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Vera Cruz (1954); The Professionals (1966)

Vera Cruz (1954)
April 12, 2013 - 7:30 pm
Billy Wilder Theater

Vera Cruz (1954)

Directed by Robert Aldrich

Burt Lancaster bends his famous grin into a sadistic sneer as outlaw Joe Erin in his second outing with director Robert Aldrich, adding a particularly savage streak to this Western high adventure set during the Mexican Revolution. Gary Cooper plays Erin's reluctant partner, a disgraced southern officer turned mercenary after the Civil War, on a mission to escort a Spanish countess (Darcel) to Vera Cruz until rebels and rumors of gold pit one against the other.

United Artists Corp. Producer: James Hill. Screenwriter: Roland Kibbee, James R. Webb. Cinematographer: Ernest Laszlo. Cast: Gary Cooper, Burt Lancaster, Denise Darcel, Cesar Romero, Sarita Montiel. 

35mm, color, 94 min. 

Watch the trailer below.

The Professionals (1966)

"Underrated all-star western." — Jonathan Rosenbaum Chicago Reader

Directed by Richard Brooks

A group of mercenaries (Marvin, Ryan, Strode and Lancaster, as explosives expert Bill Dolworth) accepts a lucrative assignment to recover a Texas millionaire's wife (Cardinale) from a Mexican bandit (Palance). But the mission doesn't go as expected, and little about the setup is as it initially seems. A story of honor and adventure, the film features some of Richard Brooks' best dialogue delivered with relish by Lancaster. "Go to hell," instructs Cardinale's Mrs. Grant. "Yes ma'am," replies Lancaster, "I'm on my way."

Columbia Pictures. Producer: Richard Brooks. Screenwriter: Richard Brooks. Cinematographer: Conrad Hall. Editor: Peter Zinner. Cast: Lee Marvin, Burt Lancaster, Robert Ryan,Woody Strode, Claudia Cardinale.

35mm, color 125 min.

Watch the trailer below. 

Part of: 
Burt Lancaster: A Centennial Celebration