Barbarosa **** (1982, Willie Nelson, Gary Busey, Isela Vega, Gilbert Roland, George Voskovec) – Classic Movie Review 8,897

Willie Nelson is charismatic as the legendary outlaw on the run and Gary Busey is excellent as the young cowboy protégé he befriends, in Fred Schepisi’s spirited 1982 Western film Barbarosa.

Director Fred Schepisi’s spirited 1982 Western film Barbarosa is made with conviction by Australian director Schepisi in the traditional manner but with Eighties arty overtones.

Barbarosa is well cast, with country singer Willie Nelson charismatic as the titular legendary outlaw on the run and Gary Busey excellent (as always) as Karl Westover, the young cowboy country-boy protégé he befriends.

William D Wittliff’s fresh screenplay and Schepisi’s love of the Texas terrain give this underrated Western the lift it needs.

So there were Westerns in the Eighties after the catastrophic flop of Heaven’s Gate! However, it fared very badly. Costing $11,000,000, it grossed only $1,736,123 in the US.

Also in the cast are Isela Vega, Gilbert Roland, George Voskovec, Alma Martinez, Danny de la Paz, Sharon Compton, Howland Chamberlain, Harry Caesar, Wolf Muser, Kai Wulff, Roberto Contreras, Luis Contreras, Itasco Wilson and Bruce Smith.

It is Australian director Fred Schepisi’s first American-made film.

Fred Schepisi (born 26 December 1939) debuted in Australia with 1976’s The Devil’s Playground, followed by The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith (1978), made his US debut with Barbarosa, and went on to make acclaimed, successful pictures like Plenty, Roxanne, A Cry in the Dark, The Russia House and Six Degrees of Separation, and Last Orders.

Barbarosa is directed by Fred Schepisi, runs 90 minutes, is made by Incorporated Television Company (ITC), is released by Associated Film Distribution (AFD) (1982) (US) and Universal Pictures, is written by William D Wittliff, is shot in Eastmancolor by Ian Baker, is produced by Paul N Lazarus III, is scored by Bruce Smeaton, and is designed by Michel Levesque.

Release date: February 19, 1982.

The cast are Willie Nelson as Barbarosa, Gary Busey as Karl Westover, Gilbert Roland as Don Braulio Zavala, Isela Vega as Josephina, Danny De La Paz as Eduardo, Alma Martinez as Juanita, George Voskovec as Herman Pahmeyer, Sharon Compton as Hilda, Howland Chamberlain as Emile, Harry Caesar as Sims, Wolf Muser as Floyd, Kai Wulff as Otto, Roberto Contreras as Cantina Owner, Luis Contreras as Angel Morales, Itasco Wilson as Mattie, Bruce Smith as Photographer, Jake Busey as Cook Boy and Reid Wittliff as Cook Boy.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8,897

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