A Flawed, but Worthy Effort

dglink

This 1964 Fred- Zinneman-directed film begins with documentary footage of the Spanish Civil War. However, the verisimilitude is abruptly interrupted when the familiar face of Gregory Peck is glimpsed among a line of partisans who are fleeing across the Pyrenees from Spain into France. While the black-and-white cinematography and location filming among the snow-capped mountains and in the picturesque French city of Pau evoke realism throughout, the questionable star casting of Peck, Anthony Quinn, and Omar Sharif undercuts those efforts. Peck, especially, seems miscast as a crusty Spanish Republican fighter who has gone into exile in Southern France. Quinn as Peck's nemesis, a Franco Loyalist soldier, is on firmer acting ground, and his efforts to trap Peck when he returns to see his dying mother propel the story. Sharif, the third above-the-title star, plays a Spanish priest with a message for Peck, but he has little to do other than flash his doe-like eyes and look appropriately solemn.

Unfortunately, "Behold a Pale Horse" which begins well and promises much, tends to unravel and wind down as the plot unfolds. The cat-and-mouse premise that pits the aging partisan against the womanizing soldier is intriguing and holds the viewer's attention for most of the film. However, motivations become vague and coincidences become facile plot devices in the second half. The film seems to end on an abrupt note and leaves the viewer without a satisfying conclusion. Although not completely successful, "Behold a Pale Horse" is a noble effort by expert filmmakers and merits viewing. Despite his miscasting, Peck makes a valiant effort and earns his star salary, while Quinn can always be relied upon to entertain, even if at times he seems to be playing Zorba in a Spanish police uniform. The lesser-known European supporting players are more effective, and the film would have benefited from a full cast of unknowns. Despite the casting quibbles, a disappointing second half, and a tendency to talkiness, "Behold a Pale Horse" offers an often gripping and suspenseful tale that unfolds during a seldom-portrayed period of the Franco era.

score 7/10

dglink 15 August 2007

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw1712798/