User Reviews

Some cannons have been stolen by a Mexican gang led by Cordoba . Then Captain Douglas (George Peppard) is assigned by General Pershing (John Russell) a dangerous mission , he along with a misfit group (Don Gordon) set off in pursuit outlaw gunfighters on the Texas border , circa 1912 . Meanwhile , Douglas tries to free a Mexican village besieged by nasty band who are devastating the small location. Douglas is decided to take a group of prisoners (Nico Minardos and Pete Duel who committed suicide the next year) and strike a blow against the Mexican bandits . He goes to Territorial Prison where a bunch of misfits and other prisoners get a chance to redeem themselves . Later on , the captain attempts to take the robbed cannons and to trap the bandit Cordoba (Raf Vallone) , being helped by a Mexican officer named Antonio (Gabriele Tinti) and the beautiful Leonora (Giovanna Ralli) .

The story is partially similar to ¨ The professionals¨ by Richard Brooks , adding ¨Dirty dozen¨ by Robert Aldrich with customary outlaw gang formed by an eclectic team with diverse speciality , as dynamite or guns . Far-fetching tale but real action , taut excitement and amusement throughout . The film gets action Western, exciting riding, blow ups , shootouts , it's funny and entertaining , although nothing new but displays a television style. The movie contains some moment of grisly violence and even touching on the relationships between George Peppard and Giovanna Ralli . This is a drab , inferior imitation from the original and enduringly popular ¨The magnificent seven¨ by John Sturges, and results to be a standard actioner fare . George Peppard as two-fisted officer who employs soldier-of-fortune is pretty good and Don Gordon is nice as his obstinate helper . Large support cast mostly formed by American players as John Larch , John Rusell , Pete Duel and Italian as the gorgeous Giovanna Ralli , Raf Vallone and Gabriele Tinti and Spanish with ordinary players from Spaghetti as Aldo Sambrell , Chris Huerta and Barta Barri . Filmed in Spain on location of Hoyo Manzanares , La Pedriza (Madrid) and Andalucia, Almeria, where in the 60s and 70s were shot by the hundred Spaghetti Western . Colorful and glimmer cinematography by the Italian cameraman Antonio Macasoli . As always, breathtaking and memorable musical score by the master Elmer Berstein . The motion picture is regularly directed by Paul Wendkos , a usual TV movie director though also realized some Western for cinema as ¨The face of a fugitive¨ and ¨The magnificent seven ride¨ . Rating : Average .

It is a western set in Mexico, a pretext for an explosive farce. It is based on an excellent script, curiously signed by Stephen Kandel, prolific screenwriter for television. Here we have a film influenced by the spaghetti western, supported by a heterogeneous cast that is one of the flavors of the film, or rather heterogeneous and sympathetic, with actors with recognizable faces that we have inevitably seen elsewhere. And as for the female cast, it is also a success. The two female characters, even if not very present on the screen, are notable and striking. Both for the plastic poses (especially for Francine York), important in this world of dust and dirt, and critical for the dramatic progression for the second, Giovanna Ralli.

On the direction, Paul Wendkos, who is also a product of television (many series to his credit, including contributions to The Untouchables or The Invaders). Here he has a lot of fun with some crazy camera angles and zooms, which date the film a little, but which are not detrimental to the progression.

The richness of the script is in the relationship between the people of George Peppard's gang. Each of them is characterized simply and well embodied by each of the actors: they each present a real personality; their scenes between them are the most interesting. The least interesting of the lot is George Peppard himself, who goes through the film in a mechanical way. It is as if he is not concerned by the film.

The film adds to the spectacular, the explosions and the violence (in the spaghetti sense of the term). All in all, it becomes a curious product that maintains interest over time despite its flaws (stereotypes, rough direction of the actors).

Cannon for Cordoba (why not Cannons, Cordoba steals six!?) stars George Peppard (The A-Team, The Blue Max!) and is one of those movies playing in the times of Mexico's long phase of revolutions and counter-revolutions starting around 1910 and going on for some decades. The pros of the movie: good acting, some good action, good production. The cons: nothing really new if you already watched such classics like Kazan's Viva Zapata! (1952, Marlon Brando), Peckinpah's The Wild Bunch (1969) or Leone's Giù la testa (Duck, You Sucker!) among others, all playing in the same time frame. Compared Cannon for Cordoba can hold its ground but can't really add something new - solid.

