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Joseph Wiseman's excellent portrayal of Fernando

posted 19 years ago by romarub
12 replies | jump to latest

In the early '90's I spotted Joseph Wiseman in the crowd waiting for a plane at Honolulu Airport. He was in a wheelchair and I walked over to him and told him how much I appreciated all of his work in films. I was particularly ecstatic about Viva Zapata, and I quoted his very sinisterly-delivered line, made after he switches allegiance from Zapata to the Federalistas, "Cut off the head of the snake and the body will die". He was very appreciative of my praise of his work, but when I uttered the line, he seemed overjoyed, saying "Even the dialogue!" I'll never forget that brief meeting with one of my screen idols.

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] pyotr-3 19 years ago

A lovely encounter. I'm glad you said something to him!!

[–] richardr-1 17 years ago

I think they will remake this movie, but I am sure they will ruin it.

One of the beauties of Viva Zapata is the understated quality of its characters. Today, nothing is understated. Every movie is a blockbuster with blood, guts, gore and explicit sex. What room would there be left to tell a simple hero's story about a man who gave his life for his people?

I think I would be afraid to go and see the remake and be so disappointed.

[–] wolfsblood66210 17 years ago

I agree 100%. I wish more people thought that way.

[–] captainsteroid 13 years ago

I just saw this movie, today, on TV. Wiseman looked familiar. I checked and found out he was DR. NO, in the first James Bond Film.

[–] bullit2513 13 years ago

I agree completely with the sentiment about Wiseman's performance. It's Brando's movie, and Quinn is all right (don't think it's Oscar-worthy stuff), but Wiseman steals most of his scenes.

Any thoughts on his character arc? Why did he turn on Zapata? Was Emiliano too much of a liability? I watched it on TV with a fair share of commercials so I feel like I might have missed something. Was his love for Mexico that deep?

"Congratulations, Major. It appears that at last you have found yourself a real war." Ben Tyreen

[–] mandrake62 12 years ago

I think his character was a symbolic one that represented the corruption that infected anyone who came into power. His turning on Zapata was a natural outcome of his inability to corrupt him.

[–] mandrake62 12 years ago

I think his character was a symbolic one that represented the corruption that infected anyone who came into power. His turning on Zapata was a natural outcome of his inability to corrupt him.

[–] PoppyTransfusion 12 years ago

Any thoughts on his character arc? Why did he turn on Zapata? Was Emiliano too much of a liability? I watched it on TV with a fair share of commercials so I feel like I might have missed something. Was his love for Mexico that deep?

I don't think you missed anything; it's never explained and we are left to imagine what his character was going through. I think he, like some of the others, was exasperated that Zapata would not rule. He seemed unable to understand that Zapata did not want to be a leader but rather to fight and uphold the rights of the peasants and farmers of Mexico's indigenous people.

His character seemed idealistic and excited by Zapata but ultimately he, like Zapata's brother, wanted something else from revolution. I think he hated Zapata after the latter told him in no uncertain terms what an empty person he was and how this was reflected in his life.

Fatima had a fetish for a wiggle in her scoot

[–] PoppyTransfusion 12 years ago

That's a nice anecdote. He was very good in the film with an interesting character to play.

Fatima had a fetish for a wiggle in her scoot

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] bradford-1 11 years ago

Wiseman was often pretty "over the top" in his film/TV roles. But in a good way, ala Bela Lugosi or Edward G. Robinson.

"May I bone your kipper, Mademoiselle?"