Vera Cruz (1954)

"You're the first friend I ever had," grins flamboyant mercenary Burt Lancaster to lean, laconic Gary Cooper with a smile that suggests that he may be the last. They're a pair of Americans abroad looking to cash in on the Mexican revolution by selling their services to the highest bidder in this energetically cynical south-of-the-border Western. They meet cute, conning, robbing, and out-witting one another in a bit of one-upmanship that bonds the men in mutual admiration, and then team up to escort a royal convoy through revolutionary country. When they discover its secret stash of gold bullion, they revert to their old way, selling out anyone it takes to get the treasure for themselves, even each other. Played out as a seat-of-the-pants con game of shifting alliances and double crosses, this is a cheerfully ruthless tale that served as a veritable blueprint for the Italian spaghetti Westerns of the 1960s. Director Robert Aldrich has a real flair for turning rogues and opportunists into deviously riveting characters, and went on to work the same sort of magic on Kiss Me Deadly and The Dirty Dozen. The cast of character actors features Ernest Borgnine, Charles Bronson, and Jack Elam in the gang, George Macready as Emperor Maximilian, and Henry Brandon as the martinet German captain Danette. --Sean Axmaker Amazon.com

Childhood Revisited

From virtually the opening scene, this celluloid comic book will take you right back to Saturday afternoons with the smell of popcorn, flying paper cups, noisy things rolling down the aisles and the kid behind with his feet at the back of your head. This is NOT a "mature" western. The quick-draw, eagle-eyed feats of shooting have to be seen to be believed (if you're 10 years old), the story line, dialogue, and multi-colored ranks of Mexican federales who serve as targets, all provide an aura around this movie that's guaranteed to take you back to the wide-eyed kid who could barely reach the lady in the booth with his quarter.
While I'm searching for more mature westerns these days, I enjoyed this one for its nostalgic value alone. That, and that toothy Lancaster grin that needs its own listing in the credits of this movie.
October 30, 2008

JUST LIKE BEES TO HONEY, BEN, BEES TO HONEY

What can one add to 31 other reviews that dissect and analyse this film? Nothing new I'm certain.

Just let me add that I first saw this movie shortly after its release at a drive in theatre at age 12. The movie always stuck with me and when the DVD was released bought a copy of the Western Legend version.

As I remembered the movie as very good I was not disappointed, the interaction between Coop and Lancaster is superb and the script does allow them to play it in a friendly, layed back manner that gives entertainment and at times humor to the viewer. The only small problem I had then (1955) was with Denise Darcel, true she was an actress placed in several roles at the time, but I could never really understand her English all that well. But in this film, with a French background of Maximillian's Mexico, she doesn't come off too bad. And as far as scruples go, Ace Hanna would have been equally proud of her and Lancaster in the roles they played.

If you want a light hearted, good old fashioned western as they used to make them before Hollywood went bust, check this gem out. Sure you will not come away disappointed.

Semper Fi. July 31, 2008

Vera Cruz

A great western starring the great Gary Cooper & the versatile Burt Lancaster that takes place during the revolution of 1866. The film also has Denise Darcel as the female lead & Cesar Romero as a wealthy Marquis on the side of Maximilian. Robert Aldrich was the director & this is one of his better efforts.

Benjamin Trane (Gary Cooper) & Joe Erin (Burt Lancaster) are two mercenaries on the way to Mexico to participate in the revolution albeit for different reasons but mostly for profit. Trane is the more altruistic while Erin is outright mercanary. The two team up to fight for the highest bidder, this is after Erin has stolen Trane's horse. Trane & Erin agree to escort Countess Marie Duvarre (Denise Darcel). What Trane & Erin don't realize is the Countess has a large gold shipment she is trying to get to Maximilian's army at Vera Cruz. She makes an offer to split it with them but they, instead, steal it for themselves. In the end Trane & Erin have an eventual showdown gunfight.

Vera Cruz is a very enjoyable movie that has two dynamic male leads, one at the end of his career, the other entering his prime. It's fun to see Lancaster play the heavy but he's so likable one almost hates to see his demise. The film also has Ernest Borgnine & Charles Buchinsky (Bronson). The only special feature is the movie trailer; this edition is widescreen. July 4, 2008

vera c ruz

I am not satisfied. You have shipped af film, that cannot be viewed on dvd maschines i Europe.

I bought the film Vera Cruz dvd version. You should inform customers about the issue

Kind regards,
svend-Erik Klein
Kolonnevej 11
DK-6400 Sønderborg
Denmark
email: sek@shs.dk March 10, 2008

Is this a toothpaste commercial?

Yes, those big pearly white choppers prominently displayed in Burt Lancaster's frequent sarcastic smiles tend to dominate most scenes in this fast moving complicated film. All the twists and turns in this story set in a Mexico in political turmoil provide an exciting and unpredictable drama, although you can almost bet the two stars will fight a duel in the finale. Cooper(Ben Trane) and Lancaster(Joe Erin) provide an interesting odd pair. Lancaster seems much younger than his 40 years, whereas Cooper looks his 52 years. Thus, their sudden relationship superficially resembles the young impulsive hero/oldtimer relationship common in westerns. But, actually, it couldn't be more different. Ben, as well as Joe, is still a remarkable shot. And Joe is no hero material, just a greedy swashbucking bully. In contrast, Ben is a former southern gentleman, dispossesed by the Civil War. The buddy/rival relationship between the two starts off rocky as Joe nearly shoots Ben when the latter pulls his gun to kill his injured horse. Joe sells Ben a stolen horse and the owner militia immediately show up to reclaim it. Ben's horse is eventually shot dead from under him and Ben plays dead as well. When Joe comes to strip Ben's body of valuables, Ben surprises him with a gun in the face. Ben rides off on Joe's horse. However, Joe is impressed with Ben's daring and shooting ability and rescues him from a bad scene with Joe's friends, who accuse Ben of Joe's murder... Later, Joe asks why Ben stepped in to save his skin during an ambush by rebel forces. Presumably Ben would have gotten all of their combined salary if Joe had died. Don't do any favors, take any chances, trust anybody, you don't have to, says Joe. In a nutshell, that tells us the basic difference between the two..
Like several others involved, Ben sometimes considers trying to make off with all the gold secretely stashed in the carriage he is involved in escorting to Vera Cruz. But,under the influence of the lovely Sarita Montiel and her rebel friends, he is finally persuaded that he is not that kind of thief and that the gold should go to the rebels, minus his exorbitant cut. In the finale, Ben is visibly upset that he couldn't tame Joe's greed, meanness and impulsiveness as unacceptable flaws that outweighed his exceptional bravado and skill as a gunslinger. He had to decide whether to shoot Joe while he had a rifle trained on him or whether to give Joe an even chance in a classic gun draw duel. October 20, 2007

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