This film takes place in 1912 along the border between Mexico and the United States where a Mexican bandit by the name of "General Hector Cordoba" (Raf Vallone) has been participating in a revolution against his government and often makes raids across the Rio Grande to acquire valuable merchandise to help supplement his army. Not content with the Mexican government's efforts to stop these raids the United States dispatches "General John J. 'Blackjack' Pershing" (John Russell) to put a stop to them. Unfortunately, not long after arriving there he suffers the loss of six of his cannon which are stolen by General Cordoba's forces. Furious at this setback -and unable to take his army into Mexico-General Pershing orders a small group of misfits under the command of "Captain Rod Douglas" (George Peppard) to infiltrate General Cordoba's headquarters, destroy the cannon and bring the bandit back alive to face trial. Needless to say, this is an extremely difficult assignment which becomes even more difficult by the fact that one of Captain Douglas' own men by the name of "Jackson Harkness" (Don Gordon) has vowed to kill him because of an earlier incident involving his brother. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this was an entertaining film for the most part even though it does have a couple of scenes which defy all sense of reality. I also thought that the ending could have been drawn out a bit more but all things considered I enjoyed this film and I have rated it accordingly. Slightly above average.

Tipical golden-age western plot, a bunch of reluctant heroes in a suicide mission against the bad guy (and, as usually, his army of well armed companions). The main problem with this movie, like many other American commercial movies, especially westerns, is originality. Elmer Bernstein score is like one hundred other westerns music scores, the main character, George "Breakfast at Tiffany's" Peppard as the captain Douglas, is very much annoyed all the time; Giovanna Ralli and Raf Vallone apparently in paid holiday and the director Paul Vendkos (poor guy!) has made the capital mistake, I really think he has seen "The Professionals" by Richard Brooks (1966), that is the better version of the same story (by the way, is a masterpiece). The most notable thing of this unfortunate movie is George Peppard's cigar that you can see in "The A-Team" television series all through the eighties.

(1970) Cannon for Cordoba WESTERN

The set up is like 30 minutes, and it involves a radical extremist Mexican General Cordoba (Raf Vallone) and his group of bandits successfully stealing six cannons from a train that made the mistake stopping by at a Mexican town headed toward the border. And with many soldiers either killed and injured, Captain Roderick Douglas (George Peppard) is then given instructions by his superior new orders. The first is to go undercover and locate the six cannons before destroying them, so that they would not be used against them. And then second order is to capture Cordoba alive so that he can face charges. And he does this with the help of his team, Jackson (Don Gordon), Andy (Peter Duel) and Peter (Nico Minardos). Two other people come to join his group as well of LT. Antonio Gutierrez (Gabriele Tinti) and Senorita Leonora Cristobal (Giovanna Ralli).

I did not care for the end of this movie, as well I did not care about the subplot regarding Jackson for not forgiving Douglas letting his brother shot and killed by Cordoba's men. I mean, why didn't Jackson direct his anger toward the person who committed the act. Douglas stopped him from saving him because between him and Jackson they were very much outnumbered, and that he himself would have gotten killed as well.

After slightly over 50 years of avid film watching, I've come up with some simple rules for making good movies.

1. Introduce your main characters early, certainly within the first half hour 2. Keep your characters to a minimum. If adapting a novel, combine characteristics and actions of minor characters

into one person 3. Make sure your characters actions have credibility; if necessary, create additional scenes to establish motivation 4. Keep the action clear. Violence does not have to be explicit, but it must not be confusing, either 5. Get the best music money can buy. Frequently it matters more than acting, photography, etc. 6. Usually if a movie isn't very good within the first 10 minutes, it's not going to get any better

`Cannon for Cordoba' is a textbook example of what happens when these simple rules are not followed. Elmer Bernstein's score is rinkydink, one of the worst I've ever heard in a modestly budgeted movie. This is altogether surprising considering Bernstein's credentials (`Man With the Golden Arm,' `The Magnificent Seven,' `The Great Escape,' `Sons of Katie Elder'). Paul Wendkos' direction is lackluster and confusing. Performances vary from very good (Don Gordon, Peter Duel) to terrible (Raf Vallone, Giovanna Ralli, Gabriele Tinti) with the usually reliable George Peppard falling somewhere in the middle. This should not be surprising, considering the mediocre direction and amateurish script, which breaks rules 1, 2 and 3.

Don't waste your time. I give `Cannon for Cordoba' a `3'.

Cannon For Cordoba takes place during the Mexican Revolution of the teen years of the last century. Black Jack Pershing has gone into Mexico with a force. But you'll not hear the name of Pancho Villa mentioned in this film at all. Instead after a bandit named Cordoba played by Raf Vallone stole six artillery pieces from Pershing and taken them to his mountain stronghold, John Russell as Pershing has sent Captain George Peppard after them with a picked crew of Peppard's own choosing.

Peppard has his usual dissension in his ranks, but he's a man with a mission, he not only has to spike the cannons, but he has to bring Vallone out alive as the Mexican government wants to try him, then hang him. Making a tough job doubly difficult.

