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Captain From Castile
List Price: $19.98Our Price: $17.99 You Save: $1.99 (10%)Prices subject to change.
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Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: DVD
EAN: 0024543437345
Format: Color, Full Screen, NTSC, Subtitled
Label: 20th Century Fox
Languages: English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), English (Original Language), French (Dubbed), Spanish (Dubbed),
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
MPN: D2243734D
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: 20th Century Fox
Region Code: 1
Release Date: May 01, 2007
Running Time: 141 minutes
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Theatrical Release Date: 1948-01
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Editorial Review:
Fox honcho Darryl F. Zanuck pulled out all the stops for this expensive 1947 film, which welcomed Tyrone Power back to the world of costume adventures after his World War II service. Power plays Pedro de Vargas, victim of the Spanish Inquisition, who flees to the New World under the flag of the Cortez expedition. This kind of story would have been made in the studio before the war, but the postwar craze for location shooting gives the movie a real visual sweep (it also ballooned the budget to a reported $4.6 million, a huge tab for the era). The Mexican locations are excellent throughout, with the real coup in final section, shot under the shadow (sometimes literally) of an actual erupting volcano--a marvelous real-life effect that director Henry King uses as often as possible.
King worked often with Power, and their shared foursquare approach makes the film satisfying, if rarely exhilarating. The moral complexities of a foreign invasion are dealt with only obliquely, and mostly in Vargas's conversations with an Indian native (nice small role for future Tonto, Jay Silverheels). Romance comes from a Spanish peasant girl who tags along for the journey; she's played, in her film debut, by Jean Peters, who would eventually marry Howard Hughes. Peters had won a beauty contest and a trip to Hollywood, and promptly landed the lead in Captain from Castile; in some shots she's an absolute knockout, in others a plain-faced girl out of her depth. Filling in the story are John Sutton's ice-cold villain, Lee J. Cobb's lusty treasure-seeker, and Cesar Romero's bearded, grandiose Cortez (one of the juiciest roles in Romero's long career). Tyrone Power had completed two offbeat projects at Fox after returning from WWII, The Razor's Edge and Nightmare Alley, so strapping on the doublet and hose was a way of paying back Zanuck. It worked--the movie was a hit--even if Power sometimes chafed at the doublet. --Robert Horton
Forced to flee his home during the Spanish Inquisition, nobleman Pedro De Vargas escapes with a beautiful peasant girl and joins Cortz on his dangerous expedition to conquer Mexico, as the young couple fall deeply in love, Pedro's great courage brings his leader honor and glory with every challenge, even as an evil officer threatens the success of the entire expedition.
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Film even more entertaining than book
I'm an avid reader and, in most cases, the rendering of a book into film leaves much to be desired. Generally speaking, the movie is far weaker than the novel. There are numerous reasons for this but one of the reasons is that the reader can use his imagination--read between the lines--whereas a movie is "in your face" offerring few opportunities for mental imagery.
This movie is, in my opinion, a real exception. As much as I love the novel, "Captain from Castile", I think the screen ... Read More
Rating: - Good old fashioned romantic swashbuckling.
I really like Tyrone Power movies and this is one of his best. Of course the sound track by Alfred Newman is magnificent. Familiar story of Pedro De Vargas (Power) escaping the Spanish Inquisition and fleeing to Mexico where he joins the Cortes expedition. Lots of color, sword fights and neat costumes. One of the best of the swashbucling films of the 30s & 40s. Compares well with the Errol Flynn movies. But again it's the sound track that steals the show.
Rating:  - Ugh!
This was horrible. Firstly, I admit that I'm huge fan of Samuel Shellabarger's novel upon which this movie was allegedly based so I am prejudicial.
Although I'm fully aware that ALL film adaptions of novels must take many liberties with their source material, this ranks as one of the worst adaptions I have EVER seen. The filmmakers didn't "adapt" Shellabarger's novel to the screen- they butchered it! It's virtually unrecognizeable. Horribly cast- the role of 18 year old Pedro De Vargas ... Read More
Rating: - Smacks with Glory
If you are a student of movie history you will enjoy this rousing Tyrone Power vehicle that shows some history with fanfare. I don't doubt it is relatively accurate in historical fact. The movie is colorful, buoyant, and follows the life of one man, Pedro de Vargas, played by Power. Mostly filmed in beautiful regions of Mexico, it has good camera work. Good directing, and a good sprinkling character development as well. In the beginning we see his wealthy family in Spain and then it being crushed by the Spanish ... Read More
Rating: - Wonderful in every regard!
If you liked Zorro with Catherine Zeta
and Antonio Banderas..you are going to
love this incredible historical, romance,
adventure block-buster with the wonderful
Tyrone Power and the beautiful Jean Peters
......they are terrific together! Great
story and acting. Great music..the Trojan
Theme Conquest runs throughout!
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