VERA CRUZ is a Technicolor Western starring Gary Cooper and Burt Lancaster, directed by Robert Aldritch and produced by Harold Hecht with distribution through United Artists. VERA CRUZ was filmed on location in Mexico circa 1954. The film was the first such feature to be filmed in the Superscope process, which results in some truly awe-inspiring Ernest Lazlo cinematography, showcasing the outlandish Mexican landmarks such as the Teotihuacan Pyramids and Chapultepec Palace. MGM Home Video selected this motion picture as one of the debut releases in their Western Legends label, and it was clearly a perfect title to go with.

Colonel Ben Trane lost his plantation and fortune in the Civil War. He intends to recoup money through mercenary work in Texas and Mexico, putting his fighting and marksman skills to work for a price. When Ben gets close to the Mexican border, his horse breaks it’s leg. Luckily he happens upon a nearby ranch where he meets Joe Erin. Ben offers to buy a horse and Joe sells him one. Suddenly, a team of Lancers (enforcers for the Mexican government on horseback) come riding over the plains. Joe Erin is quick to flee, and that’s when Ben realizes that Joe is not really the owner of the ranch--he just happened to be robbing the place! Ben and Joe escape the Lancers by horse jumping over a ravine. Safe from the clutches of their pursuers, Ben and Joe engage in a quick battle of wits and fists, which leaves Joe unconscious while Ben mounts his horse. Ben continues on until he comes to a town. When he enters a cantina, the ruffians within notice that Ben has rode in town on Joe’s horse--these guys are upset because they are members of Joe Erin’s gang! All hell is about to break loose in the bar, until Joe himself strolls in and prevents things from getting out of control. Of course, Joe himself is an outlaw with no control.

Ben has earned respect from Joe, however, because no one has ever stood up to him. When Ben tells Joe that he is down in these parts to earn money, Joe tries to convince Ben to join his gang. The Emperor of Mexico has offered money for gunfighters to accompany his forces on a special mission to Vera Cruz. The Emperor sends Marquis Labordere (Cesar Romero) to negotiate with prospective mercenaries. When other gunfighters show up seeking to get in on the action, Joe’s gang makes short work of them. This impresses Marquis Labordere and he offers Ben and Joe’s gang the well-paid gig. Suddenly Ben, Joe, and the Marquis are surrounded by Mexicans as far as the eye can see. A man emerges from the mass of humanity, and reveals himself as General Ramirez (Morris Ankrum), leader of the Mexican Revolutionary movement. He attempts to recruit Ben and Joe into their cause against the oppressive leadership of the Emperor. Ben and Joe refuse because General Ramirez has no money to offer; they leave with the Marquis. General Ramirez scoffs at them and warns that they will meet again. The Marquis and a team of Lancers escort the uneasy alliance back to the royal palace. The Emperor (George Macready) explains that he has hired them to accompany the Countess Duvarre (Denise Darcel) to Vera Cruz, which is the heartland of General Ramirez’s revolutionary army.

The Emperor sends his team of Lancers to help the mercenaries protect Countess Duvarre. The Emperor’s forces join Ben, Joe, and the Marquis in the caravan, which has several runs ins with the Mexicans during the journey. A beautiful Mexican pickpocket named Nina (Sara Montiel) abandons her people to join the caravan (because she has a crush on Ben). When the caravan finally arrives in Vera Cruz, Ben and Joe discover that there is a shipment of gold hidden in Countess Duvarre’s stagecoach. They realize the whole affair was merely a smokescreen to transport the Emperor’s gold to his fort in Vera Cruz. Only three people know about the gold in the stagecoach—Ben, Joe, and the Countess. The three band together to steal it and split the gold three ways. But trust is not an easy thing to establish when gold is on the line. While Ben, Joe, and the Countess are conspiring against one another, the Marquis and the Lancers steal the gold from under their noses and retreat to the Emperor’s nearby fortress. A dejected Ben and Joe reunite with Joe’s untrusting gang members. Joe’s former allies turn against him, but this ugly scenario is overshadowed by the arrival of General Ramirez and the Mexican revolutionary army. General Ramirez proclaims that he is leading his army into battle at the Emperor’s fortress. He offers Ben, Joe, and his boys the chance to join him against the Emperor. Realizing that the gold is behind the walls of the very same fortress, Ben and Joe are eager to join the Mexicans. Our heroes lead the charge as the Mexican revolutionaries face off against the Emperor’s army for the freedom of Vera Cruz!

VERA CRUZ is the missing link in the evolution of old-style epic Hollywood Westerns and the modern super-violent Western. Robert Aldritch takes the best of both styles and serves it up with some memorable characters and situations. The script is packed with plot twists, intrigue, double crosses, and triple crosses. The characters are not stereotypical of the genre, and no one is really on the right side of justice. The narrative becomes a matter of who’s conning who. Aldritch plays up the ruthless elements of the story, and wraps the film with flair and suspense. Aldritch also has a knack for turning psychopaths and criminals into compelling characters (see WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE? And THE DIRTY DOZEN). The final product is a blueprint for the epic Spaghetti Western genre. VERA CRUZ is clearly a major inspiration on the works of Sam Peckinpah and Sergio Leone. The only missing is a score by Morricone!

Gary Cooper delivers a subdued but enlightened performance as Ben Trane, a former Civil War military leader, who sympathizes with the Mexican revolutionaries. Cooper is thoughtful and intelligent and lets his guns and fists do his talking. Burt Lancaster’s Joe Erin is the exact opposite of Cooper--he’s loud, crude, and devious with the same dangerous talents as his friend, the former Confederate Colonel. Burt Lancaster steals the show with his roguish performance—he grins and leers and behaves like he hasn’t a worry in the world. Cooper and Lancaster form a tenuous friendship fueled by greed—but friendships like that never last, do they? Perhaps that’s why their characters are drawn to each other is because they are so alike despite what’s on their outside. After Ben saves Joe’s life, he proclaims, "You’re the first friend I ever had," forshadowing their particularly unhealthy brand of friendship. As they attempt to outwit each other during the span of the film, their respect bonds them ever deeper. It is this rocky relationship that drives VERA CRUZ. Cooper and Lancaster are not the only two shining stars in VERA CRUZ. Cesar Romero is excellent as the Marquis Labordere. His performance is very restrained, and much different than the Joker character that he is known for. VERA CRUZ also features scheming performances from two lovely foreign actresses, Parisian Denise Darcel and Spaniard Sara Montiel. Lancaster’s outlaw gang consists of a young Charles Bronson, Ernest Borgnine, and Jack Elam.

The excellent theatrical trailer is as vibrant as the film itself; it is full frame, mono, and runs 2:48

- Phil Chandler

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