Old Gringo ***½ (1989, Jane Fonda, Gregory Peck, Jimmy Smits) – Classic Movie Review 6882

Director Luis Puenzo’s 1989 historical romantic adventure drama stars Jane Fonda as Harriet Winslow, an American spinster who takes a job looking after the children of a wealthy family caught up in the revolution in Mexico and falls in love with the rebel leader General Tomas Arroyo (Jimmy Smits) and under the spell of cynical old American writer, Ambrose ‘Old Gringo’ Bierce (Gregory Peck). aging, also in Mexico, befriends Gen. Arroyo and meets Harriet.

This expensively shot movie – really a Western in all but name – provides meaty roles for the three excellent stars, who respond with flawless acting, though Peck is particularly charismatic.

Even if Old Gringo slightly falls short of its goals, the tale’s search for a mystical dimension and ultimate truths is admirably brave and ambitious. The screenplay by Aida Bortnik and Luis Puenzo is based on Carlos Fuentes’s novel. It is beautifully shot by Felix Monti, with a fine score by Lee Holdridge.

Also in the cast are Patricio Contreras, Gabriela Roel, Pedro Armendariz Jr, Jenny Gago, Jim Metzler and Anne Pitoniak.

This under-valued, underrated, under-patronised movie for grown-ups was a disappointing box office flop, costing $34 million and taking only $3,574,256 in the US.

Old Gringo is directed by Luis Puenzo, runs 119 minutes, is produced by Columbia Pictures Corporation and Fonda Films, is released by Columbia Tri-Star, is written by Aida Bortnik and Luis Puenzo, is shot by Felix Monti, is produced by Lois Bonfiglio, is scored by Lee Holdridge, and is designed by Stuart Wurzel and Bruno Rubeo.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 6882

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com