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Juarez (film)

Juarez
Juarez (1939).jpg
Theatrical release poster
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.
Release date
  • April 24, 1939 (1939-04-24)
Running time
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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