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El Condor

  • 1970
  • R
  • 1h 42m
IMDb RATING
6.0/10
1.5K
YOUR RATING
Jim Brown, Lee Van Cleef, and Marianna Hill in El Condor (1970)
SwashbucklerWestern EpicActionAdventureDramaRomanceWestern

The El Condor, the fabled Mexican stronghold rumoured to contain Emperor Maximilian's mythical reserves in gold, will attract two adventurous fortune seekers, who with eyes gleaming with des... Read allThe El Condor, the fabled Mexican stronghold rumoured to contain Emperor Maximilian's mythical reserves in gold, will attract two adventurous fortune seekers, who with eyes gleaming with desire, will shortly know that only fools rush in.The El Condor, the fabled Mexican stronghold rumoured to contain Emperor Maximilian's mythical reserves in gold, will attract two adventurous fortune seekers, who with eyes gleaming with desire, will shortly know that only fools rush in.

  • Director
    • John Guillermin
  • Writers
    • Larry Cohen
    • Steven W. Carabatsos
  • Stars
    • Jim Brown
    • Lee Van Cleef
    • Patrick O'Neal
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.0/10
    1.5K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • John Guillermin
    • Writers
      • Larry Cohen
      • Steven W. Carabatsos
    • Stars
      • Jim Brown
      • Lee Van Cleef
      • Patrick O'Neal
    • 22User reviews
    • 10Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win total

    Photos67

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    Top cast24

    Edit
    Jim Brown
    Jim Brown
    • Luke
    Lee Van Cleef
    Lee Van Cleef
    • Jaroo
    Patrick O'Neal
    Patrick O'Neal
    • Chavez
    Marianna Hill
    Marianna Hill
    • Claudine
    • (as Mariana Hill)
    Iron Eyes Cody
    Iron Eyes Cody
    • Santana
    Imogen Hassall
    Imogen Hassall
    • Dolores
    Elisha Cook Jr.
    Elisha Cook Jr.
    • Old Convict
    • (as Elisha Cook)
    Gustavo Rojo
    Gustavo Rojo
    • Colonel Anguinaldo
    Florencio Amarilla
    • Aguila
    Julio Peña
    Julio Peña
    • General Hernandez
    Ángel del Pozo
    Ángel del Pozo
    • Lieutenant
    • (as Angel Del Pozo)
    Patricio Santiago
    • Julio
    John Clark
    • Prison Guard Captain
    Raúl Mendoza Castro
    • Indian
    • (as Raul Mendoza Castro)
    Rafael Albaicín
    • Officer
    • (as Rafael Albaicin)
    George Ross
    • Guard
    Ricardo Palacios
    Ricardo Palacios
    • Chief Bandit
    Charles Stalnaker
    • Bandit
    • Director
      • John Guillermin
    • Writers
      • Larry Cohen
      • Steven W. Carabatsos
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews22

    6.01.5K
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    Featured reviews

    8jerrycurlz

    Excellent Action, great Drama

    This motion picture is in my opinion, undoubtedbly Jim Brown's best cinematic performance . The action and cinematography reminded me of The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly (Lee Van Cleef probably had something to do w/ it) He also does an excellent job.

    The plot is well-scripted, and the motion picture is paced well. I don't know the name of the lead actress in the picture--but man, she must've been working out or something because she is/ was pretty fine. All in all, a definite thumb up picture.
    6ma-cortes

    A pair of drifters in search for millions of dollars in gold buried under an impregnable fort

    Two men, a two-fisted Jim Brown as escaped prisoner and an humorous Lee Van Cleef as ambitious drifter, join forces to rob a lot of gold located into an impressive Mexican fortress (commanded by Patrick O'Neal) where is supposedly hidden the treasure. They're accompanied by an Indian tribe (led by Iron Eyes Cody, usual in Indian roles but he's Italian origin).

    It packs shootouts, action western, tongue in cheek, thrills, violence and some of nudism in charge of a gorgeous Marianna Hill . This American-Spanish co-production paints an ironic, cynic portrayal of two rough bandits , following their exploits about an attack over an heavily armed fortress . The film results to be another action/adventure /humor Western that during the 60s and early 70s were ordinarily shot . Likable support cast by prestigious actors as Elisha Cook Jr and full of secondaries from Spaghetti Western as Dan Van Husen, Ricardo Palacios, Angel Del Pozo, Charly Bravo, Rafael Albaicin, among others . The film is well shot in Texas Hollywood-Fort Bravo, Almeria, Spain with a breathtaking production design by Julio Molina who made the great fortress , one of the best ever created and where were posteriorly filmed several Spaghetti as ¨ Blind man, Massacre at Fort Holman, A man called Noon¨ and ¨Conan the Barbarian¨. Nevertheless, today the fort has been partially crumbled and only remain some ruins . Atmospheric and lively musical score by the classic Maurice Jarre (Zivago, Lawrence of Arab ). Evocative and colorful cinematography by Henry Persin . The motion picture is lavishly produced by Andre De Toth ( who directed good Western) and professionally directed by John Guillermin, a super-productions expert ( King Kong, The towering inferno, Skyjacked) and warlike specialist(The bridge of Remagen, Blue Max) . Rating : Acceptable and passable. The picture will appeal to S.W. buffs and Lee Van Cleef fans.
    10whynotwriteme

