The Deserter (1970 film)
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Directed by | Burt Kennedy |
Written by | Clair Huffaker Stuart J. Byrne (story) William H. James (story) |
Produced by |
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Starring | |
Cinematography | Dino de Laurentiis Cinematografica |
Distributed by | Paramount |
Release date |
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Running time | 100 minutes |
Countries |
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Language | English |
The Deserter (
Scripted during the
Plot
A US Army cavalry unit returns from a two week patrol to find the inhabitants of a
Kaleb believes part of the fault lies with the passive
Two years later General Miles (
General Miles tells Kaleb that Apaches led by Chief Mangus Durango have gathered in Mexico, intending to cross the border and attack at any time. As the United States Army is prohibited from entering Mexico, the General, over Brown’s objections, promises Kaleb amnesty in exchange for leading a select band of soldiers in plain clothes across the border to wipe out the Apache stronghold known as "La Spina Dorsale Del Diavolo", the Devil's Backbone.
In a reversal of the scenario of The Dirty Dozen, the formerly wanted Kaleb has his pick of the soldiers at the fort for his mission. Those willing to go on the mission include dynamite expert Reynolds (Chuck Connors), who also is an Army Chaplain, knife-fighting expert and military prisoner Corporal Jackson (Woody Strode), Gatling gun expert Captain Robinson (Patrick Wayne), grizzled veteran Quartermaster Sergeant Schmidt (Albert Salmi) and young army Lt. Ferguson (Brandon deWilde). A blustery Englishman, Crawford (Ian Bannen), sent by the British Army to study frontier tactics is selected by Kaleb's wolf dog. Kaleb selects the post's surgeon Dr. Robinson (Larry Stewart). Most of the men hate Kaleb, especially Trooper O'Toole (John Alderson).
Kaleb leads them into the desert to train them for the mission. It is severe, and results in a death of one of the party. The band also encounters Apaches, who they kill. On their return to the fort, Major Brown reveals that, despite the general’s amnesty offer, he intends to arrest Kaleb for having shot him two years ago. In response the general orders Brown to accompany Kaleb on the mission. Brown cannot disobey. Natchai and Tattinger go along as well.
They cross the border and successfully infiltrate the Apache stronghold of The Devil's Backbone by bringing their mounts and equipment up hazardous cliffs. After a successful smaller attack on part of the Apaches, due to one man's sense of morality the rest of the Apaches are alerted leading to a fierce battle with the main body of the Apaches. Kaleb's elite force wins, in large part due to the advantages proffered by dynamite and machine gun fire. The victorious survivors return to the fort, where an embarrassed General Miles explains that despite his amnesty offer he has been ordered to arrest Kaleb. Colonel Brown suggests the resolution: they will all say Kaleb was killed in action at the Devil's Backbone. Kaleb mounts up and rides away from the fort back into the desert.
Cast
- Bekim Fehmiu as Captain Victor Kaleb
- John Huston as General Miles
- Richard Crenna as Major Wade Brown
- Chuck Connors as Chaplain Reynolds
- Ricardo Montalbán as Natachai
- Ian Bannen as Captain Crawford
- Brandon deWilde as Lieutenant Ferguson
- Slim Pickens as Tattinger
- Woody Strode as Jackson
- Albert Salmi as Schmidt
- Patrick Wayne as Captain Bill Robinson (credited as Pat Wayne)
- Fausto Tozzi as Orozco
- Mimmo Palmara as Chief Mangus Durango
- John Alderson as O'Toole
Production
The film was shot largely
Reception
In his investigation of narrative structures in Spaghetti Western films, Fridlund writes that The Deserter mainly follows the "Professional Plot", as described by Will Wright in his analysis of American Westerns, that is the cooperation of a group of professionals fulfilling a mission.[5][6]
Home media
Video
The Deserter was originally released on
Soundtrack
The score for The Deserter had music composed and conducted by Piero Piccioni. Originally a practicing lawyer securing movie rights for Italian film distributors, he was eventually credited with scoring over 300 films. Piccioni was influenced in his use of jazz by 20th century classical composers and American cinematography and this is apparent in The Deserter soundtrack.[2]
Piccioni's score was released on
See also
- List of American films of 1971
- List of films shot in Almería
- List of Spaghetti Western films
References
- IMDb
- ^ a b c RememberingBrandon.net
- ^ Wildest Westerns Magazine
- ^ Western Locations Spain
- ^ Wright, Will: Sixguns & Society. A Structural Study of the Western. University of California Press, 1975.
- ^ Fridlund, Bert: The Spaghetti Western. A Thematic Analysis. Jefferson, NC and London: McFarland & Company Inc., 2006 pp. 209–210.
External links
- The Deserter at IMDb
- The Deserter at Rotten Tomatoes
- The Deserter trailer on YouTube
- Fort Bowie/Spanish on-location set