Main Cast: Anthony Quinn, Anjanette Comer, Charles Bronson, Sam Jaffe, Silvia Pinal
Release Year: 1969
Country: MX/IT/FR
Run Time: 111 minutes
Plot
In this French/Italian co-production set in Mexico in 1746, Alastray (Anthony Quinn), a gunman on the run from the law, happens upon a Franciscan priest, Father Joseph (Sam Jaffe), while in flight. Father Joseph shows mercy on the fugitive and allows Alastray to stay with him, but when the locals find out that Joseph is harboring criminals, he's run out of town; Alastray travels with him, disguised as a monk. While approaching what appears to be a deserted village, Father Joseph is killed by a sniper, and Alastray heads into town. He is met by Teclo (Charles Bronson), a half-breed who calls the village home. It seems that a band of savage Yaqui Indians have been terrorizing the town and have a special hatred for men of faith; they intend to continue laying waste to the village until the residents beg for mercy and renounce Christianity. The Village leaders want to make Alastray their new spiritual leader, and despite his great reluctance, he agrees, mostly as a means of maintaining his cover. But when Alastray tries to organize the building of a much needed dam, as well as obtaining a stash of weapons so that the citizens may defend themselves, the Yaquis return in force, leading to a decisive confrontation. Guns for San Sebastian also features Anjanette Comer and Silvia Pinal. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Jorge Martinez de Hoyos - Cayetano; Jaime Fernandez - Golden Lance; Rosa Furman - Agueda; Jorge Russek - Pedro; Leon Askin - Vicar; José Chavez - Antonito; Fernand Gravey - Governor; Pedro Armendariz, Jr. - Father Lucas; Julio Aldama - Diego; Pancho Córdova - Kino; Ivan Desny - Col. Calleja; Enrique Lucero - Renaldo; Noe Murayama - Capt. Lopez; Francisco Reiguera - Bishop; Chano Urueta - Miguel; Aurora Clavel - Magdalena; Guillermo Hernandez - Timoteo
Credit
Robert Clavel - Art Director, Roberto Silva - Art Director, Claude Pinoteau - First Assistant Director, Henri Verneuil - Director, Françoise Bonnot - Editor, Ennio Morricone - Composer (Music Score), Armand Thirard - Cinematographer, Jacques Bar - Producer, Lee Zavitz - Special Effects, J. McMillan Johnson - Special Effects, William Robert Sivel - Sound/Sound Designer, James R. Webb - Screenwriter, William Barby Flaherty - Book Author
La Bataille de San Sebastian (English title: Guns for San Sebastian) is a 1968spaghetti western directed by Frenchman Henri Verneuil. In a rare instance this film was actually shot in Mexico instead of substituting Spain or some similar location.
An outlaw (Anthony Quinn) is saved by a priest (Sam Jaffe) and taken to a village terrorized by marauding Indians. When the priest dies, the outlaw is mistaken for a priest himself and eventually finds love and redemption by helping the villagers defeat their attackers. Charles Bronson co-stars as Teclo, the half breed leader of the marauders.
Though panned as somewhat pedestrian by most critics, several attributes separate this from many spaghetti westerns of the time. It is an excellent showcase of the talents of Anthony Quinn and Charles Bronson in their prime. While the cinematography is not on par with other contemporary members of the genre (like the Magnificent Seven), the authentic Mexican set (with refreshingly good Mexican accents) and above average performances by the supporting cast (especially Sam Jaffe as the priest) contribute to a realism many westerns fall short of.
