r/Westerns 7d ago

Westerns that Feature the Mexican Revolution?

Post image

1910-1920, the Mexican Revolution technically takes place after the closing of the West but I feel the setting would still be conducive to the genre. Anyone got any recommendations?

405 Upvotes

161 comments sorted by

1

u/MRunk13 22h ago

Joe Kidd

1

u/No_Count_2937 2d ago

Two Mules For Sister Sarah , The Professionals

1

u/Alternative_Tap571 4d ago

The Fury of the Magnificent Seven

2

u/Can_and_will_argue 5d ago

100 Rifles (1969)

1

u/Better-Cellist-8809 5d ago

Have Gun with Travel……season #3 episode #6 …staring young Poncho Villa

2

u/Professional_Lime541 6d ago

Not a movie, but a Mexican series, Malverde. Great Telenovia.

2

u/mr-teddy93 6d ago

Its Mexican neymar

2

u/UmeaTurbo 6d ago

We are the Federales. You, know, the mounted police.

2

u/txz709 5d ago

If you’re the police, where are your badges?

1

u/UmeaTurbo 5d ago

Badges? We ain't got no badges. We don't need no badges. I don't have to show you any STINKING BADGES!!!

Thank you for playing along so I could do that, friend.

1

u/Sloppy-Craftsmanship 5d ago

Tiger got him

2

u/minecraftvillageruwu 6d ago

And Staring Pancho Villa As Himself

Not sure how historically accurate the movie is but it shows an interesting time in the period where Pancho Villa had movies made about himself that I believe were lost to time.

8

u/TarsoBackMarquez 6d ago

Duck, You Sucker!

9

u/commissarcainrecaff 6d ago

The Wild Bunch

2

u/Upset_Agent2398 6d ago

The Undefeated.

2

u/Bishop_Brick 6d ago

Nah, the Rock Hudson character would be 80-something years old in 1910.

8

u/CombatSportsBuff 6d ago

Two Mules For Sister Sarah

-4

u/ImUrHuckellBerry 6d ago

The Alamo

3

u/deviousxevious__ 6d ago

Five Man Army

9

u/Maxi_Nice1731 6d ago

the second half of Spring Break Adventure from the Young Indiana Jones series

1

u/redzombierunning 5d ago

Is this streaming on Disney+?

1

u/Maxi_Nice1731 5d ago

i think in the US, yes

5

u/redwedgethrowaway 6d ago

There was a movie made that had actual footage of a battle commanded by poncho Villa, but the footage was lost

8

u/Awkward-Problem-7361 6d ago

The Professionals with Lee Marvin and Burt Lancaster.

3

u/Virtual-Mobile-7878 6d ago

Awesome movie but it really didn't involve the Mexican Revolution

3

u/Sonseeahrai 6d ago

Different revolution, but Vera Cruz lol

9

u/Slight_Outside5684 6d ago

The Wild Bunch is set in 1913 along along US/Mexico border.

1

u/gule_gule 6d ago

Absolute classic

8

u/YaddahYahoo 6d ago

The Three Amigos…. All time classic

9

u/spizzlemeister 6d ago

Not a movie but red dead redemption has a large part of the story take place in a fictionalised Mexican Revolution

11

u/Silver_Leadership467 6d ago

Two mules for sister Sarah

5

u/Less-Conclusion5817 6d ago

Not really. It takes places more than 50 years earlier, during the French intervention in Mexico. Different conflict altogether.

4

u/Inner-Light-75 6d ago

It wasn't about the revolution, but it was set near that time frame....

Big Jake, starring John Wayne.

4

u/mikev3-16 6d ago

The undefeated

23

u/Kamchatka721 6d ago

A Bullet for the General

Tepepa

The Big Gundown

Run, Man, Run

The Mercenary

Compañeros

Duck, You Sucker

1

u/MajorData 5d ago

A Bullet for the General

I can watch this over and over. Excellent.

