The nudity from Alexa Davalos and Rita Lopez Carrasco in And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself (2003)

Based on a true story: Hollywood makes a deal with Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa to film his war and recreate his life. I wrote an extensive review here, filled with my usual digressions.

It is one of the best non-theatrical films. It should be. A lot of talent and money ($25 million) went into this.

The script was penned by the legendary Larry Gelbart, who wrote for many of the best TV shows in the first three or four decades of television, from Sid Caesar’s shows to M*A*S*H, which won him an Emmy. He was also nominated for Oscars for his work on Tootsie and Oh, God! He also wrote an entertaining play, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, which won him one of his two Tonys. The Pancho Villa movie was his last credit, per IMDb.

The film was directed by Bruce Beresford, who was nominated for Oscars in his career in two different categories (Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay, for Tender Mercies and Breaker Morant respectively).

He also …

• was nominated for a BAFTA (British version of an Oscar) for a third movie, Driving Miss Daisy;
• was nominated for an AACTA (the Aussie version of an Oscar) for a fourth, Ladies in Black;
• won a Genie (Canadian version of an Oscar) for a fifth, the Black Robe;
• was nominated for a share of the Palme D’Or for a sixth, Aria.

Several other films were also nominated for or won prestigious awards. Overall – an amazing career!

Alexa Davalos

Rita Lopez Carrasco, who may have shown a bit more than intended.