The Mexican Revolution period became a popular setting for various action adventure films starting with They Came To Codura in 1959 and the most popular was The Wild Bunch. It was an anarchic period in Mexican history with a lot of guys who were just bandits at one point setting themselves up as dictators over some piece of turf. Makes for a lot of good action/adventure films like those I mentioned.

Cannon For Cordoba next to those not to mention ones like Viva Zapata or Viva Villa just isn't that league.

Once you sit down to see this film " A Cannon for Cordoba " you get the feeling it's going to be a great. The reason? The film begins with a rousing score by noted composer Elmer Bernstein who gave us such memorable themes as 'The Great Escape and the Magnificent Seven.' Indeed, when you read the opening credits headlining the cast is none other than George Peppard as Capt. Rod Douglas, you know it's going to have action and lot's of it. Furthermore when you see actor John Russel playing General John J. Pershing, you know you're in for a heroic saga. The story is taken from the annals of the Mexican revolution and involves the U.S. in a border town dispute with the Mexican bandits who cross the Rio Grande in the early 1900s. Among the most brazen of the rebel leaders is General Cordova (Raf Vallone). With his army of Mexican revolutionaries, he attacks Pershing, kills his men and steals some valuable artillery pieces. Since the United States Army cannot enter Mexico legally, Capt. Douglas is sent on what is slated a suicide mission, without orders and without aid from Pershing. His mission is to retrieve the Cannons, destroy a rebel stronghold and bring Cordova back alive. Selecting the roughest, toughest, most experienced, certainly the most insolent men available, Douglas enters Mexico and attacks the nearly impregnable fortress. Dramatic action follows, as does lots of explosive excitement. If one is asks for criticism, I would say the choice of heavies. Vallone and John Larch are not very menacing. Not so with the men who side with Peppard. Pete Duel and Don Gordon (Who is superb.) Nevertheless, this movie is recommended as good viewing. ****

I do not know which one was first released earlier in 1970 . Cannon for Cordoba is an "Europen Western" It was made in Spain. This means this is fairly inferior to Sergio Leone's so-called #Western Spaghetti and to the Real American Masterpieces of John Ford, Sam Peckinpah, Howard Hugues,John Sturges and Anthony Mann, in my order of merit. This order is not to be interpreted as all John Ford Westerns are better than all by Sam Peckipahn's. I think IMDb's 100 Sort them out all pretty well.

The worse about this firm is the Casting. George Peppard is fit for a sergeant's role, Raff Valone for a "Maffia Capo" and Giovanna Ralli to a "puttana" in "Piazza Vennezia" in the sixty's in Rome.

Cannon For Cordova is a fair movie, that has only two reasons to watch. The incredible beauty of Giovanna Ralli ( Lenora) and the Elmer Bernstein music. The main star ( George Peppard ( Captain Rod Douglas)) has done westerns before ( including How The West Was Won), but simply does not excel in them ( he is at his best on TV ( Banacek and The A-Team)). I admit to being a sucker for beautiful Italian women like Sophia Loren, Gina Lollobrigida, Elsa Martinelli, Laura Antonelli and Virna Lisi, so Giovanna Ralli is right up my alley. But she is not enough to make this is a good movie ( just like watching her in What Did You Do In The War Daddy? (although this film is better)). I say 5/10 stars. 1 star for the Elmer Bernstein music. 4 for Giovanna Ralli.

Cannon for Cordoba is directed by Paul Wendkos and written by Stephen Kandel. It stars George Peppard, Giovanna Ralli, Raf Vallone, Pete Duel, Don Gordon, Nico Minardos, John Larch, John Russell and Francine York. A Panavision/De Luxe Color production, music is by Elmer Bernstein and cinematography by Antonio Macasoli.

"In 1912 the border between Texas and Mexico was aflame with the raids of Mexican bandit hordes who called themselves revolutionaries. To combat them the American government dispatched General John J. (Blackjack) Pershing to deal with the bandit raiders, one of the most dangerous of whom was General Hector Cordoba!"

A Paella Western crammed to the brim with machismo and action, Cannon for Cordoba is in desperate need of re-evaluation by the Pasta Western loving crowd.

The big problem the film has is that it is so indebted to a number of other "men on a mission" movies, it has struggled to gain credit for actually doing the format well. Undeniably the viewing experience is greatly helped if you are like me, a fan of such films like The Guns of Navarone, The Dirty Dozen, Where Eagles Dare, The Professionals and The Wild Bunch etc, because this is basically the Paella version of those films. Shot on location in Spain, with what now would be called a modest budget, it's pacey, explosive, pleasing in visuals and very well performed in the traditional Pasta Western sense. While the grim textures come courtesy of torture, sexual hostility and terrorism.

