February 2007: Il Western all'Italiana - THE WRATH OF GOD by Ralph Nelson

The Wrath of God (1972)
Directed by Ralph Nelson
Runtime: 111 min
Country: USA
Language: English
Colour: Colour (Metrocolor)
Sound Mix: Mono
Cast:
Robert Mitchum as Father Oliver Van Horne
Frank Langella as De La Plata
Rita Hayworth as Señora De La Plata

The theme of "The Wrath of God" is "redemption through sacrifice." Mitchum did this better in "Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison". Sam Peckinpah did it better with "The Wild Bunch". Richard Brooks did it better with "The Professionals". Heck, even Anthony Quin did it better in "Guns for San Sebastian," the movie this one most nearly resembles thematically. Still, there is much to enjoy in "The Wrath of God" to dismiss it entirely.