The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez is a 1982 American Western film directed by Robert M. Young[2] and starring Edward James Olmos as Gregorio Cortez.[3] It is based on the book With His Pistol in His Hand by Americo Paredes.[4]
| The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Robert M. Young |
| Screenplay by |
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| Based on | With His Pistol in His Hand by Américo Paredes |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | Edward James Olmos |
| Cinematography | Reynaldo Villalobos |
| Edited by |
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| Music by |
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Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Embassy Pictures |
Release dates |
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Running time | 106 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Languages | English Spanish |
| Box office | $804,963[1] |
In 2022, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant."[5][6]
Plot
editSet in Belmont-Gonzales, Texas in 1901. After a misunderstanding, a Mexican-American farmer kills a sheriff. He eludes capture and becomes a folk hero. When eventually he is caught, he is tried seven times before finally being released, after twelve years in prison.
Cast
edit- Edward James Olmos as Gregorio Cortez
- Victoria Plata as Carmen Cortez
- James Gammon as Frank Fly
- Tom Bower as Boone Choate
- Bruce McGill as Reporter Blakely
- Brion James as Captain Rogers
- Alan Vint as Mike Trimmell
- Timothy Scott as Sheriff Morris
- Pepe Serna as Romaldo Cortez
- Michael McGuire as Sheriff Glover
- William Sanderson as Cowboy
- Barry Corbin as B.R. Abernathy
- Jack Kehoe as Prosecutor Pierson
- Rosanna DeSoto as Carlota Muñoz
- Ned Beatty as Lynch Mob Leader
Reception and legacy
editThe review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 100% approval rating with an average rating of 7.67/10 based on 6 reviews.[7]
Janet Maslin of The New York Times said, "[The film] tells what sounds like a stirring story, and its plainness would seem to be an asset. But something more was needed here, if not in the way of fireworks then maybe just in verisimilitude. The events may be real, and even the settings are authentic; the courthouse in which Mr. Young filmed the trial scene is the one in which Mr. Cortez's trial actually took place. That's not the sort of authenticity that the film lacks. What it's missing is the spark, surprise and immediacy that might have made its principals feel like people, rather than key figures in a well-meaning historical pageant."[4]
Accolades
editRosanna DeSoto won the Golden Eagle Award for Best Actress for her performance in the film.[8]
Preservation
editThe Ballad of Gregorio Cortez was preserved by the Academy Film Archive in 2016.[9]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez at Box Office Mojo
- ^ The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez (1982) - Finding Director Robert Young - Oscars on YouTube
- ^ Criterion Collection
- ^ a b Maslin, Janet (October 14, 1983). "Film: 'Gregorio Cortez'". The New York Times. Retrieved December 26, 2017.
- ^ Carrie, Titicut Follies, Tongues United, Pariah & More Added to National Film Registry|The Film Stage
- ^ 2022 National Film Registry Announcement - Library of Congress on YouTube
- ^ "The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez (1982)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
- ^ Telgen, Diane (1993). Notable Hispanic American Women. VNR AG. ISBN 9780810375789.page 133
- ^ "Preserved Projects". Academy Film Archive.
External links
edit- The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez at IMDb
- The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez at Rotten Tomatoes
- The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez: A Cinematic Corrido an essay by Charles Ramírez Berg at the Criterion Collection