Viva Zapata

Mexico 1909. Peasant farmers appeal to president Porfirio Diaz to stop rich landowners seizing their land, but he offers them no help. Shortly afterwards, fighting breaks out between the landowners and the peasant farmers led by Emiliano Zapata. The conflict widens and Zapata joins forces with Madero, a rebel leader living in exile in the US. Together they put Diaz on the run, and Madero is installed as president.
Despite Madero's good intentions, conditions for the peasant farmers don't change, and when he is overthrown by general Huerta in a military coup the
situation deteriorates further. Zapata, who has married his true love, Josefa, leads the fight against Huerta's troops. After he is victorious, Zapata reluctantly agrees to lead the country.
Some farmers visit Zapata in his office at the presidential palace to complain about his brother, Eufemio, who has seized their land. The former rebel leader realizes that he has been corrupted by power, resigns and returns home.
Zapata soon initiates a new rebellion against his successor, but is betrayed and killed in an ambush. In order to deter the farmers from continued resistance, Zapata's body is dumped on the village square. The people who gather there
refuse to believe that their leader is dead.

Medverkande
Marlon Brando, Jean Peters, Anthony Quinn, Joseph Wiseman: Producent
Darryl F. Zanuck: Manus
John Steinbeck: Foto
Joe MacDonald: Musik
Alex North: Talat språk
English