Southwest to Sonora
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | Southwest to Sonora |
| Original title | The Appaloosa |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1966 |
| length | 98 minutes |
| Age rating | FSK 12 |
| Rod | |
| Director | Sidney J. Furie |
| script |
James Bridges Roland Kibbee |
| production | Alan Miller |
| music | Frank Skinner |
| camera | Russell Metty |
| cut | Ted J. Kent |
| occupation | |
| |
Southwest to Sonora (original title: The Appaloosa ) is an American western by Sidney J. Furie from 1966. The screenplay is based on the novel of the same name by Robert McLeod. In Germany, the film was first shown in cinemas on October 21, 1966.
action
Matt Fletcher wants to settle near the Mexican border town of Ojo Prieto and set up a horse breeding business with his Appaloosa stallion. In a church in Ojo Prieto, Matt confesses his deeds and declares his will to start a new life, which the priest approves. But while still in the church, Matt is threatened by the gang leader Chuy Medina, because Matt allegedly molested his young wife Trini. Trini, who was sold to Chuy as a child, tries to escape from Chuy and jumps on Matt's stallion. One of Chuy's men brings her back. To save face, Chuy tries to buy the horse. But Matt refuses.
With the help of his Mexican friend Paco, Matt starts working on his small farm. One evening when Matt is drunk, Chuy and Lazaro come to steal the horse. Chuy insults Matt, grinds him with a lasso and "hangs him up to dry".
When Matt has recovered from his injuries, he goes to see Chuy, shaved and dressed as a Mexican. He is caught and Chuy suggests a competition. The winner should receive the horse. The two do arm wrestling, with poisonous scorpions waiting on either side to sting the loser. Matt loses, but can save his life by cutting open the stab with a piece of glass. In a hut that belongs to the goatherd Ramos, Trini comes to his aid and looks after him.
Squint-Eye, one of Chuy's men, visits Ramos and asks him about Matt and Trini. Ramos refuses to say anything and is murdered by Squint-Eye. Matt kills Squint-Eye. He later steals his stallion back from Chuy's hiding place. He fled towards the border with Trini. Chuy is chasing them. Matt lets his stallion run so that Chuy is distracted by Matt and Trini. When Chuy turns to the horse, Matt shoots him. Matt crosses the border with Trini and the Appaloosa stallion.
background
The role in this production of Universal Pictures meant Anjanette Comer's third work in a movie. John Saxon is best known as karateka and as Sheriff Thompson in Nightmare . If you see Viva Zapata! as a biography, this film was Marlon Brando's second western after The Obsessive , his only directorial work in which Miriam Colon was also involved.
Southwest After Sonora was the only feature film that Alan Miller supervised as a producer. His second production, the short film The Bolero , won an Oscar in 1974. Oscar-winning Alexander Golitzen (film architect) and Oliver Emert (designer) were responsible for setting the film .
Reviews
"Conventional Western, which is noticeable because of its ambitious design and good actors."
“The sometimes parodistic western lives from the grumpy game of the egomaniac Marlon Brando. The highlight is an arm wrestling duel, the loser of which is stung by a scorpion. Incidentally, the sophisticated pictures are also impressive. "
“Even if Brando's playing is not one of his top performances, it enlivens the dusty, dry atmosphere of the classic Western. Gestures and looks replace many words. The story unfolds slowly, as if the blazing sun was affecting it. The conflict slowly comes to a head, the western is picking up speed. The exciting highlight is an arm wrestling between Marlon Brando and John Saxon. The hand duel holds some surprises and the scene with the scorpions even has cult potential. Next to Brando, Saxon shines as the daring villain and the beautiful Anjanette Comer as Medina's bride. The character differences of the trio provide both funny scenes and tension. The western works despite the thin storyline thanks to the strong presence of its main characters. "
“In addition to the charismatic star, the wonderful, almost overambitious color and techniscope photography by Russell Metty catches the eye. [...] Here he photographed an unusual Western with visual mannerisms, excess images and cuts that are not always appropriate to the slow rhythm of the rather simple story of revenge. "
“The film shows a grumpy egomaniac Marlon Brando who, with a beard and dirty, is somewhat reminiscent of a grizzly bear. The partly parodistic story about a cowboy without a horse can ultimately be easily interpreted psychologically as a story about impotence - at the end it is pointed out again and again that the scorpion, who is supposed to kill the loser of the duel, lacks the sting. "
"Unusually beautiful shots, excellent actors and human values make this western epic recommended for ages 14 and up."
Awards
At the 1967 Golden Globe Awards , the film was nominated for Best Supporting Actor ( John Saxon ). That same year, the Bronze Wrangler was awarded to Sidney J. Furie, Robert MacLeod, Marlon Brando, Anjanette Comer and John Saxon at the Western Heritage Awards.
Web links
- The Appaloosa in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- Southwest to Sonora in the German synchronous file
Individual evidence
- ^ Southwest to Sonora. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed March 2, 2017 .
- ↑ See cinema.de
- ↑ See filmreporter.de ( Memento of the original from April 29, 2010 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ See prisma.de
- ↑ See weltbild.de
- ↑ Evangelical Press Association, Munich, Review No. 414/1966.
