Viva Villa! (1934) - Howard Hawks and Jack Conway

A wildly "loose" biography of Villa, is a prime example of history via Hollywood. Wallace Beery plays Villa like a complete ignorant hick, which he may have been, but Beery is more of a dumb bully. There are times however when he truly excels in his role. Ben Hecht wrote the screenplay and this is a damn fine collection of dialogue. Although Hawks was replaced during filming, much of his footage survives, and I can be willing to guarantee Hawks shot the first "wedding" of Villa's, it is pure Hawks in every element. However as a film Viva Villa is more a collection of decent moments. There are good scenes, witty dialogue, and occasional moments of brilliance from Beery, but the film lacks a really compelling unity, and is all too often dumbed down history. Some of the crowd scenes recall Conway's work in A Tale of Two Cities, and much of the latter parts of the picture are overblown spectacle.

*Viva Villa! was nominated for best picture, best adapted screenplay, best sound, and won for best assistant director (John Waters).