut out, like an old-fashioned "Survivor." It's all sleazy in a good way. Everybody tries to outsmart everybody else, but in the end, one of them is smarter than them all and makes the only decision about the gold that makes sense.Which isn't to say that everything in the script is original. Cooper plays the usual western loner who comes in and alters everybody's destiny, blazing a path for Clint Eastwood a decade later. Lancaster plays the usual local gang leader who sees the newcomer as both a new challenge and an opportunity. How they resolve their varying motivations and influence on each other, and acknowledge their temporary usefulness to each other, forms the core of the tale.The most interesting and, indeed, idiosyncratic moment comes when the two dusty outsiders meet the Emperor, played marvelously (as always) by George "Paths of Glory" Macready, at his fancy court. The two gunmen and the Emperor have a shooting competition at which the Emperor actually does quite well, though of course he ultimately loses. It's a marvelous moment, with the setting quite European but Cooper and Lancaster wandering in and chewing as much scenery as they can. Cesar Romero overplays the Emperor's grinning henchman as only he could, the effect of his natural exuberance heightened by the comparison with the tightly restrained Cooper, Lancaster and Macready.There's an engaging story to tell, and it actually follows real events remarkably closely. Denise Darcel and Sara Montiel are around to look beautiful, and Ernest Borgnine has a good moment or two. Even Charles Bronson shows up to uphold the "tough guy" standard. But all along you know who has to win in the end, who has to get the gold, and how it all must end. Even with the lack of surprise, it makes for a terrific ride.

dougdoepke As I recall, the theatre was packed even down to the front row with a lot of noisy guys. Word around high school was that this was a really cool Western. Of course, it wasn't the kind of Western we were used to in 1954. Instead of the usual cowboy types, there were Cooper and Lancaster who may have worn cowboy hats, but were riding around with a lot of stiff-looking soldiers in dressed-up uniforms and a lot of little brown guys in white pajamas. But who cared when there was all that great action with thousands of guys shooting it out in big screen Technicolor. Then too, there was all that great scenery that didn't look like the usual cowboy towns and open spaces we were used to. Sure there had to be a story, something about gold coins, a funny looking stagecoach, and who gets to keep the coins everyone's fighting over. Seemed like the dressed-up soldiers wanted to keep their guy king and probably get their fancy uniforms pressed, while the guys in rags wanted their own guy king and probably get some better clothes. As I recall, I was rooting for Lancaster since he did all the great jumping around and had table manners a lot like mine. But everybody knew that Cooper always stood for everything that's right, so he would be on the winning side whichever side that was. But it was weird seeing this Negro with the white guys just like he was one of them. You just didn't see Negroes in Westerns, except maybe as servants in a big house. Actually, I was kind of glad when the little guys won because they looked like they really needed the money. Too bad about Lancaster, but you know that anyone who grins all the time can't be trusted. Still, seeing all those dead guys with the women crying over them did make me think all the shooting might not be so fun after all. I didn't know it then, but I guess a lot of big time movie guys as far away as Italy really liked the movie too. It gave them ideas, so they made their own versions that also made a lot of money. I guess that's the way the business works. Anyhow, that was 50-some years ago. Naturally, I don't think quite the same way today. But I think I can still say it anyway—Great action movie then, great action flick now.

moonspinner55 Former Confederate Colonel Gary Cooper, nearly left penniless by the Civil War and looking for work in 1860s Mexico, has little choice but to join up with gregarious outlaw Burt Lancaster and his macho gang after being asked by the battalions of the Emperor Maximillian to safeguard three million dollars worth of gold coins in a dangerous trek to Juarez. Familiar western elements (and clichés) dot the spotty script, though this Robert Aldrich-directed film was later called a forerunner of the 'amoral western', with each of the characters out for themselves. Cooper and Lancaster approach this explosion-heavy epic in their vastly different, customary styles; they make a peculiar team, and many of their shared scenes (such as a ridiculous one wherein Gary cuts a bullet out of Burt's arm) fall flat. The supporting players (including Ernest Borgnine and Charles Bronson in relatively thankless bits) manage to give certain scenes a little extra bounce, and the cinematography and locations are quite wonderful. Entertaining for genre buffs--though with so many disparate talents on-board, the results were bound to be a bit bewildering. **1/2 from ****