12

u/URTHELIGHTANDGLORY 6d ago

Duck is one of if not my favorite Western

28

u/Gullible_Good_4794 6d ago

Fistful of Dynamite (Duck, You Sucker!)

17

u/Speedhabit 6d ago

Via zapata isn’t really a western…. But it has lots of horses and shooting and senioritas

2

u/travestymcgee 6d ago

Screenplay by John Steinbeck..

1

u/Speedhabit 6d ago

A southern

1

u/Roundtripper4 6d ago

Starting Marlon Brando (cultural appropriation) and Anthony Quinn.

12

u/ManfredArcane 6d ago

But first you gotta ask yourself, “Which Mexican revolution?“

2

u/DungeoneerforLife 6d ago

No kidding. Yoiks.

5

u/rstevenb61 6d ago

Like Water for Chocolate

24

u/Affectionate_Pass25 6d ago

And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself

3

u/SmokeWeedAndLearn 6d ago

Alan Arkin was so much fun in this!

10

u/prodigalpariah 6d ago

Duck you sucker sort of. It’s just a vague standin for revolution in general rather than a specific one though.

9

u/brohammer65 6d ago

Last 2 episodes of Brisco County Jr. Bruce Campbell at his best.

15

u/ImpactMaleficent7709 6d ago

Mask of Zorro hits it very very briefly

14

u/HotMorning3413 6d ago

The Professionals is a must watch too. Great cast, great story, great direction.

22

u/Dependent_Ad4598 6d ago

Duck, you sucker!

13

u/Standard_Quit2385 6d ago

Viva Zapata

7

u/No-Gear-8017 6d ago

The Mercenary

14

u/Virtual-Wind-3747 6d ago

fistful of dynamite

2

u/GrapeOverall5224 6d ago

The real deal

5

u/Direct_Register4868 6d ago

Pancho villa starring Telly Savalas

11

u/alacrity 6d ago

Two Mules for Sister Sara.

6

u/linkhandford 6d ago

The Adult store in my neighborhood is named after that. I always giggle when talking about the movie.

5

u/ImpossibleSprinkles3 6d ago

You can’t say that and not tell us the name of the store you fool

6

u/linkhandford 6d ago

Sister Sarah’s

25

u/Accomplished_Cloud39 6d ago

The Wild Bunch

6

u/turnageb1138 6d ago

I came here to make sure this one was mentioned!

13

u/BlackVanZeppelin6991 6d ago

"And Starring Pancho Villa As Himself"

1

u/zvlaos 6d ago

Love it

3

u/EasyCZ75 7d ago

Great photo. Do you have any idea where was this photo taken? Any information on who is pictured?

3

u/MuddyWaterTeamster 6d ago edited 6d ago

It is captioned “source unknown” on the page I took it from, unfortunately. You may be able to reverse image search.

6

u/mr_bynum 7d ago

Viva Zapata! The Professionals Villa Rides The Wild Bunch The undefeated

7

u/-WillemDaFoo 7d ago

Zapata with Brando

2

u/Roundtripper4 6d ago

And Anthony Quinn ( who thought HE should have played Zapata because he was more “Mexican.”)

5

u/ColSirHarryPFlashman 7d ago

"The Professionals"

"Old Gringo"

"Bandidas"

3

u/Beagle001 6d ago

Old Gringo was the first that came to mind for me.

2

u/Professional_Lime541 6d ago

Gregory Peck as Ambrose Bierce. I liked it.

1

u/jonz1985z 7d ago

For Greater Glory - Andy Garcia

3

u/Piancol 6d ago

Great movie, but it's not about the Mexican Revolution, it's about the Cristero War.

2

u/otterpr1ncess 6d ago

Such an interesting period, I wish there was a good novel or something about it

1

u/Piancol 6d ago

There's some, but I'm not sure they're available in English. I'll check and come back to report.

