Queimada (1969)

Director:

Gillo Pontecorvo

Writers:

Franco Solinas (story) &
Giorgio Arlorio (story) ...

Release Date:

21 October 1970 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | History

Tagline:

The man who sells war. The bloodier the battle - the higher the price. He's going to make a fortune on this one.

Plot:

The professional mercenary Sir William Walker instigates a slave revolt on the Caribbean island of Queimada...

Plot Keywords:

Racism | Bank Robbery | Sugar Cane | Rebel Hero | Allegory

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Marlon Brando	...	Sir William Walker
Evaristo Márquez	...	Jose Dolores (as Evaristo Marquez)
Norman Hill	...	Shelton
Renato Salvatori	...	Teddy Sanchez
Dana Ghia	...	Francesca
Valeria Ferran Wanani	...	Guarina
Giampiero Albertini	...	Henry
Carlo Palmucci	...	Jack
Thomas Lyons	...	General Prada
Joseph P. Persaud	...	Juanito
Álvaro Medrano		(as Alvaro Medrano)
Alejandro Obregón	...	Major (as Alejandro Obregon)
Enrico Cesaretti

Also Known As:

Burn! (USA)
The Mercenary (Canada: English title)

MPAA:

Rated R for some violence and nudity. (2005 re-rating; 1970 rating GP)

Runtime:

Argentina:115 min | Italy:132 min | UK:112 min | USA:112 min | USA:132 min (restored version) | Germany:121 min

Country:

Italy | France

Language:

English | Portuguese

Color:

Color (DeLuxe)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 (cut) (1971) | Australia:M | Argentina:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:AA | USA:GP (original rating) | USA:R (re-rating) (2005)

Filming Locations:

Cartagena, Bolívar, Colombia

Company:

Europee Associate SAS

Trivia:

'Evaristo Marquez' , who plays rebel leader Jose Dolores in the film, was not an actor. He was a poor villager whom director Pontecorvo discovered while scouting locations and convinced to star opposite Brando. The studio had originally wanted Sydney Poitier.

Quotes:

Sir William Walker: Gentlemen, let me ask you a question. Now, my metaphor may seem a trifle impertinent, but I think it's very much to the point. Which do you prefer - or should I say, which do you find more convenient - a wife, or one of these mulatto girls? No, no, please don't misunderstand: I am talking strictly in terms of economics...
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in Brando (2007) (TV)

An intelligent action filled political thriller.

One of the most under-rated films of all time. Marlon Brando is at his best playing the cool, witty Sir William Walker. The film is taut and fast paced. Add to this an intelligent script and beautiful scenery as well as an ironic political story and you have an excellent film. Brando carries the film in his portrayal of Sir William Walker, who is ready to play either side of the political struggle to satisfy his government's (Great Britain) needs. He is equally at ease with the rich upper class plantation owners as with the slave sugar cane cutters allowing him to take advantage of both. Where the film triumphs is in its ironic showing of how colonial powers will stop at nothing to get what they want no matter what the cost. Are the islanders of Queimada any better off as an independent country but relying on the British for trade, or as a colony of Portugal? Hard to say. The sugar cane cutters are no better off that's for sure. The musical score by long time Sergio Leone contributor Ennio Morricone captures very well the senselessness of the revolution as well as the fact that the slaves are just pawns in a much larger and dangerous game.Apparently the actor who plays Jose Dolores was an illiterate sugar cane cutter and had never even seen a film. Even with this handicap, he still manages to give the heroic Jose an air of dignity. It is nice to see a film that does not accept that everything is all right in the world and that such a trivial thing as having sugar for our tea, can have life and death consequences for so many people. A film not to be missed.