Juarez (film)
| Juarez | |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | William Dieterle |
| Produced by | Hal B. Wallis |
| Screenplay by |
Aeneas MacKenzie John Huston Wolfgang Reinhardt |
| Based on |
Juarez and Maximilian 1925 play The Phantom Crown 1934 novel by Franz Werfel Bertita Harding |
| Starring |
Paul Muni Bette Davis Brian Aherne John Garfield |
| Music by | Erich Wolfgang Korngold |
| Cinematography | Tony Gaudio |
| Edited by | Warren Low |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. |
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Release date
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Running time
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125 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Juarez is a 1939 American historical drama film directed by William Dieterle. The screenplay by Aeneas MacKenzie, John Huston, and Wolfgang Reinhardt is based on the biography The Phantom Crown by Bertita Harding and the play Juarez and Maximilian by Franz Werfel.
The film focuses on the conflict between Maximilian I (Brian Aherne), a European political dupe who is installed as the puppet ruler of Mexico by the French Napoleon III (Claude Rains), and Benito Juárez (Paul Muni), the country's president.
In 1863, Napoleon III of France, fearful he will lose Mexico to Juárez, circumvents the Monroe Doctrine by instituting sovereign rule and controlling an election that places Maximilian von Habsburg on the Mexican throne.
Upon his arrival in the country with his wife Carlota (Bette Davis), Maxmilian realizes he is expected to establish French supremacy by confiscating land that Juárez had returned to the native people and penalizing the rebels under his command. Maximilian decides to abdicate his throne but is deterred from doing so by Carlotta.
Maximillian offers Juárez the position of prime minister, but Juárez's refusal to compromise democratic self-rule for the Mexican people creates an unbridgeable rift between the two. When the American Civil War comes to an end, the United States warns Napoleon that it intends to enforce the Monroe Doctrine by military force if necessary, sending arms in support of Juárez's army. Their efforts are thwarted by Vice-President Alejandro Uradi (Joseph Calleia), who seizes the American ammunition and therefore virtually guarantees victory for Maximilian. However, Napoleon orders all French troops to evacuate Mexico, leaving Maximilian without an army.
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Wikipedia