The Savage Guns
Brief Synopsis
Mexican bandits threaten the local ranchers.
Cast & Crew
Read More
Michael Carreras
Director
Richard Basehart
Steve Fallon
Don Taylor
Mike Summers
Alex Nicol
Danny Post
Paquita Rico
Franchea
María Granada
Juana
Film Details
Also Known As
Tierra brutal
Genre
Western
Release Date
Aug
1962
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
Capricorn Productions; TECISA
Distribution Company
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc.
Country
United States
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 20m
Sound
Mono
Color
Color (Metrocolor)
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
2.35 : 1
Synopsis
In 1870 Mexico, wounded gunman Steve Fallon takes refuge at the ranch of ex-Confederate officer Mike Summers and his wife, Franchea. A romance develops between Fallon and Franchea's sister, Juana. Ortega, a ruthless landowner, is trying to take over all the ranches in the valley, by force if necessary. Any resistance is eliminated by his henchman, Danny Post, and his gang of mercenaries. Upon learning that Summers refuses to carry a gun because of all the bloodshed he saw in the Civil War, Fallon decides to stay and help put an end to Ortega's reign of terror. When Danny tries to collect "protection" money from Summers, Fallon disarms and thrashes him. After a second meeting with Fallon, in which three of the mercenaries are killed, the cowardly Danny leaves town. Ortega and the remnants of his gang then raid the Summers ranch and leave Fallon with his hands crippled. Believing Fallon dead, Danny returns, kills Ortega, takes over his holdings, and then proceeds to the Summers ranch. When he sees the helpless Fallon, he draws his gun, but Summers appears and shoots Danny to save his friend's life. Fallon decides to settle down with Juana.
Director
Michael Carreras
Director
Cast
Richard Basehart
Steve Fallon
Don Taylor
Mike Summers
Alex Nicol
Danny Post
Paquita Rico
Franchea
María Granada
Juana
José Nieto
Ortega
Fernando Rey
Don Hernán
Félix Fernández
Paco
Francisco Camoiras
Manola
Antonio Fuentes
Captain Baez
Sergio Mendizábal
Mayor
Rafael Albaicín
Gonzales
José Manuel Martín
Segura
Victor Bayo
Sánchez
Pilar Caballero
Sánchez' wife
Crew
Ramón Arnal
Sound Recording
Francisco Canet
Art Director
Margarita Delgras
Cont
Alfredo Fraile
Director of Photography
Antón García Abril
Music comp & Director
Ricardo Gonzales
Camera Operator
David Hawkins
Film Editor
Niels Larsen
Associate prod for capricorn
José G. Maesso
Producer
Esther Martin
Hairdresser
Edmund Morris
Screenwriter
Paco Pérez Dolz
Assistant Director
Paco Puyol
Makeup
Gustavo Quintana
Production Manager
Manuel Revuelta
Wardrobe
Pedro Del Rey
Film Editor
Jimmy Sangster
Producer
Film Details
Also Known As
Tierra brutal
Genre
Western
Release Date
Aug
1962
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
Capricorn Productions; TECISA
Distribution Company
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc.
Country
United States
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 20m
Sound
Mono
Color
Color (Metrocolor)
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
2.35 : 1
Articles
The Savage Guns -
This international co-production holds the distinction of being the first Western shot in Spain, anticipating the later spaghetti Westerns of director Sergio Leone (though there was no Italian presence in the production team). In what would become the tradition of European-made Westerns, the film features three American actors--Richard Basehart, Don Taylor and Alex Nicol--along with a local cast. This outing is set in the Sonora Valley in 1870. Taylor is a former Confederate officer trying to live a peaceful life on his ranch until a corrupt land baron (José Nieto) sends outlaw leader Nicol to seize the ranch. Fortunately for Taylor, he had previously helped a wounded gunslinger (Basehart), who stands beside him to defend his land and his family. All of this plays out against the sumptuous Spanish landscapes, where British director Michael Carreras stages a series of exciting action sequences. Made before Leone's spaghetti Westerns, which reinvents the genre, this film owes more to the American Westerns before it. Along with its international cast and location work, however, the one element Leone's work shares with the film is the use of a strong score (by Anton Garcia Abril) with themes for each character.
The Savage Guns -
This international co-production holds the distinction of being the first Western shot in Spain, anticipating the later spaghetti Westerns of director Sergio Leone (though there was no Italian presence in the production team). In what would become the tradition of European-made Westerns, the film features three American actors--Richard Basehart, Don Taylor and Alex Nicol--along with a local cast. This outing is set in the Sonora Valley in 1870. Taylor is a former Confederate officer trying to live a peaceful life on his ranch until a corrupt land baron (José Nieto) sends outlaw leader Nicol to seize the ranch. Fortunately for Taylor, he had previously helped a wounded gunslinger (Basehart), who stands beside him to defend his land and his family. All of this plays out against the sumptuous Spanish landscapes, where British director Michael Carreras stages a series of exciting action sequences. Made before Leone's spaghetti Westerns, which reinvents the genre, this film owes more to the American Westerns before it. Along with its international cast and location work, however, the one element Leone's work shares with the film is the use of a strong score (by Anton Garcia Abril) with themes for each character.
Quotes
I don't make war on women and children.- Ortega
No, you just leave them as widows and orphans!- Danny Pose
Trivia
Notes
Filmed in Spain. Released in Spain in October 1962 as Tierra brutal.
