Behold a Pale Horse (film)

Infobox Film
name = Behold a Pale Horse


image_size = 200px
caption = Original theatrical poster
director = Fred Zinnemann
producer = Fred Zinnemann
Gregory Peck
writer = JP Miller
Emeric Pressburger (novel)
narrator =
starring = Gregory Peck
Anthony Quinn
Omar Sharif
music = Maurice Jarre
cinematography = Jean Badal
editing = Walter Thompson
distributor = Columbia Pictures
released = 1964
runtime = 118 min.
country = flagicon|United States U.S.A.
language = English
budget = $3.9 million
gross =
amg_id = 1:4704
imdb_id = 0057879

"Behold a Pale Horse" is a 1964 film directed by Fred Zinnemann, based on the novel "Killing a Mouse on Sunday" by Emeric Pressburger, which itself is loosely based on the life of the Spanish anarchist guerrilla, Francisco Sabaté Llopart‎. It stars Gregory Peck, Omar Sharif and Anthony Quinn. The film is the story of a Catalan guerrilla exiled in France after the Spanish Civil War returning to Catalonia to visit his mother.

Plot

Opening on shots from the Spanish Civil War, and a line of Spanish refugees crossing the border into France after defeat by the Francoists, we see Manuel Artiguez turn away from the border and back towards Spain. But his friends stop him, saying "Manuel, the war is over!". The story returns twenty years later, to a young boy named Paco, who asks a man named Pedro why Artiguez has stopped his guerrilla raids against the Francoists in Spain. Pedro sends Paco into France to find his uncle and Artiguez. When Paco finds Artiguez, he tells him he wants him to kill Viñolas, a "Guardia Civil" officer, for killing his father. Paco lets Artiguez know that his father was killed because he wouldn't tell the police where to find Artiguez. Meanwhile, Viñolas has learned that Artiguez's mother is dying, and sets a trap at the hospital to capture Artiguez, presuming that he will come to see his mother. In return for information about the layout of the hospital and surrounding area, Paco tells Artiguez to "bump into Viñolas" for him. to find the priest, but he's not there, and they let Carlos go. However, on the way back, they see the priest, and take him to Artiguez's house. When Carlos returns for his rucksack, he senses the trap, and escapes. After much internal debate, Artiguez then decides to go to San Martín anyway, presumably with the mission of killing Viñolas. Once in San Martín, Artiguez encounters a Francoist sniper on the roof of the hospital, and attacks him, sending him to his death. However, once inside the hospital, he kills a few officers, but is finally shot himself.

Cast

*Gregory Peck - "as" - Manuel Artiguez, an aging Spanish guerilla.
*Anthony Quinn - "as" - Viñolas, a Francoist police officer.
*Omar Sharif - "as" - Francisco, a priest.
*Raymond Pellegrin - "as" - Carlos, a friend of Artiguez, also his traitor.
*Paolo Stoppa - "as" - Pedro, a little boy.
*Mildred Dunnock - "as" - Pilar Artiquez, the dying mother of Artiguez.

Production

"Behold a Pale Horse" was co-produced by Columbia Pictures, along with Zinnemann (Highland Productions) and Peck (Brentwood Productions). With a budget of $3.9 million, the production hit a snag when permission was denied to film in Spain by the Franco government. The production resorted to filming exterior shots in locations such as Pau, Biarritz, Gotein-Libarrenx, La Brèche de Roland, the basilica at Lourdes in French Basque country, and Studio St. Maurice in Vincennes.

Originally, Anthony Quinn had requested the role of Artiquez, but Zinnemann felt it would be type-casting him, and gave him the opposing role of the villain Viñolas.Zinnemann, Fred, (1992). - "A Life in the Movies: An Autobiography". - New York: Charles Scribner's Sons. - pp.184-195. - ISBN 0684190508] As well, several Spanish refugees were used to play the parts of Franco's "Guardia Civil" officers. The American political activist Allard K. Lowenstein played a part in making contact between the filmmakers and anti-Franco Spanish exiles in France.Rosendorf, Neal Moses. - [http://myweb.cwpost.liu.edu/nrosendo/articles_PDF/USMovieProductionFrancoSpain_SubmissionDraft_7_13.pdf "'Hollywood in Madrid': American Film Producers and the Franco Regime, 1950–1970"] . - Long Island University. - "Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television". - Vol. 27, No. 1, March 2007. - pp.77–109. - | ( [http://uscpublicdiplomacy.com/pdfs/H-wood_In_Madrid_article--Final--HJFRT.pdf c/o USC Center on Public Diplomacy] ) | - (Adobe Acrobat *.PDF documents)] Zinnemann felt it would be good for Peck to be able to meet actual political refugees living in France.

Filming began on June 13, 1963, and continued for a little over 100 days, running nearly a month over schedule. After Columbia previewed the film for US audiences, they decided that an intro was needed to provide background relating to the Spanish Civil War, so clips from the documentary about the war "To Die in Madrid" were interspersed with dialogue explaining the conflict.Fishgall, Gary, (2002). - "Gregory Peck: A Biography". - New York: Charles Scribner's Sons. - ISBN 068485290X]

core

The score for "Behold a Pale Horse" was composed and conducted by Maurice Jarre. The instrumentation consists mainly of Spanish-style guitar, woodwind instruments, harpsichord, and the harp.

