Cannon for Cordoba is a western film that was released in
1970. Filmed in Spain, the larger part of the movie takes place in Mexico in
1912. Directed by Paul Wendkos, it stars George Peppard, Pete Duel, Giovanna
Ralli, and Raf Vallone
Storyline Cannon for Cordoba 1970
It is 1912 and groups of Mexican revolutionaries have been
attacking towns on both sides of the Mexican-American border. The most powerful
of these groups is led by a former Mexican army general, Héctor Cordoba. When a
surprise attack results in six cannons falling into the hands of Cordoba and
his men, the United States government puts General John J. "Blackjack"
Pershing (John Russell) in charge of seeing that the cannons will never be used
against the American people. Pershing turns to Captain Rod Douglas (George
Peppard), instructing him to gather a group of men to take part in the
dangerous mission into the heart of the Cordoba's territory.
The first man to sign up for the job is Jackson Harkness
(Don Gordon), a soldier who has worked with Douglas before. At the beginning of
the film, Harkness has to stand by and watch as his brother is tortured and
killed by Cordoba. Douglas ordered him not to step in because they were
undercover as sympathizers in the enemy camp and could not afford to make their
true intentions known. As a result, Harkness vows vengeance on the captain and
will not leave his side until the opportunity presents itself.
The next two men that Douglas chooses for the operation are
Andy Rice (Pete Duel) and Peter (Nico Minardos), who have just broken out of
the army jail when Douglas arrives with the orders for their release. The
captain now has all of the men that he feels are necessary for getting the job
done. However, a Mexican lieutenant, Antonio Gutierrez(Gabriele Tinti), who
holds a personal grudge against Cordoba, approaches him and demands to be part
of the operation. He tells Douglas that he knows a woman, Leonora
Cristobal(Giovanna Ralli) who, for her own reasons, wishes to see Cordoba dead.
If the captain includes him in the mission, she will help them by working her
way into Cordoba’s confidence and getting him alone so that he will be vulnerable
when they make their move.
Antonio and Leonora arrive at Cordoba’s camp first. Leonora,
who learns that the Mexican government wants to capture Cordoba alive, betrays
Antonio and informs the bandit leader of his intentions, hoping that he will reward
her for what she has done by allowing her to get closer to him, giving her the
opportunity to kill him herself.
When Douglas, Andy, Peter, and Harkness arrive at the camp,
posing as sympathizers, they hear of what Leonora has done and decide that they
have to act quickly. Douglas starts a fight with one of the Mexican men, so as
to be put in jail, where he can help Antonio to escape. That night, Andy,
disguised as a Mexican guards, breaks both of the men out of jail so that the
operation can proceed. Douglas goes to Cordoba’s room, where he finds him alone
with Leonora. She betrayed Antonio but she still did the job she was supposed
to do. Meanwhile, Jackson and Peter have turned the cannons on the camp and
begin to fire, while Andy and Antonio shoot flares into the buildings. Chaos
ensues and the group of men, along with Leonora and their prisoner, Cordoba,
attempt to ride out of the camp. Peter, Antonio, and Andy are killed in the
process, and Cordoba is wounded.
The next morning, miles away from the camp, the diminished
group stops to rest. When Douglas goes off by himself, Harkness sees his
opportunity to avenge his brother. He follows the captain, demands that he turn
around, and draws his gun. As Douglas walks unflinchingly toward him, however,
he is unable to shoot and, instead, punches him. All now forgiven, the two men
walk back to where Leonora waits. Cordoba has died from the wound he received
the previous night. They are not able to bring him back alive, as the
government had wanted, but the cannons were destroyed and their mission is
complete.
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