Western,Drama,War,History,TV Movie
United States of America
And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself is a historical drama film that was released in 2003. It is based on the true story of how Pancho Villa, a famous Mexican revolutionary, invited movie studios to shoot his battles against PorfÃrio Diaz's army in 1914. The film follows the negotiations between Villa and the Mutual Film Corporation, with the producer D.W. Griffith and filmmaker Frank Thayer playing key roles.
The negotiations are difficult, with Villa demanding a large sum of money and complete control over the film's content. Thayer struggles to persuade Villa to change his mind, but eventually agrees to his terms. The film crew then travels to Mexico to shoot the battle scenes, with Villa himself playing the lead role.
As the filming progresses, the crew begins to understand the complexity of the Mexican revolution and the dangers they are facing. Villa becomes increasingly unstable and violent, and the crew is caught in the crossfire of his battles with Diaz's army. Thayer struggles to maintain control over the production, but Villa's demands continue to escalate.
The film concludes with the release of the finished product, which is a commercial success but also raises questions about the ethics of filming real-life battles for profit. And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself is a compelling drama that explores themes of power, violence, and the blurred lines between entertainment and historical reality.
