El Condor (film): Difference between revisions
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==Production== |
==Production== |
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The film was financed by National General, who had recently bought a script called ''Daddy's Gone A-Hunting'' by Larry Cohen. Cohen says the studio decided to make the movie, built a fort and town in Almeria, Spain, then decided they disliked the script; they paid Cohen to travel to Spain and write a new film around the existing sets. Cohen wrote a script they were happy with, and Jim Brown and Lee Van Cleef were cast. According to Cohen, Van Cleef then changed his mind about doing the film on the advice of [[Alberto Grimaldi]] who said the actor's character was ridiculous; Cohen persuaded van Cleef to do it, arguing it was a comic role along the lines of Humphrey Bogart's character in ''The African Queen''.<ref name="cohen"/> |
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Swedish actor [[Ewa Aulin]] was originally meant to play the female lead. However she quit the film, refusing to film nude scenes. She was replaced by [[Mariana Hill]] who said she would go nude "If it's done well."<ref>Shy Mariana takes on Ewa's role in sex Western |
Swedish actor [[Ewa Aulin]] was originally meant to play the female lead. However she quit the film, refusing to film nude scenes. She was replaced by [[Mariana Hill]] who said she would go nude "If it's done well."<ref>Shy Mariana takes on Ewa's role in sex Western |
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Date: Friday, Oct. 31, 1969 |
Date: Friday, Oct. 31, 1969 |
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Publication: Daily Mail (London, England) Issue: 22860 p 16 </ref> |
Publication: Daily Mail (London, England) Issue: 22860 p 16 </ref> |
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Cohen says that director John Guillermin and producer Andre de Toth did not get along, in part because the latter wanted to direct. According to Cohen, de Toth took over from the director on his previous movie (''[[Play Dirty]]'') and wanted to do the same thing again. The conflict resulted in Guillermin and de Toth having a fistfight.<ref name="cohen">{{cite book|page=77-81 of 690 (kindle)|title=Larry Cohen The Stuff of Gods and Monsters|first=Michael|last=Doyle|year=2016|publisher=Bear Manor Media}}</ref> |
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==VHS and DVD releases== |
==VHS and DVD releases== |
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The movie was released on a [[4:3|fullscreen]] VHS in 1994, and a [[widescreen]] DVD by Warner Archive in 2009. |
The movie was released on a [[4:3|fullscreen]] VHS in 1994, and a [[widescreen]] DVD by Warner Archive in 2009. |
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Revision as of 05:49, 29 September 2020
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| El Condor | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | John Guillermin |
| Screenplay by | Larry Cohen Steven Carabatsos |
| Story by | Steven Carabatsos |
| Produced by | André De Toth |
| Starring | Jim Brown Lee Van Cleef Patrick O'Neal Marianna Hill Iron Eyes Cody |
| Cinematography | Henri Persin |
| Edited by | Walter Hannemann William H. Ziegler |
| Music by | Maurice Jarre |
| Distributed by | National General Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 102 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
El Condor is a 1970 American western film directed by John Guillermin.
Jim Brown and Lee Van Cleef lead a band of Apaches (including Iron Eyes Cody) against a fortress commanded by Patrick O'Neal. The fortress is said to contain the gold reserves of Emperor Maximilian.
The movie was shot in 35mm Technicolor in Almería, Spain, and involved the construction of the huge adobe fortress set that was re-used in later films, including Conan the Barbarian (1982) and March or Die (1977)'.
El Condor was among the first movies rated R (for violence, explicit language, and nudity).
Plot
In 1860s Mexico, Luke, an escaped convict, and Jaroo, a loner gold prospector who is not very bright, team up with a band of Apache Indians to capture a heavily armed fortress for the thousands of gold bars said to be stored within. The fortress is commanded by the sadistic Chavez, whose mistress, Claudine, Luke becomes attracted to the moment he sees her.
Cast
- Jim Brown as Luke
- Lee Van Cleef as Jaroo
- Patrick O'Neal as Chavez
- Marianna Hill as Claudine
- Iron Eyes Cody as Santana
- Imogen Hassall as Dolores
- Elisha Cook Jr. as Old Convict
Production
The film was financed by National General, who had recently bought a script called Daddy's Gone A-Hunting by Larry Cohen. Cohen says the studio decided to make the movie, built a fort and town in Almeria, Spain, then decided they disliked the script; they paid Cohen to travel to Spain and write a new film around the existing sets. Cohen wrote a script they were happy with, and Jim Brown and Lee Van Cleef were cast. According to Cohen, Van Cleef then changed his mind about doing the film on the advice of Alberto Grimaldi who said the actor's character was ridiculous; Cohen persuaded van Cleef to do it, arguing it was a comic role along the lines of Humphrey Bogart's character in The African Queen.[1]
Swedish actor Ewa Aulin was originally meant to play the female lead. However she quit the film, refusing to film nude scenes. She was replaced by Mariana Hill who said she would go nude "If it's done well."[2]
Cohen says that director John Guillermin and producer Andre de Toth did not get along, in part because the latter wanted to direct. According to Cohen, de Toth took over from the director on his previous movie (Play Dirty) and wanted to do the same thing again. The conflict resulted in Guillermin and de Toth having a fistfight.[1]
VHS and DVD releases
The movie was released on a fullscreen VHS in 1994, and a widescreen DVD by Warner Archive in 2009.
Critical reaction
Roger Ebert's review of August 27, 1970 in the Chicago Sun-Times began: "Lee Van Cleef's last words in 'El Condor' are, 'What am I doing here?' Amen, brother."
See also
References
Bibliography
- The American Film Institute Catalog of Motion Pictures Produced in the United States – Feature Films, 1961–1970. University of California Press, 1997, page 298.
- Greenspun, Roger “Screen: `El Condor’ Bows, Mexican Treasure Tale Comes to the Forum”, New York Times, June 20, 1970, page 22.
External links
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