The sad fact of cinema history is that more than ninety percent of all silent films are lost, including even the films that were immensely popular, artistically valuable, or had great importance for future historians. The production of one such lost film became the subject of the 2003 cable television film And Pancho Villa Starring as Himself.
The plot is set in Mexico in early 1910s, during the Revolution, an event that spurs great interest in neighbouring United States. David W. Griffith (played by Colm Feore), producer and famous cinema pioneer sends Frank N. Thyer (played by Eion Bailey) over the border to shoot war footage in co-operation with Pancho Villa (played by Antonio Banderas), a revolutionary leader who needs guns for his campaign and, because of that, made deal with American film studios in exchange for money. One of the results of such efforts is Life of General Villa, film that combines documentary footage with dramatic reconstruction of Villa’s life, when the young revolutionary leader is going to be played by actor Raoul Walsh (played by Kyle Chandler).
Produced by HBO with a budget of $30 million, And Pancho Villa Starring as Himself was the most expensive television film at the time. The script was written by Larry Gelbart, the famous creator of the popular TV series MASH, based on meticulous historical research by executive producer Joshua L. Maurer. The film was directed by the acclaimed Australian director Bruce Beresford.
The film provides a fascinating insight into the early history of American cinema industry and how it, for the first time, affected actual history by allying with the Mexican revolutionary leader. Despite his lack of education and initial interest only in the financial aspect of the deal, Villa recognized the propaganda power of the new medium, creating a symbiotic relationship that would inspire many Hollywood studios in the future and maintain the legend of the larger-than-life Villa through numerous biopics.
Being based on such an extraordinary true story is both the film's strength and weakness. When receiving the initial pitch, HBO executives considered the events and characters in the script too outrageous to be the work of fiction, so Gelbart and Maurer had to annotate it with numerous references to historical books and confirmed testimonies from the period. Unlike the HBO executives, the audience won't have such confirmation, and many viewers would see And Pancho Villa Starring as Himself as fiction instead of history.
Fiction or not, the film benefited from a large budget and Beresford's competent direction, which resulted in successful period reconstruction, spectacular military action, and plenty of black humor, including some scenes that reconstruct how films were made in the silent era and the still blurred lines between documentary and live-action film. The film also benefits from Mexican locations, some of them being authentic.
Antonio Banderas, who was at the zenith of his international stardom during production, shines as Villa, portraying him as a complex character – a genuine revolutionary, charismatic leader of men, but also someone capable of acts of cruelty. Banderas, who, despite being Spanish and playing the greatest Mexican hero, easily overshadows almost all other cast members, with only the always dependable Alan Arkin standing out as the American adventurer and Villa's cynical friend, Sam Rebben. The character of Frank N. Thyer, who is supposed to be the nominal protagonist, is played by the rather bland and forgettable Eion Bailey.
The film appears to be slightly affected by early 21st-century politics, namely the anti-war stance that was becoming popular among left-wing circles in the USA following the Iraq invasion. This can be seen through references to the USA being interested in Mexican oil and, thus, an indirect source of many of Mexico's troubles during and after the Revolution.
And Pancho Villa Starring as Himself, despite its shortcomings, is a captivating blend of history and cinema, providing a fascinating look at the early days of Hollywood and its impact on world events.
RATING: 6/10 (++)
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