Linkshoch Wonderful Movie

VividSimon Simply Perfect

Invaderbank The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

Hadrina The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

Richard Chatten The story of 'Captain from Castile' commences almost exactly 500 years ago to the day in April 1518 and would seem to promise thigh-slapping, rip-roaring swashbuckling action on horseback of the old school, but instead proves surprisingly ponderous and talky. The intrusion of the Spanish Inquisition might have livened things up, but they're only mentioned in passing. Few of the cast are at their best (Thomas Gomez is particularly wasted), the most entertaining performance being that of Alan Mowbray and his revolving false eye. (Uncredited but eye-catching in the role of Doña Marina is Mexican actress Stella Inda, who shortly afterwards was Pedro's mother in Buñuel's classic 'Los Olvidados'.)Montezuma's constantly delayed entrance becomes a sort of running gag, and when the conquistadors seem finally about to meet him face to face after 140 long minutes the film abruptly ends, and we never see any of the famous unpleasantness between Cortés and Montezuma most of us learned about during our schooldays. During the course of the film Tyrone Power being Tyrone Power naturally bounces back both from a crossbow bolt in the head and being stabbed.

Mark Turner Tyrone Power was a force to be reckoned with when at his peak. Contracted to 20th Century Fox he was their lead performer for years. He was as adept at comedy and drama as he was the numerous swashbuckling films he made. And at the height of his career he made this film at a staggering (at the time) costs for production. Not only that the film runs 2 hours and 21 minutes, something unheard of at the time.The story is quite involved and takes place in two locales. The first is in Spain in the 1500s. There Pedro De Vargas (Power) is part of the upper class, a nobleman well loved. Pedro is in love with a fair haired maiden named Luisa De Carvajal (Barbara Lawrence). But Luisa has also caught the eye of Diego De Silva, the local representative of the Inquisition. When Pedro helps Coatl (Jay Silverheels), one of De Silva's Indian slaves escape, De Silva has Pedro and his family arrested and ready for questioning. His first victim is Pedro's 12 year old sister who dies while being tortured.Placed in cells Pedro is rescued by Juan Garcia (Lee J. Cobb), an adventurer friend he made earlier who lost part of his family to De Silva as well. A sword fight with De Silva leaves him bleeding and thought dead. While his parents head for the safety of Italy, Pedro along with Juan and Catana Perez (Jean Peters), a young woman Pedro helped when De Silva's men were upon her, all decide to join an expedition to the new world. Hoping to change their fortunes they sign on with Hernando Cortez (Cesar Romero) and his search for gold possessed by the Aztecs.The film shifts to their adventures there in the new world and there are plenty of them. Between duplicitous seamen and the locals unwilling to simply part with their treasures the lives of these three are not easy. Added to the mix is the fact that Catana has fallen hopelessly in love with Pedro while Juan has grown fond of her at the same time.Pedro deals with his past when confronted by Father Bartolome Romero (Thomas Gomez). When asked why he hasn't shown up to mass he confesses his past sins and the death of his nemesis De Silva. Father Romero forgives him of his sins and makes him promise to atone for them. Which becomes an issue when nearly a year later De Silva shows up to represent the king and as a guest of Cortez.Keep in mind these are the basics of the story going on here, the bones that flesh is wrapped around. The movie is filled with romance and adventure like many movies of the time offered. What makes the movie special is that it is all done with such skill. Every bit of the movie comes together to make the story come alive, especially the score by composer/conductor Alfred Newman. Power is at his best here and Peters makes it hard to believe that this was her first film.Twilight Time has released the film with the cleanest picture ever offered for this title. In addition to that they've thrown in a number of extras this time around including an isolated music track, an audio commentary track featuring film historians Rudy Behlmer, Jon Burlingame and Nick Redman, TYRONE POWER: THE LAST IDOL an episode of the old Biography series, TYRONE POWER AND HIS LEADING LADIES and the original theatrical trailer. Once more Twilight Time has limited this to just 3,000 copies to pick one up if you're a fan.

