Vera Cruz

Following the success of APACHE (1954), Aldrich directed his first major production for Burt Lancaster’s production company: VERA CRUZ became one of the decade’s biggest box-office hits and gave the careers of everyone involved an enormous boost. Aldrich’s combination of humour, violence and subversion revolutionised the genre and foreshadowed the Spaghetti Westerns of the following decade (and Sam Peckinpah’s “Mexican” late Westerns). Two American adventurers—Gary Cooper as a Southern gentleman and Lancaster as an unscrupulous mercenary—are tasked by Emperor Maximilian with escorting a carriage through Mexico in which gold is hidden, while being pursued by various groups. Everyone is after the treasure, and part of the film’s appeal lies in watching them all being pitted against one another. The adventurous twists and turns have often been copied, but the pure Aldrich blend of nihilism and vitality remains unrivalled. Aldrich’s hiring as a relatively inexperienced but eager director for VERA CRUZ by Hecht Lancaster productions paid off handsomely by catapulting him into the A-league after three B-movies: “They were pleasantly surprised, so much so that they offered me VERA CRUZ. I might’ve had to wait a hundred years to be offered a film as important.” (Christoph Huber)

All retrospective films that will be shown at the Filmmuseum after the Viennale - from 04.11. - can of course also be reserved as usual at filmmuseum.at or by calling 01/533 70 54 and purchased at the box office of the Austrian Film Museum. The prices of the Austrian Film Museum apply.