And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself (HBO)

About And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself

"And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself" is a 2003 historical film produced by HBO. The film is set in the 1900s and revolves around the real-life Mexican revolutionary, Pancho Villa. When Villa agrees to allow two American filmmakers to shoot his war exploits, a captivating story of politics, power, and the entertainment industry unfolds. The story beautifully integrates history with fiction.

Making / Production

The movie is a production of HBO Films, in association with City Entertainment and Greenblatt Janollari Studio. The captivating script is written by Larry Gelbart and directed by Bruce Beresford. The movie meticulously portrays the early ties between politics and the film industry.

Actors

• Antonio Banderas: Playing the title role of Pancho Villa, Banderas delivers a powerful performance capturing the character's dynamism and charisma.
• Eion Bailey: As Frank Thayer, Bailey portrays a young filmmaker who successfully convinces Villa to allow him to film his revolution.
• Alan Arkin: Arkin, taking on the role of Harry Aitken, delivers an excellent performance as the entrepreneur who bankrolls the filming of Villa's revolution.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The movie was shot in various locations in Mexico to authentically capture the atmosphere of the revolution.
• While the movie is a fictional story, it is based on actual events and portrays actual personalities from the era.

Awards

"And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself" garnered critical acclaim and was nominated for several awards. Antonio Banderas received a nomination for the Golden Globe Award in the category of Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television.

Quotes

• "You're telling me you're willing to die... for a movie?" - Pancho Villa, questioning Frank's dedication.
• "Most people die for nothing at all. If I have to, I want to die for something." - Frank Thayer, responding to Villa.

Music, Soundtrack

• The music for the film was composed by Joseph Vitarelli, who set a fantastic tone complementing the historical elements of the film.