oscar-35 *Spoiler/plot- Captain from Castile, 1947. In 1500s Spain, a son of a nobleman gets caught up in the Inquisition to where his family is killed by them. He wants revenge and to clear his family name. Instead, he decides to travel with the Cortez expedition and to make his fortune in Mexico.*Special Stars- Tyrone Power, Lee J. Cobb, Cesar Romero, Jay Silverheels. *Theme- Man's need for exploration can become his own future full of positive promise and riches. *Trivia/location/goofs- Color. Jay Silverheels plays an Aztec Indian in Spain and Mexico. Filmed on location in central Mexico near where the history took place. The film was lucky enough to be filming in a volcano's valley while it was smoking actively for picture. Film's memorable heroic Alfred Neuman music features what was to become the University of Southern California (USC) 'fight' song played during the conquest of the Aztecs scenes with Cortez. *Emotion- A wonderfully colorful, exciting, and well acted film of this historic period. Always a film that uplifts the viewer's spirit with the plot's drama and action.*Based On- Loosely follows Captain Cortez histories in his conquest of Mexico.

jpdoherty Arguably the finest romantic epic adventure of the Golden Age of motion pictures Fox's CAPTAIN FROM CASTILE (1947) has amazingly not dated one iota since its inception. The movie is a joy to behold! With rich vibrant 3 strip Technicolor Samuel Shellabarger's classic novel about the young Spanish nobleman who joins Cortez' Conquistadores in the New World to escape the inquisition comes mightily to the screen. This was a 1947 blockbuster with outstanding production values. Tyrone Power is terrific in it and Caesar Romero gives a striking performance as the all conquering Cortez. Solidly directed by the always reliable Henry King it was gleamingly photographed by Charles Clark and Arthur E. Arling and was splendidly written for the screen by Lamar Trotti. The only crib I have with the movie is its 140 minute running time. Despite the film dealing only with a little over half of Shellabarger's book it is still a tad long for a movie. With about 20 minutes shorn from its length it would have made for a tighter more cohesive viewing experience. Nevertheless it is still a memorable and spectacular piece of filmed entertainment.The picture cost almost 5 million dollars to produce. A gigantic sum in 1947 and the cost is evident throughout. Extensive location filming was done in Mexico where the real events depicted took place. And almost unbelievably coincidental is that while filming in Uruapan an active volcano was erupting and was utilised in the background for the closing scenes. This so accurately substituted for another active volcano that was erupting during Cortez' actual invasion all those centuries ago.Complimenting the colourful production throughout is Alfred Newman's blistering Oscar nominated score. Beside his Academy Award winning music four years earlier for "The Song Of Bernadette" CAPTAIN FROM CASTILE is his finest achievement and contains his celebrated and spine tingling "Conquest March" surely cinema's greatest march theme! Also from the score is the sumptuous music for Catana the peasant girl (The lovely Jean Peters making her debut) and the equally gorgeous theme for the lady Luisa (Barbara Lawrence). Although Newman's "Song Of Bernadette" is quiet brilliant it was really one dimensional in structure being unable to untangle itself from its overt piousness. CASTILE on the other hand is totally different. Edward B. Powell, Newman's trusted orchestrator for many years, said in a 1975 interview "it was a film that allowed Alfred full range as a composer. It had everything; love, death, pomp, action, scenery and The Church. The grandeur of the whole thing inspired the use of the complete orchestral palette in the grand manner".Alfred Newman's inspired score is just one of the many stunning elements that makes CAPTAIN FROM CASTILE an unforgettable movie. It is a radiant example of Hollywood's golden past that had exceptional writing, performances, Cinematography and music. Since it was made over sixty years ago it has been enjoyed by past generations and without doubt it will be enjoyed by many generations to come. A Fox winner!