The score was originally released by Colpix Records as an LP (Colpix Records SCP 519) in the United States, and a two track EP in France. In April 2007 Film Score Monthly re-released the score on a CD (including the two unique tracks from the EP) accompanied by the score to "Damn the Defiant" (catalog number FSM1004). [ [http://www.screenarchives.com/title_detail.cfm?ID=7190 "Damn The Defiant!" / "Behold A Pale Horse"] . - Screen Archives Entertainment. - FSM1004]

The main theme from the score was also featured on the CD "Maurice Jarre at Abbey Road" released in 1992 by Milan Records, with Jarre conducting the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Reception

Despite promotional tours by Peck (in the U.S.) and Zinnemann (London and Paris),Film Reviews Entertainment: [http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117788966.html?categoryid=31&cs=1&p=0 "Behold a Pale Horse"] . -"Variety". - August 19, 1964.] the film did not have a large reception (the box-office receipts not being enough even to recoup the costs of production), according to Zinnemann, due to the fact that the Spanish Civil War had slipped from the memories of its audience.Watts, Stephan. - Best Pictures: [http://www.nytimes.com/packages/html/movies/bestpictures/seasons-ar1.html "'A Man for All Seasons': Less Pomp, More Circumstance"] . - "New York Times". - July 24, 1966] The "New York Times" gave it a mixed review,Crowther, Bosley. - Review: "Behold a Pale Horse". - "New York Times". - May 9, 2005] being disappointed with the execution of the film, though impressed with its sets and actors, while "Variety" was generally impressed, calling it "among the better" of Peck's career.

Quote box
width=300px
align=right
quote=The reaction to that was a disappointment, but it was justified. The point simply did not get over. I took too much for granted. I thought the Spanish Civil War was still with us, but apparently it is dead, in spite of all those refugees. There were other troubles too - with the Franco government. I was to blame for playing the Spanish Civil Guard as 'heavies.' They are sacred cows. Columbia suffered heavily through the Franco ban on their films because of 'Pale Horse' but they were wonderfully good about it.
source=Fred Zinnemann ~ "New York Times"
title='A Man for All Seasons': Less Pomp, More Circumstance
date=

Incensed by scenes showing Viñolas with a mistress, and taking bribes, the government of Francisco Franco denied filming as well as distribution in Spain, causing problems for its distributor, Columbia Pictures, who had all of their films refused distribution in Spain, and were compelled to sell their distribution arm in Spain. Columbia Pictures remained closed in Spain for several years, until agreeing to release several Spanish films outside of Spain.Besas, Peter, (1985). - "Behind the Spanish Lens: Spanish Cinema Under Fascism and Democracy". - Denver, Colorado: Arden Press. - p.74. ISBN 0912869062] Months prior to the release of the film, Columbia Vice President M. J. Frankovich estimated that the studio had lost "millions" in the year since they had decided to go ahead with production against the wishes of the Franco government.Schumach, Murray. - "Studio Finds Ban By Spain Costly". - "New York Times". - February 12, 1964.]

According to Allmovie, the film was scheduled to be shown on national television in the United States, but was canceled at the request of the Spanish government.Erickson, Hal. - Overview: [http://www.allmovie.com/cg/avg.dll?p=avg&sql=1:4704~T0 "Behold a Pale Horse"] . - Allmovie]

Often compared to the previous year's "Lawrence of Arabia", as it has two of the same lead actors, Zinnemann countered the comparison with “I don’t feel any obligation to be successful, success can be dangerous--you feel you know it all. I’ve learned a great deal from my failures.”Zinsser, William. - [http://www6.district125.k12.il.us/~rtompson/TheRightToFail.pdf "The Right to Fall"] . - (c/o Adlai E. Stevenson High School ~ Lincolnshire, Illinois). - (Adobe Acrobat *.PDF document)]

One of the film's stars, Omar Sharif, went so far as to refer to it as a "bad film" by a "good director".Gritten, David. - "Legends of Hollywood; A long time in the desert; Omar Sharif has made many 'trashy, idiotic films,' but he hopes 'Monsieur Ibrahim' will restore his luster". - "Los Angeles Times". - November 2, 2003. - p.E8.]

"TIME" said about the film in its review: "Pale Horse is a white elephant." [ [http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,876124,00.html "Long Wait Between Spains"] . - "TIME". - August 28, 1964 - Retrieved: 2008-06-15]

Home video release history

"Behold a Pale Horse" was first released on video in VHS form by Columbia Pictures as part of their "Columbia Classics" series on August 6, 1996. It was then released on DVD on February 22, 2005. The DVD release features subtitles in English, Korean, and Spanish, and widescreen (enhanced) viewing option at 1:85, or the anamorphic 16:9 option. The DVD has since been released in France as "Et vint le jour de vengeance", Spain as "Y llegó el dia de la venganza", Italy as "...E venne il giorno della vendetta", Germany as "Deine Zeit ist um", and Greece as "Η ΜΕΡΑ ΤΗΣ ΕΚΔΙΚΗΣΗΣ".

References