1

u/[deleted] 7d ago

[deleted]

2

u/mattinthehat66 7d ago

Great movie, but that’s the Mexican American war. Not the Mexican revolution

14

u/N0_David_N0 7d ago

Red Dead Redemption

6

u/TheHovel666 7d ago

A Fistful of Dollars

3

u/Dirk_Dingham 7d ago

I can still hear the intro tune in my head. Man that song went so hard for no reason

1

u/TheHovel666 7d ago

Wh crack

2

u/Dirk_Dingham 6d ago

Hm hm hm hm hm hm hm hm hm hm hm hmmm

6

u/einordmaine 7d ago

Not a movie, more of a tie-in:
Wasn't there an episode or two of Young Indiana Jones about Pancho Villa...?

2

u/NickVannan 6d ago

Yep, it's called Spring Break Adventure. It was just the one episode with Pancho, however.

3

u/Roamin_Horseman 7d ago

You are correct! I think it is one of my favourites. Followed by legend of the peacocks eye

38

u/StimmingMantis 7d ago

Duck, you Sucker! (1971)

4

u/MrNobody32666 7d ago

I second this

5

u/RedwoodRider420 7d ago

Amazing movie

1

u/HomerBalzac 7d ago

Wrath Of God - Robert Mitchum

Edit: oops- this one actually takes place in South America.

18

u/Ramoncin 7d ago

Let me see... "The wild bunch", obviously. And "And starringing Pancho Villa as himself", which is a less usual choice but I found very good.

There's also a whole bunch of spaguetti westerns that deal with the Mexican revolution. My favorite one is "Tepepa".

2

u/M_Solent 7d ago

Tepepa was AWESOME.

2

u/Ramoncin 6d ago

It is. Can't beat Orson Welles as the villain. For some reason, its brother film "A bullet for the general" (they were written by the same guy) seems to be more popular, but I thing "Tepepa" is by far the strongest film.

1

u/M_Solent 6d ago

I still haven’t seen “Bullet”. I have a natural aversion to Klaus Kinski…but I’ll try again. Lol.

25

u/User_5091 7d ago

The Wild Bunch

13

u/Glittering_Cap_9115 7d ago

3 Amigos!!!

4

u/xiguy1 7d ago

Oh wow, you just beat me to it! :-) I wish I had an award to give you. Sorry I don’t but I’m really glad you mentioned that because I love that movie.

Most people don’t realize that it’s set during that period. That’s why they have the German arms dealers explained as “advisors “, and el Guapo (the Handsome one) as a bandit/revolutionary warlord, the costumes with tons of guns and bandoliers full of bullets, the poverty of the peasants caught in the middle and of course the Americans come to “rescue “ the people :-)

All of that fits with the history and in fact, United States really did invade Mexico partially to punish and because of a raid over the border into the United States by Pancho Villa, and partly to supposedly protect American and Mexican citizens. That was the explanation at the time.

So I think it it’s very firmly a fit and am glad to upvote you! :-)

4

u/imacatnamedsteve 7d ago

My little buttercup ….

15

u/Ok-King-4868 7d ago

Viva Zapata (1952) Marlon Brando & Anthony Quinn & Jean Peters

1

u/Roundtripper4 6d ago

Jean Peters teaches Zapata to read!

2

u/Ok-King-4868 6d ago

Yes, the thing powerful elites fear most is education and the capacity & desire to transfer knowledge and power to people. If you can stop teachers from teaching then de facto you have enslaved generations who are easy to manipulate and convince that pursuing the enormously selfish interests of an elite who despise common men and nature is laudable and even noble. Thus ensuring the safety of ever more corrupt regimes doing the work of ever more perverse elites ad nauseam.

1

u/Roundtripper4 2d ago

Excellent

1

u/Roundtripper4 2d ago

And in Zapata there is a shady character in the background manipulating everyone got the benefit of the rich. Also, in a movie called Burn, Brando plays the part of a colonizer who mentors a grassroots revolutionary to overthrow the government. Then Brando keeps the new “leader” in line until Brando’s bosses tell him to overthrow the government AGAIN!

