Viva Zapata!
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| - | '''Alex North''' ([[December 4]], [[1910]] – [[September 8]], [[1991]]) was an [[United States|American]] [[composer]] responsible for the first [[jazz]]-based [[film score]] (''[[A Streetcar Named Desire (film)|A Streetcar Named Desire]]'') and one of the first [[modernism|modernist]] scores written in Hollywood, (''[[Viva Zapata!]]''). | ||
| - | Born '''Isadore Soifer''' in [[Chester, Pennsylvania]], North was an original composer probably even by the classical music standards of the day. However, he managed to integrate his [[modernism]] into typical film music leitmotif structure, rich with themes. One of these became the famous song, "[[Unchained Melody]]". Nominated for 15 [[Academy Awards|Oscars]] but unsuccessful each time, North and [[Ennio Morricone]] are the only [[film composer]]s to receive the [[Academy Honorary Award|Lifetime Achievement Academy Award]]. North's frequent collaborator as orchestrator was the avant-garde composer [[Henry Brant]]. He won the [[1968]] [[Golden Globe]] award for his music to ''The Shoes of the Fisherman''. | + | '''''Viva Zapata!''''' is a 1952 biographical film directed by [[Elia Kazan]] and starring [[Marlon Brando]]. The screenplay was written by [[John Steinbeck]], using Edgcomb Pinchon's book ''Zapata the Unconquerable'' as a guide. |
| + | The cast includes [[Jean Peters]] and, in an [[Academy Awards|Academy Award]]-winning performance, [[Anthony Quinn]]. | ||
| - | Some of his best-known film scores include ''[[The Rainmaker (1956 film)|The Rainmaker]]'' ([[1956 in film|1956]]), ''[[Spartacus (film)|Spartacus]]'' ([[1960 in film|1960]]), ''[[The Misfits (film)|The Misfits]]'' ([[1961 in film|1961]]), ''[[Cleopatra (1963 film)|Cleopatra]]'' ([[1963 in film|1963]]), ''[[Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (film)|Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?]]'' ([[1966 in film|1966]]), and ''[[The Devil's Brigade (film)|The Devil's Brigade]]'' ([[1968 in film|1968]]). His [[2001: A Space Odyssey (score)|commissioned score]] for [[Stanley Kubrick]]'s ''[[2001: A Space Odyssey (film)|2001: A Space Odyssey]]'' ([[1968 in film|1968]]) was discarded by the director, but has since been released on CD. | + | The film is a fictionalized account of the life of [[Mexican revolution]]ary [[Emiliano Zapata]] from his [[peasant]] upbringing, through his rise to power in the early 1900s, to his death. |
| - | Though North is best known for his work in Hollywood, he spent years in New York writing music for the stage. It was in New York that he met Elia Kazan, who brought him to Hollywood in the 50s. North was one of several composers who brought the influence of contemporary concert music into film, in part marked by an increased use of dissonance and complex rhythms. But there is also a lyrical quality to much of his work which may be connected to the influence of Aaron Copland, with whom he studied. | + | To make the film as authentic as possible, Kazan and producer [[Darryl F. Zanuck]] studied the numerous photographs that were taken during the revolutionary years, the period between 1909 and 1919 when Zapata led the fight to restore land taken from common people during the dictatorship of [[Porfirio Díaz]]. |
| - | His classical works include a ''[[Rhapsody (music)|Rhapsody]] for [[Piano]], [[Trumpet]] [[obbligato]] and [[Orchestra]]''. He was nominated for a [[Grammy Award]] for his score for the 1976 television miniseries ''[[Rich Man, Poor Man (TV miniseries)|Rich Man, Poor Man]]''. North is also known for his opening to the [[CBS]] television anthology series ''[[Playhouse 90]]''. | + | Kazan was especially impressed with the [[Agustín Casasola]] collection of photographs and he attempted to duplicate their visual style in the film. Kazan also acknowledged the influence of [[Roberto Rossellini]]'s ''[[Paisan (film)|Paisan]]''.<ref>{{cite book| first=Tony| last=Thomas| title=The Films of Marlon Brando| page=47| publisher=Citidel Press| date=November 6, 1975| edition=second| isbn=978-0806504810}}</ref> |
| - | ==Broadway credits== | + | == Plot == |
| - | *''[[Mother]]'' ([[1935]]) - [[Play (theatre)|play]] with music - co-[[composer]] | + | Emiliano Zapata (Brando) is part of a delegation sent to complain about injustices to corrupt longtime President Porfirio Díaz ([[Fay Roope]]), but Díaz dismisses their concerns, driving Zapata to open rebellion, along with his brother [[Eufemio Zapata|Eufemio]] (Quinn). He in the south and [[Pancho Villa]] ([[Alan Reed]]) in the north unite under the leadership of naive reformer [[Francisco Madero]] (Harold Gordon). |
| - | *''[[Life and Death of an American]]'' ([[1939]]) - [[Play (theatre)|play]] - co-[[composer]] | + | |
