source: Guns for San Sebastian

La bataille de San Sebastian

This movie is better than what you will see, better than what it seems to be, that is, just an adventure movie, an action movie, a drama. It is more than that, and not only to the contribution of undisputed professional masters who were Henri Verneuil, Anthony Quinn, Charles Bronson and the music of the brilliant Ennio Morricone. It has a much deeper message, it must be "read between the lines", the intelligent will understand what I mean. In fact, the film has more comic than dramatic moments. Somehow, it is a Sergio Leone film directed by the only great Henri Verneuil.

I have never actually seen the film, but Morricone's main theme is one of his greatest. Soaring, Beautiful, subtle and Unique. if the film is anything like as good as its score then it will be a masterpiece! The score is up there with Morricone's compositions for The Good The Bad and The Ugly and A Fistful of dynamite. In some ways more conventional....in that this was a major MGM western and not just a pasta western. Worth remembering that Morricone carried on composing great scores for this Director, including the twangy accompaniment to The Scicillian Clan and all those great early 8o's action flicks with Belmondo (Not to forget of course The Burglars as well)

See it - A pretty stereotypical plot about villagers who must stand up for themselves and fight against the bad guys who have been pushing them around for years. It sounds like "The Magnificent Seven," but this story is unique enough in its own right. Anthony Quinn is a fugitive on the run who is shown kindness by a priest. When the priest is killed, Quinn impersonates the priest and becomes the leader that the village of San Sebastian so badly needs. A leader who is willing to fight against the villain played by Charles Bronson. A pretty average movie, but it has an awesome "Alamo-like" final battle and a great ending! 3 out of 5 action rating.

Two-time Academy Award winner Anthony Quinn (Viva Zapata!, Zorba the Greek, Lust for Life) as a priest? Not really, he is on the lam and finds a "god forsaken place" to hide out. He borrows a robe and hopes he doesn't get caught. But Charles Bronson (Once Upon a Time in the West, Death Wish) doesn't want any priests around to mess things up for him. He likes taking from the people, and priests just complicate things. Felicia (the prolific Mexican actress Silvia Pinal) is going to do her best to keep him in San Sebastian. It turns into a Magnificent Seven, but there is only Quinn, who gets help from the Governor after he tells his wife that he will expose their affair if she doesn't help him. :-) Lots of excitement at the end.

The film has a good theme and set in quite genuine historical settings. It brings out the conflict between the indians and the settlers, the poor settlers and the ruling elite. It packs in quite some punch on the action category.

Anthony Quin plays Leon Alastray, part time revolutionary and full time bandit, on the run from the Spanish authorities in Old Mexico in the 18th Century. Through a series of unlikely but possible events, Quinn is mistaken for a priest whom has come to the small village of San Sebastian. The villagers are being victims by Jaime Fernandez and his band of Yacquis. Charles Bronson plays (badly, worst performance of his career) a half-breed whose loyalties are always suspect. Anjanette Comely, er Comer, plays the sultry love interest. Rather silly story, good cinematography, fairly good special effects, and outstanding music (by the master, Ennio Morricone) makes this a worthwhile view. Turner Classic Movies shows it in letterbox. Otherwise, you are out of luck. It's not available in video.

A spaghetti western surprise with Anthony Quinn as a "priest" and Charles Bronson as a Mestizo malcontent. The movie has a theme, a developed plot, some actors with charisma and an Ennio Morricone score. That's more than most movies give you, regardless of genre. I was pleased to find that Spaghettiville isn't a one-horse (Eastwood/Leone) town. 8 out of 10.