Barbarosa **** (1982, Willie Nelson, Gary Busey, Isela Vega, Gilbert Roland, George Voskovec) – Classic Movie Review 8897

Director Fred Schepisi’s spirited 1982 Western film Barbarosa is made with conviction by Australian director Schepisi in the traditional manner but with Eighties arty overtones.

Barbarosa is well cast, with country singer Willie Nelson charismatic as the titular legendary outlaw on the run and Gary Busey excellent (as always) as Karl Westover, the young cowboy country-boy protégé he befriends.

William D Wittliff’s fresh screenplay and Schepisi’s love of the Texas terrain give this underrated Western the lift it needs.

So there were Westerns in the Eighties after the catastrophic flop of Heaven’s Gate! However, it fared very badly. Costing $11,000,000, it grossed only  $1,736,123 in the US.

Also in the cast are Isela Vega, Gilbert Roland, George Voskovec, Alma Martinez, Danny de la Paz, Sharon Compton, Howland Chamberlain, Harry Caesar, Wolf Muser, Kai Wulff, Roberto Contreras, Luis Contreras, Itasco Wilson and Bruce Smith.

Fred Schepisi debuted in Australia with 1976’s The Devil’s Playground, made his US debut with Barbarosa and went on to make acclaimed, successful pictures like Roxanne, A Cry In The Dark, The Russia House and Six Degrees of Separation.

Barbarosa is directed by Fred Schepisi, runs 90 minutes, is made by Incorporated Television Company (ITC), is released by Associated Film Distribution (AFD) (1982) (US) and Universal, is written by William D Wittliff, is shot in Eastmancolor by Ian Baker, is produced by Paul N Lazarus III, is scored by Bruce Smeaton and is designed by Michel Levesque.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8897

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