Scream of the hunted
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | Scream of the hunted |
| Original title | Viva Villa! |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1934 |
| length | 109 minutes |
| Age rating | FSK 16 |
| Rod | |
| Director |
Jack Conway , Howard Hawks , William A. Wellman |
| script | Ben Hecht |
| production | David O. Selznick |
| music | Herbert Stothart |
| camera |
Charles G. Clarke , James Wong Howe |
| cut | Robert Kern |
| occupation | |
| |
Scream of the Haunted is an American biographical adventure film from 1934. The film describes the life of the Mexican revolutionary leader and national hero Pancho Villa , who fought against the incumbent President Porfirio Díaz over 20 years before the MGM production was made .
action
Mexico in the 1880s. Young Pancho Villa's father dies after being flogged by the landowner. Pancho stabs the landlord and flees to the mountains of Chihuahua . As an adult he is called La Cucaracha (English: cockroach) in awe . He is considered a bandit leader who robs the rich and helps the poor. When the US reporter Johnny Sykes met him one day, he asked him to write exciting and flattering reports about him and his gang.
The government of Mexican President Porfirio Díaz is becoming more and more unjust. The noble revolutionary Don Felipe calls Pancho Villa over and introduces him to Francisco Madero . Madero's patriotism convinces Pancho and makes him and his men "soldiers of freedom". After Pancho also met Don Felipe's beautiful sister Teresa, Pancho and his men begin many fights against government soldiers. Although he is victorious in the fighting, Madero complains about the shooting of wounded enemies. He subordinates Pancho to the orders of General Pascal, who wants to attack the district capital Santa Rosalía . Sykes accidentally sends a false report to his newspaper that the rebel takeover of the city is reported. Pancho promises the reporter that his report will come true and attacks, despite Pascal's orders, who does not want to attack until a few weeks later.
Pancho's capture of Santa Rosalia leads to the resignation of the president. The new President Madero sends Pancho back to his homeland, regardless of his merits. Pancho returns to Chihuahua with his people. When Pancho's companion, Sierra, murders a banker who refused to spend any money after the counter closes, Pancho is arrested. Pascal knows that Pancho is not the killer. But he receives a telegram from the president ordering Pancho's execution. Horrified by his president's deception, Pancho flees across the border into Texas and reaches El Paso . In Mexico, Madero is also the victim of an attack by Pascal. Sykes visits Pancho in El Paso and urges him to return to Mexico to fight Pascal.
Pancho unites his men and begins the fight against Pascal. But his successes cannot mask the disgust for his brutal fighting tactics with Don Felipe and Teresa. Pancho wants to win Teresa over, but she turns away from him. For this she is shot by Sierra. Pascal, who is holed up in a fortress, is defeated by Pancho after a long fight. Pascal is severely tortured before his execution. As the new head of government in Mexico, Pancho is overwhelmed by the country's economic problems. When a land reform planned by the murdered Madero has been approved, Pancho can resign with confidence. Back in Chihuahua, Pancho is shot by Don Felipe.
background
The film, whose screenplay is based on a novel by Edgecumb Pinchon and O. B. Stade, premiered in the United States on April 10, 1934. It was first seen in Germany on October 13, 1936 under its original title Viva Villa. The MGM dubbing department created a German version for this. The German dialogue book was written by Paul Mochmann and the dialogue was directed by Wilhelm Reinking. In a new dubbed version, the film was under the new title Scream of the Hurried It was seen from October 18, 1957. The filming locations were mostly original locations such as El Paso, Chihuahua and Mexico City.
With an estimated budget of just over $ 1 million, the film grossed nearly $ 1.9 million worldwide.
Mischa Auer can be seen in a minor supporting role as a military attaché . Noah beery jr. , the main actor's nephew, played, but the scenes with him were later cut from the film. Katherine DeMille was the adopted daughter of well-known director Cecil B. DeMille . Wallace Beery played the Pancho Villa as early as 1917 in a serial called Patria .
The interior decorations were by Edwin B. Willis. Douglas Shearer was responsible for the sound .
Howard Hawks was the original director of the MGM production. After Lee Tracy , who first played the role of Johnny Sykes, caused a scandal at a military parade in Mexico when he urinated on the balcony while drunk and was replaced by Stuart Erwin, Hawks was also fired for not distancing himself from Tracy's behavior . His place on the director's chair was taken by Jack Conway, who was represented by William A. Wellman for a week due to illness.
The incident had an impact on further filming. The film crew had to leave Mexico and continue shooting in and around Hollywood. The Mexican press subsequently spoke out against the showing of American films in the country, particularly against MGM productions. A press campaign was also launched against the film itself. Mexican newspapers accused the studio of bribery and bad treatment of the staff. The cast of Wallace Beery, who was known as a comedian, as a Mexican folk hero was criticized. The campaign ended after a meeting between studio manager Joseph Schenck and President Abelardo L. Rodríguez . Later background shots were allowed to be taken again in Mexico, with the crew around cameraman Clyde De Vinna assigned technical advisor Carlos Navarro, who secretly worked for the Mexican censorship agency.
Production was halted after Hawk's resignation from line-up changes. With the exception of Beery and Schildkraut, all actors who played under Hawks were swapped. Mona Maris (Teresa) has been replaced by Fay Wray, Irving Pichel (Sierra) by Leo Carrillo and Donald Reed (Don Felipe) by Donald Cook.
Reviews
Variety called the production "big and impressive". For Mordaunt Hall of the New York Times , the film was a "fast, wild and compelling fairy tale".
For the lexicon of international film , the film was a “gripping, but at times brutal adventure film with excellent acting performances.” The film magazine Cinema described the film as an “excellent portrait of the Mexican revolutionary.” The Protestant film observer drew the following conclusion: “Life and the death of the Mexican farmer's leader Pancho Villa in an exciting film, recommended for its truthfulness despite some age weaknesses from 16 onwards. "
Awards
In 1935 , John S. Waters won an Oscar in the now defunct Best Assistant Director category . The film also received nominations in the categories of Best Picture , Best Screenplay and Douglas Shearer for Best Sound .
At the Venice International Film Festival , Wallace Beery was awarded a gold medal for best actor. The Coppa Volpi was only awarded for the first time the following year. Director Conway was honored with a special mention ( Special Recommandation ). The production was also nominated for the Coppa Mussolini as best film.
Web links
- Cry of hunted in theInternet Movie Database(English)
- Cry of hunted atrotten tomatoes(English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ cf. imdb.com
- ↑ Scream of the Haunted at Turner Classic Movies (English)
- ↑ ibid
- ↑ cf. variety.com ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ cf. nytimes.com
- ↑ Cry of the harried. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed March 2, 2017 .
- ↑ cf. cinema.de
- ↑ Protestant film observer . Munich, Review No. 697/1958.
