Pancho Villa

Rating:
Summary: warning: this isn't a serious biography
Review: I wasn't expecting a comedy when I first saw this movie so I couldn't believe how wild and weird this movie turned out to be. Once it was over, and I accpeted it for what it is, I watched again and loved it. It's fun and funny and the finale is fantastic. Just don't expect it to be realistic.

Rating:
Summary: In no way resembles the life of Pancho Villa.
Review: In no way resembles the life of Pancho Villa

Rating:
Summary: Looney Tunes Discovers Pancho Villa
Review: Quite simply put, this is the silliest movie I've ever seen. There are no characters, only characatures; virtually nothing is believeable. The Army officers are all boobs; the enlisted men are stupid beyond comprehension. There is nothing other than the names of Villa, the 13th Cavalry, and Columbus, New Mexico to connect this fiasco to the real world, and Mexicans are portrayed in the most condescending and stereotyped fashion imaginable. The attempts at humor are at best amateurish and at worst infantile.Why anyone wasted the time, money, and resources to make this film is incomprehensible; I needn't mention acting talent because there isn't any. At least the film appears to be properly exposed in most sequences. Don't waste your time!

Rating:
Summary: One zany Mexican Revolution
Review: Read any online movie review and chances are you will find at least one writer who carps endlessly about the various historical inaccuracies of such and such film. As though that is the end all and be all criteria for a good period film. Well, I imagine such a person would have a field day with this version of Pancho Villa starring Telly Savalas. The only problem is no one would care. Simply put, Pancho Villa is a jokey and light-hearted action film. At least it tries to be. In actuality, it's slow-paced and only mildly diverting. As portrayed by Telly Savalas, Villa is a boorish, self-centered bandit recently deprived of his hair while held captive by nemesis General Goyo(Antonio Casas). Clint Walker plays his American friend Scotty, who goes to Columbus, New Mexico to buy arms for Villa. Double crossed by the dealer, Scotty barely survives an ambush and makes it back to Villa to report the bad news. Ever the glory seeker, Villa comes up with the brilliant idea to cross the border into Columbus to get revenge, except do it under the guise of a military invasion. From there, all sorts of hijinks and gunplay ensues, including a game of chicken between two trains manned by Villa and Chuck Connors as a wild-eyed, spit-and-polish, calvary colonel. Plenty of noise, but curiously little energy. Savalas and Connors duel with each other in the scenery chewing department, hamming up their respective roles as if it were their last. 'Ol Telly even gets to sing the closing song over the credits! And director Eugenio Martin would redeem himself for this film and the excreable Bad Man's River with Horror Express. Some kudos go the DVD by MasterTone, which has a fairly clean looking print and letterboxed it to boot. Certainly as good as I've ever seen this movie.

Rating:
Summary: One zany Mexican Revolution
Review: Read any online movie review and chances are you will find at least one writer who carps endlessly about the various historical inaccuracies of such and such film. As though that is the end all and be all criteria for a good period film. Well, I imagine such a person would have a field day with this version of Pancho Villa starring Telly Savalas. The only problem is no one would care. Simply put, Pancho Villa is a jokey and light-hearted action film. At least it tries to be. In actuality, it's slow-paced and only mildly diverting. As portrayed by Telly Savalas, Villa is a boorish, self-centered bandit recently deprived of his hair while held captive by nemesis General Goyo(Antonio Casas). Clint Walker plays his American friend Scotty, who goes to Columbus, New Mexico to buy arms for Villa. Double crossed by the dealer, Scotty barely survives an ambush and makes it back to Villa to report the bad news. Ever the glory seeker, Villa comes up with the brilliant idea to cross the border into Columbus to get revenge, except do it under the guise of a military invasion. From there, all sorts of hijinks and gunplay ensues, including a game of chicken between two trains manned by Villa and Chuck Connors as a wild-eyed, spit-and-polish, calvary colonel. Plenty of noise, but curiously little energy. Savalas and Connors duel with each other in the scenery chewing department, hamming up their respective roles as if it were their last. 'Ol Telly even gets to sing the closing song over the credits! And director Eugenio Martin would redeem himself for this film and the excreable Bad Man's River with Horror Express. Some kudos go the DVD by MasterTone, which has a fairly clean looking print and letterboxed it to boot. Certainly as good as I've ever seen this movie.

Rating:
Summary: It's not historical, but it's a hoot!!
Review: Savalas, Walker, and Connors are excellent in this very goofy and often extremely laugh inducing comedy about Pancho Villa's invasion of the United States. This is one of the most insane films I have ever seen! Enjoy the cast and the wacky stuff, but don't even try to take this movie serious. It's truly a camp classic! Telly is phenomenal!

Rating:
Summary: Clint Walker speaks!
Review: Telly Savalas and Clint Walker are together again, in this fanciful version of Pancho Villa. Mr. Walker gives a very verbose, and masculine performance.

Rating:
Summary: Savalas is at his best!
Review: Telly Savalas rarely has his own starring role movies, but when he does, look out. Pancho Villa scores on all levels. It is an excellent western, action/adventure film, and an excellent character study of Villa. Savalas along with a talented cast was unfortunately overlooked at the Academy Awards. He definitely should have one for this magnificent portrayal of one of the most notorious bandits in history.