The Wrath of God (1972)

"Duel at Diable" director Ralph Nelson pulls out all stops in this turn of the century shoot'em up Mexico. Ostensibly based on a Jack Higgins' novel, "The Wrath of God" was one of those many adventure epics produced during the early 1970s that featured an Irish gunman on the run in a foreign country. This story about a motley collection of soldiers-of-fortune is strong during the first half when we are introduced to them and eventually the predicament that prompts them to accept a mission to kill the chief villain. Robert Mitchum had been typecast as a flawed man of the cloth who travels through Mexico in a touring car with a giant suitcase stuffed with $53-thousand dollars and a Thompson submachine gun that he brandishes in time of telling trouble. Ken Hutchinson co-stars as the youthful hero who becomes involved with an Indian princess. Victor Buono has one of his better roles as a nefarious villain turned hero. Our 'unholy trinity' as Mexican officer John Colicos calls them are sent into the wilderness to kill a landowner named Thomas De La Plata (Frank Langella of "Dracula") who likes to kill Catholic priests. Writer & director Nelson peppers this 111-minute melodrama with witty dialogue that are in turn punctuated by gunfire galore. Although it is a little overwrought, "The Wrath of God" is still a lot of fun.

I saw The Wrath of God as a sneak preview in 1972 when I was 14. I saw it with my dad at the now long gone Sunny Isle Theater in North Miami, Florida. I recall the film was action packed and concerned a South American Revolution around the early to mid 1900s. These type of films were popular in the 1960s and early 1970s: 100 Rifles, The Wild Bunch, The Professionals, Villa Rides, and the Wrath of God. Rita Hayworth looking surprising young and attractive. I believe she was 52, but looked about 40. Her part was small, and she looked extremely unhappy. Turned out to be her last film. Nothing really great here. Only fair, but lots of action. Only stands out as Rita Hayworth's final curtain call.

Ralph Nelson proved himself to be a great director shooting some really great productions in black and white ("Requiem for a Heavyweight, Lilies of the Field) but his color efforts are clumsy and "TV movie-like" ("Duel at Diablo," "Embryo" and this, "The Wrath of God." Nelson captures not of the epic sweep and poignance available in this material. One could only dream of what director Sergio Leone might have accomplished, even given the awkwardly structured, exposition-laden storyline. Fortunately, Nelson had a wonderful cast (Mitchum, Buono, Hayworth and, most notably, Ken Hutchinson and John Colicos) with which to work. Only Frank Langella seems to indulge in overacting, and he arrives more than 45 minutes after the beginning of the film (my "45 minute" rule: if a two hour movie is still introducing major characters after 45 minutes, the movie is usually a dog. Fortunately, Nelson handles the humor better than the drama and there is an abundance of it, albeit irreverent.The theme of "The Wrath of God" is "redemption through sacrifice." Mitchum did this better in "Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison". Sam Peckinpah did it better with "The Wild Bunch". Richard Brooks did it better with "The Professionals". Heck, even Anthony Quin did it better in "Guns for San Sebastian," the movie this one most nearly resembles thematically. Still, there is much to enjoy in "The Wrath of God" to dismiss it entirely, even with the flat, disappointing ending. I give "The Wrath of God" a "5".

Not everyone agrees that this a parody. I have read that the film turned out confusing because of problems on the set. Including, Rita Hayworth's Alzheimer's and an actor who had a part for the first six weeks of filming. He was severly injured and couldn't complete his part properly. Therefore the confusion. Everyone wanted to just forget the whole thing but they released it anyway. All wasn't lost however, I personally found it very unique and intriguing. And as a Mitchum fan a rare, wonderful find on the classic movie channel.