Companeros Movie Review 1970

The Mexican revolution. Shoeshine boy Vasco (Milian) kills a federale officer and is made a lieutenant by General Mongo (Bodalo), one of many warring revolutionary warlords. Vasco and Swedish gun salesman Yodlof Pederson (Nero) become unlikely companions when MonMongo sends them to Yuma, to liberate authentic revolutionary Xantos (Rey), a pre-Gandhi preacher of nonviolence imprisoned by American oil interests in the hope of extorting oil leases from him. The conflict is a simple one between virtuous Communists and oppressive generals and capitalists. Director Corbucci's mood is less cynical, and more inclined toward comedy. The comedy direction is broader than broad, and obvious to the point of playing to juveniles. There is plenty of action in the film, guaranteeing a shootout or stunt every few minutes.

Distribution

Anchor Bay Entertainment, 1699 Stutz Dr., Troy, MI 48084, Phone: (248)816-0909, Toll-free: 800-786-8777, Fax: (248)816-3335, URL: http://www.anchorbayentertainment.com

Available on DVD
Running time 118 minutes.
Originally from Italian, Spanish, German.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Western Comedy, Mexico

Screenplay

Sergio Corbucci, Massimo De Rita, Arduino (Dino) Maiuri, Fritz Ebert

Cast

Franco Nero, Tomas Milian, Jack Palance, Fernando Rey, Iris Berben, Francisco Bodalo

Cinematography

Alejandro Ulloa

Director

Sergio Corbucci

Music

Ennio Morricone