| - | *''[[Tis of Thee]]'' ([[1940]]) - [[revue]] - co-[[composer]] | + | Díaz is finally toppled and Madero takes his place, but Zapata is dismayed to find that nothing is changing. Madero offers Zapata land of his own while failing to take action to distribute land to the ''[[Tenant farmer|campesinos]]'' who fought to end the dictatorship and break up the estates of the elites. Zapata rejects the offer and seeks no personal gain. Meanwhile, the ineffectual but well-meaning Madero puts his trust in treacherous General [[Victoriano Huerta]] ([[Frank Silvera]]). Huerta first takes Madero captive and [[Ten Tragic Days|then has him murdered]]. |
| - | *''[[Of V We Sing]]'' ([[1942]]) - [[revue]] - featured [[composer]] | + | |
| - | *''[[Death of a Salesman]]'' ([[1949]]) - music for the [[Play (theatre)|play]] - [[composer]] | + | Steinbeck meditates in the film on the tempting military force and political might, which corrupts men. As it becomes clear that each new regime is no less corrupt and self-serving than the one it replaced, Zapata remains guided by his desire to return the peasants their recently robbed lands, while forsaking his personal interests. His own brother sets himself up as a petty dictator, taking what he wants without regard for the law, but Zapata remains a rebel leader of high integrity. Although he is able to defeat Huerta after Madero's assassination, as a result of his integrity, Zapata loses his brother, and his position. |
| - | *''[[The Innocents]]'' ([[1950]]) - [[Play (theatre)|play]] - [[incidental music]] [[composer]] | + | |
| - | *''[[A Streetcar Named Desire (ballet)|A Streetcar Named Desire]]'' ([[1952]]) - [[ballet]] based on the [[A Streetcar Named Desire (play)|play]] - [[composer]] | + | Although in the end Zapata himself is lured into an ambush and killed, the film suggests that the resistance of the ''campesinos'' does not end. Rumors begin that Zapata never died, but is instead continuing to fight from the hills, feeding the ''campesinos'' a sense of hope. As several scenes suggest, over the years, the ''campesinos'' have learned to lead themselves rather than look to others to lead them. |
| - | *''[[Street Corner Symphony]]'' ([[1997]]) - [[revue]] - featured [[songwriter]] for "Unchained Melody" | + | |
| + | == Cast == | ||
| + | * [[Marlon Brando]] as [[Emiliano Zapata]] | ||
| + | * [[Jean Peters]] as Josefa Zapata, his wife | ||
| + | * [[Anthony Quinn]] as [[Eufemio Zapata]] | ||
| + | * [[Joseph Wiseman]] as Fernando Aguirre | ||
| + | * [[Arnold Moss]] as Don Nacio | ||
| + | * [[Alan Reed]] as [[Pancho Villa]] | ||
| + | * [[Margo (actress)|Margo]] as Soldadera | ||
| + | * Harold Gordon as [[Francisco Ignacio Madero]] | ||
| + | * Lou Gilbert as Pablo | ||
| + | * [[Frank Silvera]] as [[Victoriano Huerta]] | ||
| + | * [[:fr:Florenz Ames|Florenz Ames]] as Señor Espejo | ||
| + | * [[Richard Garrick]] as Old General | ||
| + | * [[Fay Roope]] as [[Porfirio Díaz]] | ||
| + | * [[Mildred Dunnock]] as Señora Espejo | ||
| + | * [[Henry Silva]] as Hernández, the peasant who challenges 'president' Zapata (uncredited) | ||
| + | * [[Ross Bagdasarian Sr.|Ross Bagdasarian]] as officer (uncredited) | ||
| - | ==Academy Award Nominations== | ||
| - | *1952: Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture (''Death of a Salesman''; ''A Streetcar Named Desire'') | ||
| - | *1953: Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture'' (''Viva Zapata!'') | ||
| - | *1956: Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture'' (''The Rose Tattoo'') | ||
| - | *1956: Best Music, Original Song ("Unchained Melody", co-written with [[Hy Zaret]]) | ||
| - | *1957: Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture (''The Rainmaker'') | ||
| - | *1961: Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture (''Spartacus'') | ||
| - | *1964: Best Music, Score - Substantially Original (''Cleopatra'') | ||
| - | *1966: Best Music, Score - Substantially Original (''The Agony and the Ecstasy'') | ||
| - | *1967: Best Music, Original Music Score (''Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?'') | ||
| - | *1969: Best Music, Original Score for a Motion Picture not a Musical (''The Shoes of the Fisherman'') | ||
| - | *1975: Best Music, Original Dramatic Score (''Shanks'') | ||
| - | *1976: Best Music, Original Score (''Bite the Bullet'') | ||
| - | *1982: Best Music, Original Score (''Dragonslayer'') | ||
| - | *1985: Best Music, Original Score (''Under the Volcano'') | ||
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Revision as of 12:23, 15 June 2019
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Viva Zapata! is a 1952 biographical film directed by Elia Kazan and starring Marlon Brando. The screenplay was written by John Steinbeck, using Edgcomb Pinchon's book Zapata the Unconquerable as a guide.