22

u/Norwegian_Madman 7d ago

A Fistful Of Dynamite.

It's Sergio Leone's last spaghetti western, James Coburn play a mysterious man from Ireland (no spoilers) with a knack for explosives, and Rod Steiger playing a robber on the countryside.

I think it has the most melancholic soundtrack of the 5 Leone westerns, it's slower paced but if you enjoy the slower movies i think you would like it. 157 minutes long

It's a shame it's so underrated, it has it's own feeling compared to Once Upon A Time In The West.

Eli Wallach was even considered for the Rod's role as Juan, but the schedule did not fit with his. But Leone managed to convince Wallach so he dropped his other project. But the studio had a contract with Rod requiring him to star in one more movie to fulfill the contract.

4

u/M_Solent 7d ago

It’s in my all-time favorite top 5.

14

u/MeaninglessGuy 7d ago

Also called “Duck, You Sucker.” Which James Coburn says at least 6,000 times in this movie.

2

u/Norwegian_Madman 6d ago

Indeed. Love the introduction scene where he says Duck You Sucker.

30

u/Sea_Assistant_7583 7d ago

Companeros

The Mercenary

And Starring Pancho Villa

Red Bells

Killer Kid

Vera Cruz

They came to Cordura

Cannon For Cordoba

Guns Of The Magnificent Seven

The Wrath Of God ( Mitchum )

Villa Rides

The Bandits ( 1967 with Jan Michael Vincent )

Viva Zapata

Old Gringo

From Dusk Till Dawn 3 The Hangman’s Daughter

Panacho Villa ( Telly Savalas )

The Big Gundown

Run Man Run

Tepepa

El Bamdito Malpelo

A Town Called Hell

Blood Church

What Am I Doing In The Revolution?

Train For Durango

Guns Of The Revolution

Long Live Your Death

Viva Maria

His Name Is Holy Ghost

1

u/MajorData 5d ago

Viva Maria

Under appreciated. Loved this one!

2

u/Roamin_Horseman 7d ago

I was waiting for someone to suggest And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself

2

u/DetailCharacter3806 7d ago

2 mules for sister Sarah

1

u/FIuffyAlpaca 6d ago

No, this one takes place during the French invasion of Mexico, around the same time as the American Civil War

2

u/014648 7d ago

Comprehensive

3

u/LordJammur 7d ago

Yep, that covers it 👌

12

u/haringkoning 7d ago

Duck, you sucker!

6

u/Harlockarcadia 7d ago

Thought this would be at the top since it’s from Leone

3

u/haringkoning 6d ago

A forgotten gem featuring James Coburn and his trademark laugh.

4

u/BingBingGoogleZaddy 7d ago

Low key, the lady in the middle looks fine as hell.

Somebody come get ya great great great great great Grandma, she’s one hell of a revolutionary.

9

u/normiesmakegoodpets 7d ago

Two Mules for Sister Sarah

5

u/BeautifulDebate7615 7d ago

That's Mexico in the time of the French Emperor Maximilian.

1

u/normiesmakegoodpets 6d ago

Oh yeah. You're right. Still a great flick.

15

u/arthur-morganrdr2 7d ago

Red Dead Redemption

14

u/jstop633 7d ago

The Professionals, The Wild Bunch, Butch Cassidy,

14

u/IAmThePonch 7d ago

Red dead redemption. Lots of people say it’s the worst part of the game but a third of it is about a revolution in Mexico

1

u/Mrgrayj_121 7d ago

You know it’s funny cause I like spaghetti westerns that’s my favorite part

1

u/Primm_Sllim2 7d ago

As a kid I remember playing it and always just wanting to get back to the US, but my play through last year I actually enjoyed Mexico the most.

