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El Condor (film)
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Wikipedia article
'El Condor' is a 1970 American Western film directed by John Guillermin.
Jim Brown and Lee Van Cleef lead a band of Apaches (including Iron Eyes Cody) against a fortress commanded by Patrick O'Neal. The fortress is said to contain the gold reserves of Emperor Maximilian.
The movie was shot in 35mm Technicolor in Almera, Spain, and involved the construction of the huge adobe fortress set that was re-used in later films, including 'Conan the Barbarian' (1982) and 'March or Die' (1977).
'El Condor' was among the first movies rated R (for violence, explicit language, and nudity).
Plot
In 1860s Mexico, Luke, an escaped convict, and Jaroo, a loner gold prospector who is not very bright, team up with a band of Apache Indians to capture a heavily armed fortress for the thousands of gold bars said to be stored within. The fortress is commanded by the sadistic Chavez, whose mistress, Claudine, Luke becomes attracted to the moment he sees her.
Cast
Production
The film was financed by National General, who in October 1968 announced they had purchased Steve Carabatsos' original script and would make the film the following March.'Harper Valley' Film Set
Martin, Betty. Los Angeles Times (16 Oct 1968: h20. Filming was pushed back; in April 1969 National General announced the movie as part of a slate of 13 films they would make, costing $35 million in all. John Guillermin was attached to direct.National General Schedules 13 Films
Los Angeles Times 26 Apr 1969: b8.
The studio had recently made a film called 'Daddy's Gone A-Hunting' based on a script by Larry Cohen. Cohen says the studio decided to make the movie, built a fort and town in Almeria, Spain, then decided they disliked the script; they paid Cohen to travel to Spain and write a new film around the existing sets. Cohen wrote a script they were happy with, and Jim Brown and Lee Van Cleef were cast. According to Cohen, Van Cleef then changed his mind about doing the film on the advice of Alberto Grimaldi who said the actor's character was ridiculous; Cohen persuaded van Cleef to do it, arguing it was a comic role along the lines of Humphrey Bogart's character in 'The African Queen'.
The casting of the two leads was announced in July 1969.Catching Up on Old, New Haunts
Haber, Joyce. Los Angeles Times 23 July 1969: c13.
Filming started in October 1969.'Bankroll' Casts Arlene Dahl Martin, Betty. Los Angeles Times 10 Oct 1969: h17. Swedish actor Ewa Aulin, who had been in 'Candy' was originally meant to play the female lead. However she quit the film, refusing to film nude scenes.Actress walks out over nude scenes, 'The Irish Times' 16 Oct 1969: 7. She was replaced by Mariana Hill who said she would go nude: "If it's done well".Mariana Hill Keeps Her Cool With Jim Brown. Johnson, Patricia. 'Los Angeles Times', 8 Feb 1970: q16.
Cohen says that director John Guillermin and producer Andre de Toth did not get along, in part because the latter wanted to direct. According to Cohen, de Toth took over from the director on his previous movie ('Play Dirty') and wanted to do the same thing again. The conflict resulted in Guillermin and de Toth having a fistfight.
VHS and DVD releases
The movie was released on a fullscreen VHS in 1994, and a widescreen DVD by Warner Archive in 2009.
Critical reaction
Roger Ebert's review of August 27, 1970 in the 'Chicago Sun-Times' began: "Lee Van Cleef's last words in 'El Condor' are, 'What am I doing here?' Amen, brother".
See also
* List of American films of 1970
References
Bibliography
* The American Film Institute Catalog of Motion Pictures Produced in the United States Feature Films, 19611970. University of California Press, 1997, page 298.* Greenspun, Roger, "Screen: `El Condor Bows, Mexican Treasure Tale Comes to the Forum", 'The New York Times', June 20, 1970, page 22.
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