The Wrath of God
Encyclopedia
The Wrath of God is an offbeat Western genre film released in 1972. It starred Robert Mitchum
, Frank Langella
, Rita Hayworth
and Victor Buono
and was directed by Ralph Nelson
.
Van Horne (played by Mitchum), a bank robber playing a bogus "priest", is spared from a firing squad in 1922 Central America and sent to kill a local desperado.
The film marks the final screen appearance by Hayworth, whose health worsened as Alzheimer's disease
took hold.
Alluding to the fact that the film is untroubled by the need for any apparent consistency, film critic Roger Ebert
describes it as "a simple, dashing tale told for sheer fun."
Lalo Schifrin
's Latin-tinged soundtrack score was described as "jazzy at times, more serious at others – but almost always served up with groovy touches that make this one especially appealing to our ears."
The film was released the same year as Werner Herzog
's acclaimed film Aguirre, the Wrath of God
.
Robert Mitchum
Robert Charles Durman Mitchum was an American film actor, author, composer and singer and is #23 on the American Film Institute's list of the greatest male American screen legends of all time...
, Frank Langella
Frank Langella
-Early life:Langella, an Italian American, was born in Bayonne, New Jersey, the son of Angelina and Frank A. Langella Sr., a business executive who was the president of the Bayonne Barrel and Drum Company. Langella attended Washington Elementary School and Bayonne High School in Bayonne...
, Rita Hayworth
Rita Hayworth
Rita Hayworth was an American film actress and dancer who attained fame during the 1940s as one of the era's top stars...
and Victor Buono
Victor Buono
Charles Victor Buono was an American actor and comic.-Early life and career:Buono was born in San Diego, California, the son of Myrtle Belle and Victor Francis Buono . His maternal grandmother, Myrtle Glied , was a Vaudeville performer on the Orpheum Circuit...
and was directed by Ralph Nelson
Ralph Nelson
Ralph Nelson was an American movie and television director, producer, writer, and actor.-Life and career:...
.
Van Horne (played by Mitchum), a bank robber playing a bogus "priest", is spared from a firing squad in 1922 Central America and sent to kill a local desperado.
The film marks the final screen appearance by Hayworth, whose health worsened as Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
took hold.
Alluding to the fact that the film is untroubled by the need for any apparent consistency, film critic Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Roger Joseph Ebert is an American film critic and screenwriter. He is the first film critic to win a Pulitzer Prize for Criticism.Ebert is known for his film review column and for the television programs Sneak Previews, At the Movies with Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, and Siskel and Ebert and The...
describes it as "a simple, dashing tale told for sheer fun."
Lalo Schifrin
Lalo Schifrin
Lalo Schifrin is an Argentine composer, pianist and conductor. He is best known for his film and TV scores, such as the "Theme from Mission: Impossible". He has received four Grammy Awards and six Oscar nominations...
's Latin-tinged soundtrack score was described as "jazzy at times, more serious at others – but almost always served up with groovy touches that make this one especially appealing to our ears."
The film was released the same year as Werner Herzog
Werner Herzog
Werner Herzog Stipetić , known as Werner Herzog, is a German film director, producer, screenwriter, actor, and opera director.He is often considered as one of the greatest figures of the New German Cinema, along with Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Margarethe von Trotta, Volker Schlöndorff, Werner...
's acclaimed film Aguirre, the Wrath of God
Aguirre, the Wrath of God
Aguirre, the Wrath of God is a 1972 West German adventure film written and directed by Werner Herzog. Klaus Kinski stars in the title role. The soundtrack was composed and performed by German progressive/Krautrock band Popol Vuh...
.
Cast
- Robert MitchumRobert MitchumRobert Charles Durman Mitchum was an American film actor, author, composer and singer and is #23 on the American Film Institute's list of the greatest male American screen legends of all time...
as Father Oliver Van Horne - Frank LangellaFrank Langella-Early life:Langella, an Italian American, was born in Bayonne, New Jersey, the son of Angelina and Frank A. Langella Sr., a business executive who was the president of the Bayonne Barrel and Drum Company. Langella attended Washington Elementary School and Bayonne High School in Bayonne...
as Tomas de la Plata - Rita HayworthRita HayworthRita Hayworth was an American film actress and dancer who attained fame during the 1940s as one of the era's top stars...
as Senora de la Plata - Victor BuonoVictor BuonoCharles Victor Buono was an American actor and comic.-Early life and career:Buono was born in San Diego, California, the son of Myrtle Belle and Victor Francis Buono . His maternal grandmother, Myrtle Glied , was a Vaudeville performer on the Orpheum Circuit...
as Jennings - Ken HutchisonKen HutchisonKen Hutchison is a Scottish actor. He may be best-known for his role in the controversial Sam Peckinpah film Straw Dogs. In 1980, he appeared as Brickett in National Pelmet, the Series 2 opener of critically acclaimed drama Minder . He appeared as the lead villain's henchmen in the eighties...
as Emmet Keogh - Paula Pritchett as Indian woman