    EXCITING EPIC WESTERN

    Extremely enjoyable western adventure in the classic style of the late 60s and early 70s. The plot concerns a pair of rogue adventurers who team up with a tribe of Apache Indians to steal a fortune in gold from a huge fortress in Mexico during the mid 1860s. The heroes are extremely well portrayed, with Jim Brown as Luke, in a pioneering performance for African American actors in the early 70s; a non racially specific heroic role. Brown displays the cool confidence he showed in 'The Dirty Dozen' and '100 Rifles', showing once again that he was one of the most underrated action heroes of the 60s and 70s. Lee Van Cleef is also superb. Going against his usual casting as a polished, cool villain, Van Cleef plays a scruffy ne'r-do-well named Jaroo, who is first seen spitting whiskey into the camera. In spite of Jaroo's greed and unsavory habits, he is still a very sympathetic character. Just watch the great scene where he gives a Mexican boy one of his prized gold nuggets. Other characters of note are Iron Eyes Cody as Santana, the Apache Chief, and Patrick O'Neal as Chavez, the cruel yet honorable commandanté of the Fortress of El Condor. Mariana Hill is stunning (and totally naked at one point!) as the mistress of Chavez, a fickle beauty with the power to make men or break them. The battles are truly epic in scope, particularily the scenes of the final assault on El Condor, with hundreds of Mexican soldiers and Apaches clashing in the courtyard of the immense fortress. The music by Maurice Jarré is wonderful. One of his best scores, along with 'Lawrence of Arabia' and 'The Professionals'. No one can say that 'El Condor' is a message movie, or socially relevant or challenging, but if you want an action packed western with larger than life heroes and villains, beautiful women and impossible odds, El Condor is the film for you! I have watched this film literally dozens of times since first sneaking into the living-room to catch it on the late show as a kid in 1979, and I never ever tire of it. I watch this film more often that 'The Wild Bunch', 'The Magnificent Seven' or 'The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly'! Buy a copy RIGHT AWAY!
    5bkoganbing

    A really impressive fortress

    The plains of Spain was where this European western was shot with Americans Jim Brown and Lee Van Cleef who team up to take a really impressive fortress entitled El Condor. It's commanded by General Patrick O'Neal with all the comforts of home including mistress Mariana Hill. The rest of the troops get an occasional peak and then make their trips to the bordello for relief.

    Brown is an escaped convict and Van Cleef is a rogue of a prospector who has an in with the local Apaches whose chief is Iron Eyes Cody. There's reputed to be a vast fortune in gold bullion in the fort, the Mexican version of Fort Knox. The French want it, the Juaristas want it, various bandits want it, but it's O'Neal who has it and guards it zealously.

    It's almost comical the way our heroes and the Apaches take the place. O'Neal and his troops behave like the stupid Germans did in a ton of World War II era propaganda flicks. In fact it's one of those trips to the bordello for the troops that's the start of their undoing.

    The best thing that El Condor has going for it is the easy chemistry between the leads. Both of them rarely did any comedy, Van Cleef was almost always a bad guy in the 50s and 60s. Other heavies from that era, Lee Marvin, Claude Akins, Jack Elam, Neville Brand to name a few started doing more roles spoofing themselves, Van Cleef rarely did. As for Jim Brown, the former Cleveland Browns running back could lay claim to being the first black action/adventure star in film.

    El Condor is a nice action/adventure western that's laced with some humor for the two stars. And fans of one or both should see this film.
    vad-2

    An Exciting good old style film

    I enjoyed this film which I saw on television, but I did see it originally at the cinema long before IMDB or its directors were in existence.

    Vintage Lee Van Cleef and Jim Browm acted out their parts well. I always like these type of Westerns, they never date, but then I grew up on them. The stories always have the same theme but, coupled to the acting and stunning western scenery, they always capture me. Having been fortunate enough to visit the scenery in the US in Arizona, New Mexico and California, the films give me added pleasure. Hope they go on remaking them so as to benefit from the new technology

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    Related interests

    Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017)
    Swashbuckler
    Henry Fonda and Charles Bronson in Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)
    Western Epic
    Bruce Willis in Die Hard (1988)
    Action
    Still frame
    Adventure
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (1942)
    Romance
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    Western

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The huge fortress of El Condor, built in Spain for this movie, was subsequently featured in many other films, including A Reason to Live, a Reason to Die (1972) and Conan the Barbarian (1982).
    • Goofs
      Since the Apaches were watching the fort, they would have seen what was happening and either attacked the patrol staking out Jim and Lee, or rescued them once it was done.
    • Quotes

      Luke: We'll wait until they get undressed. I don't want any holes in those uniforms.

    • Connections
      Referenced in Indiana Jones: Making the Trilogy (2003)

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    FAQ17

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • September 6, 1970 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Apache languages
    • Also known as
      • El condor
    • Filming locations
      • Desierto de Tabernas, Almería, Andalucía, Spain(Exterior scenes, Fort El Condor)
    • Production company
      • Carthay Continental
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • $4,500,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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    • Runtime
      • 1h 42m(102 min)
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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