Guns for San Sebastian [La bataille de San Sebastian] *** (1968, Anthony Quinn, Anjanette Comer, Charles Bronson, Sam Jaffe) – Classic Movie Review 9714

Director Henri Verneuil’s 1968 Franco-Mexican-Italian co-production Guns for San Sebastian [La bataille de San Sebastian] stars Anthony Quinn, who does his Zorba turn again as Leon Alastray, an escaping outlaw in 18th-century Mexico pretending to be a priest.

Befriended by monk Father Joseph (Sam Jaffe), Alastray has to help the villagers against invading Indians and the banditos of Teclo (Charles Bronson).

Guns for San Sebastian is a tough action adventure tailored for the fans of the genre, with the sparky performances of stars and vigour in the direction fighting off the rather poor quality script and some sluggishness in the plotting, as well as some slack lethargy in the acting of the lower ranks. Nevertheless, Armand Thirard’s Metrocolor cinematography, the location shooting and Ennio Morricone score add touches of class.

Also in the cast are Anjanette Comer, Silvia Pinal, Jorge Martínez de Hoyos, Fernand Gravet, Jaime Fernández, Rosa Furman, Leon Askin, José Chávez, Ivan Desny, Pedro Armendáriz Jr, Jorge Russek, and Aurora Clavel.

The screenplay by Serge Gance, Miguel Morayta and Ennio De Concini is based on William Barby Faherty’s novel. The English screenplay is by James R Webb.

Henri Verneuil was born on 15 October 1920 in Rodosto, Ottoman Empire, as Achod Malakian, arrived with his refugee family in Marseilles at the age of four, and became a naturalised French citizen. He died on 11 January 2002, aged 81.

Guns for San Sebastian [La bataille de San Sebastian] [Los Canones de San Sebastian] [I Cannoni di San Sebastian] is directed by Henri Verneuil, runs 111 minutes, is made by Compagnie Internationale de Productions Cinématographiques (CIPRA), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Producciones Enríquez S.A. and Filmes Cinematografica, is released by MGM, is written by Serge Gance, Miguel Morayta and Ennio De Concini and James R Webb (English screenplay), is shot in Metrocolor and widescreen by Armand Thirard, is produced by Jacques Bar and Ernesto Enriquez, and is scored by Ennio Morricone.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9714

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