Plot basically entails U.S. Army Captain Rod Douglas (Peppard) taking a very small gathering of miscreants over the border into Mexico, their mission is to infiltrate Cordoba's (Vallone) mountain stronghold and destroy the cannons claimed by Cordoba's bandits earlier in the play. The threads that run through the plot see one of the group holding a grudge against his leader, another that has the lady of the mission operating on justifiable revenge driven ends, and with so many people wanting Cordoba dead, Douglas is up against it since he's under orders to bring the General back alive to face public trial and inevitable execution.

There's an unsubtle whiff of cynicism throughout the picture, the sly asides to the Vietnam War issue carrying a glint in the eye as cheeky as Peppard's performance. Oh it's no message movie, Wendkos and his team are firmly intent on tapping into the zeitgeist of those formula movies previously, there for sure is no overt attempts at political lecturing, but the scent is there and keeps the pic smelling wholesome.

Cast are the expected mixed bag for such a production. Peppard is every inch a Spaghetti Western anti-hero, perky blue eyes, stubbled face fuzz and constantly chomping on a cigar, he's the fulcrum of the viewing experience and he's great company to be in. Vallone is on wonderfully oily villain duties, yet charming into the bargain as well, Duel is nicely edgy and Ralli (I find it hard to write her name without swooning) is a sexual ball of deviousness. Wendkos favours tilted pan shots for his action scenes, which work to a point but then feel like, well, what's the point? While Bernstein provides a robust score that stirs the blood to boiling point.

Under seen and under valued? You betcha. 7.5/10

one states don't waste your time.......? I agree its not the best western around and it does resemble other movies of its genre. Peppard's is OK......but he did not carry the movie......for me. What surprised me, though it shouldn't have, was the nothing role of Andy Rice, Duel's performance was spot on and made the character pop when ever the camera was on him, Gordon also top notch and spot on. The whole movie I found myself looking for these 2 and if they were in the scene I was watching and hushing the room. But then Gordon has always played a great heavy and Duel....Well too bad we did not get a chance to see him push his way to the top, He definitely seemed to have the talent to have gone much further. so basically I liked it but I like action movies , the plot was OK and if your a Peppard fan its a must. Heck if you're a Duel fan it it showcases his talent even though it obviously was meant to. As I said before, you want to see some good acting that carries the film keep an eye out for Pete Duel and Don Gordon.

I have reasons to love the great users of a camera; fluid direction of action lends itself to fast-paced adventure and comedy narrative; but such a skill, in the hands of a King Vidor or an Anthony Mann can also be applied to idea-level work. This is Paul Wendkos' masterpiece. Its storyline can be retailed in a single pair of sentences. General Hector Cordoba is setting up as near-emperor in Northern Mexico, and steals a huge cannon from General Blackjack Pershing. he sends his crack mission unit, divided, apprehensive but determined, led by George Peppard, to get the cannon back and bring back Cordoba alive, to put an end to the rebellion. Charismatic Raf Vallone plays Cordoba; the ladies in the piece are Giovanna Ralli and Francine York; with the squad even further comprised of Nico Minardos, Peter Deuel, and Don Gordon. Other stalwarts in the class include John Larch and John Russell. Also horning in on an already fantastically-dangerous operation are Miss Ralli, and a stubborn Mexican Teniente (Gabriela Tinti) whose regiment was betrayed when Cordoba set up on his own. The danger is multiplied when Gordon's brother as advance spy is captured and tortured to death while he has to watch...and he decides he needs to kill Peppard. The attack that captures the cannon, when Peppard's orders are not obeyed by a regular army type, is one of the most electrifying visual and staging achievements in cinematic history; the penetration of Cordoba's stronghold, the revelations uncovered there, and the actions that win the mission team a chance at victory--or almost victory--are flawlessly presented. This is a beautiful color adventure film, with unusually strong costumes, acting, lighting, art direction sets and music by Elmer Bernstein. The script by Stephen Kandel is probably his best ever for a feature film. This is probably the most underrated major western at the moment, but I have always appreciated its heroes as result- getting hard-workers. But as Peppard reminds his group on the way home, "The trouble with being a "hero"--is the morning after". To find out why he says so, you will have to see "Cannon For Cordoba".

I am dead sure that the makers: producer, writer and director, had Sam Peckinpah's masterpiece in mind when they created this movie: nearly same settings, atmosphere, period, story too. But it is not. It remains though a good western, not too much under spaghetti western influence. Paul Wendkos was a prolific TV director, more than big screen one. George Peppard was here at his peak, late sixties, early seventies. Good directing and acting, worth the watch. Good supporting characters.