About And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself

An historical film released in 2003, "And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself" is a depiction of Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa's involvement with filmmaker D.W. Griffith and the Mutal Film Company. The film explores Villa's complex character as he engages in a war for social justice while also demanding payment for his cooperation in making a film about his exploits.

Making / Production

The film was directed by Bruce Beresford, who has also worked on prominent projects like "Driving Miss Daisy" and "Double Jeopardy". It was a co-production between HBO Films and City Entertainment. The production showcases the unexpected blend of war and the nascent film industry with impressive attention to historical detail.

Actors

• Antonio Banderas as Pancho Villa: Renders a passionate, charismatic performance that lays bare the depth and complexity of Villa's character.
• Eion Bailey as Frank Thayer: Portrays a journalist who becomes the intermediary between Villa and Griffith, Bailey brings humanity and warmth to his role.
• Alan Arkin as Sam Drebben: Playing a mercenary employed by Villa, Arkin's Drebben provides sharp humor and world-weary wisdom in the narrative.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The film is based on real events and characters.
• Screenwriter Larry Gelbart is well-known for his work on the TV show M*A*S*H.
• Antonio Banderas, who played Pancho Villa, is a major Spanish actor with a successful Hollywood career.

Quotes

• "Money does not make you rich, it just makes you busy." - Pancho Villa
• "I'm not after glory, I'm after justice!" - Pancho Villa
• "To tell this story, you got to live this story." - Frank Thayer

Music, Soundtrack

• The film's soundtrack was composed by Joseph Vitarelli, known for his scores for hit films like "Wedding Crashers" and "Analyze This".
• The soundtrack deftly blends traditional Mexican music with contemporary scoring techniques.