Vera Cruz Details

1954

Rated:
60
from 412 members

Starring	Gary Cooper, Burt Lancaster, Cesar Romero, George Macready
Director	Robert Aldrich
Genres	Action/Adventure

Vera Cruz

In Robert Aldrich's action-packed Western, Benjamin Trane (Gary Cooper) and Joe Erin (Burt Lancaster) are American soldiers of fortune hired by the Austrian ruler of Mexico, Maximilian, to safeguard a royal convoy transporting gold and an Austrian countess to the port of Vera Cruz. Things get complicated for the mercenaries when they begin to mistrust one another--and when Erin starts to fall for the countess. Aldrich throws a bit of European exotica into the standard oater formula of guns, grit, and gold to create a striking, memorable film that showcases the acting talents of Cooper and Lancaster, two monumental Hollywood stars. The director also sprinkles some trenchant historical commentary into his powder-keg narrative by showing the Hapsburg empire's bumbling attempt to annex Mexico.

Starring	Gary Cooper, Burt Lancaster, Cesar Romero, George Macready, Ernest Borgnine, Morris Ankrum, Denise Darcel, Sarita Montiel
Director	Robert Aldrich
Studio	MGM ENTERTAINMENT
Run time	DVD: 1 hr 30 mins
Certificate
Collections	100 Wild Westerns
Genres	Action/Adventure
Language	DVD: English
Dubbed	French, German, Italian, Spanish
Hearing-impaired	English, German
Subtitles	DVD: Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish
Released	DVD: 11 Jun 2001 Production year: 1954
Format	DVD

Critics' reviews (3) of Vera Cruz
View all
This is splendid Boys' Own stuff as two of the cinema's greatest icons slug it out down Mexico way. Gary Cooper headlines but co-star Burt Lancaster is the man to watch in this terrific action adventure that was produced by Lancaster's own company. It's directed by Robert Aldrich, who would collaborate out west once more with Lancaster in Ulzana's Raid. The movie has a rattling pace (thanks to editor Alan Crosland Jr) and a fine sense of style that's hard to top, plus a supporting cast that includes Ernest Borgnine and Charles Bronson (still being billed here as Buchinsky), well before they teamed up with Aldrich again for The Dirty Dozen.
- Radio Times
- Posted 29 Jan 2006
A brash, lively, and totally appealing Western about a couple of American adventurers - Cooper, a decent but cynical... read more on Time Out
- Time Out
- Posted 04 Nov 2008
Most helpful member's review of Vera Cruz
View all
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

How the West was Sold

As usual, Burt Lancaster's teeth give a performance at least as theatrical as he does, and probably deserve a credit in themselves. Moreover, the casting of Gary Cooper tells you that the cynical standpoint of his character (one of several Americans who have headed south to be mercenaries in the Mexican War of Independence) will not last. But these are about the only flaws. Like most of Robert Aldrich's films, this is fast-moving, completely amoral, and peopled by men who seem to exist in a world without rules of any kind. Lancaster is superb as the semi-villain, Cooper relaxed to near autopilot as his friend / nemesis, and the rest of the cast (including western stalwarts like Jack Elam, Charles Bronson and Ernest Borgnine) are equally fine. It also looks wonderful, filmed entirely on location in Mexico, with ancient ruins and authentic villains making an extremely convincing backdrop. This is not your standard good guys and bad guys Western, and it's all the better for it.
- - Tim Turner from Manchester
  - Posted 27 Jun 2004 17:11
Most recent members' review of Vera Cruz
View all
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

Good western

Good Mexican scenery, a good mix of famous actors and I liked the film. I'm biased because I like most of Burt Lancaster's films.
- - A customer from derby
  - Posted 19 Nov 2004 15:28
More like this
View all
Showing 1 to 4 of 20

[+] [-]
Previous
Marty

Sign up

Buy

The Comancheros

Sign up

Buy

The Cowboys

Sign up

Buy

Broken Arrow

Sign up

Buy
Next