''Savage Pampas'' is a 1966 American

Western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...

film directed by

Hugo Fregonese Hugo Geronimo Fregonese (April 8, 1908 in Mendoza – January 11, 1987 in Tigre) was an Argentine film director and screenwriter who worked both in Hollywood and his home country.''Cine Nacional''Hugo Fregonese filmographyCinenacional.com ...

and starring Robert Taylor,

Ron Randell Ron is a shortening of the name Ronald. Ron or RON may also refer to: Arts and media * Big Ron (''EastEnders''), a TV character * Ron (''King of Fighters''), a video game character *Ron Douglas, the protagonist in ''Lucky Stiff'' played by Joe A ...

and

Marc Lawrence Marc Lawrence (born Max Goldsmith; February 17, 1910 – November 28, 2005) was an American character actor who specialized in underworld types. He has also been credited as F. A. Foss, Marc Laurence and Marc C. Lawrence. Early life Lawrence w ...

. The film was a co-production between Argentina, Spain and the United States, and was a remake of the 1945 Argentine film of the same title which Fregonese had co-directed. The film's

location shooting Location shooting is the shooting of a film or television production in a real-world setting rather than a sound stage or backlot. The location may be interior or exterior. The filming location may be the same in which the story is set (for exam ...

took place in

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

, a popular location for westerns during the era. The film's action is set in the Argentinian

Pampas The Pampas (from the qu, pampa, meaning "plain") are fertile South American low grasslands that cover more than and include the Argentine provinces of Buenos Aires, La Pampa, Santa Fe, Entre Ríos, and Córdoba; all of Uruguay; and Brazil ...

around the time of the

Conquest of the Desert The Conquest of the Desert ( es, Conquista del desierto) was an Argentine military campaign directed mainly by General Julio Argentino Roca in the 1870s with the intention of establishing dominance over the Patagonian Desert, inhabited primari ...

Plot

Set during the 1870s, life is hard for soldiers on the outskirts of Argentinean control. The pragmatic Captain Martin struggles to retain control over a ragtag Argentinean Army, made up of largely conscripted criminals. Joined by Lt. Del Río, who just graduated from the newly created Military Institute of Buenos Aires, Cpt. Martin faces mass desertions due to soldiers refusing to serve without women at the garrisons. These desperate men slip off in the night to join the ranks of Padrón, a charismatic bandit who leads an army made up of indigenous fighters and army deserters. Padrón has a standing offer of a woman to every soldier who changes sides, and many men have taken notice. Loyalties are divided, until Cpt. Martin looks to turn the tables: by bringing women to his own men.

Cast

Production

In 1958 it was announced Stephen Barclay would produce 12 films in Argentina with Mendoza Films and Guaranteed Pictures. They were to include ''Savage Pampas'' which was to be produced and directed by Hugo Fregonese. ''Pampas'' was based on a true story about an encounter between white settlers and Indians in 1830 Argentina. The film was not made for another decade.SAVAGE PAMPAS "(Pampa Salvaje)" Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 36, Iss. 420, (Jan 1, 1969): 198.

References

Bibliography

* Pitts, Michael R. ''Western Movies: A Guide to 5,105 Feature Films''. McFarland, 2012.

External links