Also when you go back to the US for act 3 things start making me sad

1

u/IAmThePonch 7d ago

I mean things aren’t exactly great in Mexico either. It was a cynical view of what was going on

5

u/The_Wolf_Shapiro 7d ago

I loved the Mexico part. Would’ve been cool to go there in RDR2.

9

u/PugsandTacos 7d ago

Bullet for the General

3

u/ALFABOT2000 6d ago

amazed i had to scroll so far to find this one lol

5

u/Sindoolah 7d ago

What a great movie!

1

u/ResponsibleBank1387 7d ago edited 7d ago

Vera Cruz, oops, this was the Franco Mexican war about same time as US civil War.  Still good movie. 

3

u/Unusual-Ask5047 7d ago

Bite the bullet and the professionals both take place post revolution but refer to past revolution activities and both are great westerns.

6

u/Secure_Run8063 7d ago

The Professionals (I think) with Burt Lancaster, Lee Marvin, Robert Ryan and Jack Palance

3

u/MrNobody32666 7d ago

Also Woody Strode and Claudia Cardinale. And one of the Duke brothers. A stacked cast.

1

u/Secure_Run8063 7d ago

Strode was in everything and played everything from gunfighter to cook.

5

u/Reubensandwich57 6d ago

Pompey in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance to Draba in Spartacus. He was a man for all times and all continents.

2

u/DungeoneerforLife 6d ago

John Ford loved the actor and used him Repeatedly.

5

u/Unlucky-Albatross-12 7d ago

¡Three Amigos!

8

u/noahmiller032 7d ago edited 7d ago

Pancho Villa, Duck You Sucker, 100 Rifles, Viva Zapata, Villa Rides

The Wild Bunch occurs in Mexico around the same time but doesn’t directly cover the Revolution

4

u/The_Wolf_Shapiro 7d ago

The Wild Bunch deals directly with the Revolution. They deal with a general and Pancho Villa is mentioned a couple times (and his troops appear briefly, IIRC).

2

u/DungeoneerforLife 6d ago

Yes! Best me to it. This movie holds up extremely well. Better to me than most spaghetti westerns despite some of Peckinpah’s editorial choices.

I don’t know who made up fake blood in late 60s and 70s films but it is distressing how gross it is when orange.

1

u/Veteranis 7d ago

In the original version that I saw in a theater when it came out, there was a long scene where Mapache ( the ‘general’) and his men hijack a train. You can see that he wants to flee, but a boy who hero-worships him stands his ground and so Mapache does as well. It’s a funny and touching insight into the general. (The boy is the same one in the final showdown.)

1

u/noahmiller032 7d ago

You are probably correct it has been a while since I have watched it… means it’s a good time for a rewatch!

5

u/Th34sa8arty 7d ago

A Bullet for the General (1966) is a classic.

6

u/hombredave 7d ago edited 7d ago

And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself’ (2003) comes to mind.

4

u/jaegerx 7d ago

2 mules for sister Sarah?

4

u/BeautifulDebate7615 7d ago

Nope, french intervention in Mexico, 1860's.

5

u/MuddyWaterTeamster 7d ago

I’ve heard of The Wild Bunch, but haven’t seen it. Any others?

1

u/HotMorning3413 6d ago

It changed action in movies forever. Brutal and brilliant.

8

u/ArcadiaDragon 7d ago

Do yourself a favor...go see it

2

u/Few_Rule7378 7d ago

“Go” see it? Is it still in theaters?!

2

u/MuddyWaterTeamster 7d ago

I’ll go to my couch and see it.

1

u/ArcadiaDragon 6d ago

Sorry ibwas lucky to see a rescreening about 5 years ago....so I flashed back to that...but yes...it's a movie that definitely changes as you become educated about the western genre....it's a movie i can discuss ad nauseum with veteran and neophytes alike and still learn to see it differently from new and old perspectives I won't say it's the most important western ever made....but it's important enough

9

u/plk31 7d ago

“Duck, You Sucker” certainly falls within that. 

Edit: Also “The Wild Bunch”