The cast includes Jean Peters and, in an Academy Award-winning performance, Anthony Quinn.
The film is a fictionalized account of the life of Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata from his peasant upbringing, through his rise to power in the early 1900s, to his death.
To make the film as authentic as possible, Kazan and producer Darryl F. Zanuck studied the numerous photographs that were taken during the revolutionary years, the period between 1909 and 1919 when Zapata led the fight to restore land taken from common people during the dictatorship of Porfirio Díaz.
Kazan was especially impressed with the Agustín Casasola collection of photographs and he attempted to duplicate their visual style in the film. Kazan also acknowledged the influence of Roberto Rossellini's Paisan.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Plot
Emiliano Zapata (Brando) is part of a delegation sent to complain about injustices to corrupt longtime President Porfirio Díaz (Fay Roope), but Díaz dismisses their concerns, driving Zapata to open rebellion, along with his brother Eufemio (Quinn). He in the south and Pancho Villa (Alan Reed) in the north unite under the leadership of naive reformer Francisco Madero (Harold Gordon).
Díaz is finally toppled and Madero takes his place, but Zapata is dismayed to find that nothing is changing. Madero offers Zapata land of his own while failing to take action to distribute land to the campesinos who fought to end the dictatorship and break up the estates of the elites. Zapata rejects the offer and seeks no personal gain. Meanwhile, the ineffectual but well-meaning Madero puts his trust in treacherous General Victoriano Huerta (Frank Silvera). Huerta first takes Madero captive and then has him murdered.
Steinbeck meditates in the film on the tempting military force and political might, which corrupts men. As it becomes clear that each new regime is no less corrupt and self-serving than the one it replaced, Zapata remains guided by his desire to return the peasants their recently robbed lands, while forsaking his personal interests. His own brother sets himself up as a petty dictator, taking what he wants without regard for the law, but Zapata remains a rebel leader of high integrity. Although he is able to defeat Huerta after Madero's assassination, as a result of his integrity, Zapata loses his brother, and his position.
Although in the end Zapata himself is lured into an ambush and killed, the film suggests that the resistance of the campesinos does not end. Rumors begin that Zapata never died, but is instead continuing to fight from the hills, feeding the campesinos a sense of hope. As several scenes suggest, over the years, the campesinos have learned to lead themselves rather than look to others to lead them.
Cast
- Marlon Brando as Emiliano Zapata
- Jean Peters as Josefa Zapata, his wife
- Anthony Quinn as Eufemio Zapata
- Joseph Wiseman as Fernando Aguirre
- Arnold Moss as Don Nacio
- Alan Reed as Pancho Villa
- Margo as Soldadera
- Harold Gordon as Francisco Ignacio Madero
- Lou Gilbert as Pablo
- Frank Silvera as Victoriano Huerta
- Florenz Ames as Señor Espejo
- Richard Garrick as Old General
- Fay Roope as Porfirio Díaz
- Mildred Dunnock as Señora Espejo
- Henry Silva as Hernández, the peasant who challenges 'president' Zapata (uncredited)
- Ross Bagdasarian as officer (uncredited)
