Viva Zapata! (1952)
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63% of critics liked it
(16 reviews) -
77% of users liked it
(2,647 ratings)
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… More 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. ~ Linda Rasmussen, Rovi
- Directed By
- Elia Kazan
- Written By
- John Steinbeck
- Genres
- Western, Drama, Classics
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Sep 19, 1952 Wide
- On DVD
- Sep 9, 2003
Critic Reviews
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Variety Staff, Variety
Elia Kazan's direction strives for a personal intimacy but neither he nor the John Steinbeck scripting achieves in enough measure.
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Geoff Andrew, Time Out
The direction and John Steinbeck's script seem stranded in a no man's land between straightforward adventure and a pessimistic allegory about the corrupting nature of power.
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Bosley Crowther, New York Times
Throbs with a rare vitality, and a masterful picture of a nation in revolutionary torment has been got by Director Elia Kazan.
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Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
The Mexican revolution whitewashed for east-coast intellectuals.
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James Plath, Movie Metropolis
"Viva Zapata!" is one of those films that, while it continues to have impressive aspects, just doesn't hold up as well as it did when it was first made. You find yourself wishing it were in widescreen, and that they had hired at least ONE Latino actor.
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Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Marlon Brando
as Emiliano Zapata
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Jean Peters
as Josefa Espejo
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Anthony Quinn
as Eufemio Zapata
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Joseph Wiseman
as Fernando Aguirre
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Arnold Moss
as Don Nacio
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Margo
as Soldadera
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Alan Reed Sr.
as Pancho Villa
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Harold Gordon
as Don Francisco Madero
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Lou Gilbert
as Pablo
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Mildred Dunnock
as Senora Espejo
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Frank Silvera
as Huerta
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Nina Varela
as Aunt
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Florenz Ames
as Senor Espejo
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Bernie Gozier
as Zapatista
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Frank de Kova
as Col. Guajardo
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Pedro Regas
as Innocente
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Richard Garrick
as Old General
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Fay Roope
as Diaz
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Ross Bagdasarian Sr.
as Officer
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Leonard George
as Husband
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Will Kuluva
as Lazaro
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Abner Biberman
as Captain
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Philip Van Zandt
as Extra
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Henry Corden
as Senior Officer
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Fernanda Eliscu
as Fuentes' Wife
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Robert Filmer
as Captain
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Joseph Granby
as Gen. Fuentes
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George J. Lewis
as Rurale
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Peter Mamakos
as Soldier
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Belle Mitchell
as Nacio's Wife
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Nestor Paiva
as New General
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Ric Roman
as Manager
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Henry Silva
as Peon who challenges "president" Zapata
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Guy Thomajan
as Eduardo
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Julia Montoya
as Wife
