I don't agree with the claim that there is little scholarship on filibusters, particularly in Central America. On the contrary, plenty of work has been developed, though it is mostly written in Spanish and comes from Central American universities. I guess the reason is that while Walker's invasion was of little consequence for the U.S., for some of these countries, this event was foundational for their national identity and state formation. Having said that, the review is quite interesting, thank you!
lots and lots of it... the ticos (costa ricans) base their national pride on beating the guy... he was going to invade costa rica and the costa rican army was the one that beat him in rivas, he barricaded himself in a house wich was set ablaze by a costa rican soldier named juan santamaria, who died setting the fire, he's a national hero, the int. airport in san jose is named after him, he even got a national holiday 11th of april.
@@itsblitz4437 Sure, my personal favorites between recent books are: Molina, I. Díaz, D. 2008. La Campaña Nacional (1856-1857): historiografia, literatura y memoria. San Jose: Editorial UCR; Acuña Ortega, V. (2010) Filibusterismo y Destino Manifiesto en las Américas. Alajuela: Museo Juan Santamaria; Acuña Ortega, V. (2013). Vertiendes del recuerdo. Historia y memoria de la guerra contra los filibusteros: Estados Unidos, Nicaragua y Costa Rica (siglos XIX-XXI). San José: Editorial Costa Rica; Quesada, J.R. (2006). Clarin patriotico: la guerra contra los filibusteros y la nacionalidad costarricense. Alajuela: Museo Juan Santamaria (this is about poetry made about this war). Díaz also has a book about April 11th, which is the day of Second Battle of Rivas. Do note, that these are Costa Rican sources (because I'm Costa Rican and it is what I know best). There are other accounts from other Central American historians, whom use different sources and have different nationalistic bents. Also, if you like a Central American account from an American scholar, do check the work of Steven Palmer. He and Ivan Molina have written plenty about the effect of this invasion on regional and national identities. Hope it helps! Best!
I remember seeing this on HBO or Cinemax when I was a kid in the late 80s, it was so bewildering and action packed in some type of Hamburger Hill meet Young Guns done by Monty Python kind of way that I think parts of my memory purposely forgot it ! I'll have to watch it and its entirety now . Thank you for the review !
Oh man my senior thesis in college was on the historiography of William Walker. Using this film as a source was so much fun. I probably would have reached out to you had this video existed back then!
@@someguy7723 As they say, where you stand depends on where you sit. In my country, Wilson has a number of streets and squares named after him, because he contributed significantly to our regaining independence after more than 120 years of slavery.
Interestingly enough, Joe Strummer did the soundtrack for this movie, and he was the frontman of The Clash, who named their 1980 album after the Sandinistas in Nicaragua.
Ideas for next based on a true story Movies: Reds, Gangs of New York, Rag Time, Darkest Hour, Lincoln, The Post, Death of Stalin, The siege of Jadoville, 7 days in entebbe, 13 days, conformation. Tv Shows: the Americans, Waco, The crown, john adams, band of brothers.
Oh man. There are several small countries that the United States invaded in one form or another. One film I hold personal in my own retrospective of history would have to be this 1975 made for tv western movie titled "I Will Fight No More Forever" which was about the Nez Perce and Chief Joseph trying to outrun the US army. So yeah, for some of us, certain movies can strike an interest. I can imagine that this movie has got some interest for similar reasons.
1:06, James Brooke was basically a British filibuster, he successfully conquered large parts of North Borneo from Brunei and created what is now Sarawak. The fucker is now a "hero" in Sarawak.
I have the Walker soundtrack on vinyl. Not only are there some really cool songs on there, like Musket Waltz, but the soundtrack was done by the late Joe Strummer of the Clash.
AWESOME video Cypher! So many highlights...the fun/humor your bringing to these subjects is so simple, comfortable and just brilliantly accurate and suited. I really enjoyed this, pretty much all for your approach to and attitude towards the subject.
Thank you so much; what fascinating and detailed background to this wonderful, overlooked film. I have the Criterion addition of Walker, which contains Rudy Wurlitzer's historical ruminations on the Colonel - including the fact that he inspired the first ever Broadway musical.
I know this is gonna sound like an odd request, but-can someone point me to a good source that shows/gives an *accurate* depiction of the _flag_ of the Walker regime? The only pics I seem to find online shows what appears to be the Nicaraguan flag with it’s official logo replaced by a red star. Yet a bio of Walker published a few years ago gave a description of a flag with-IIRC-“5” alternating blue/white stripes, a red star, and a written motto of “Five or none”; according to the bio (again, IIRC), the motto was meant to signal Walker’s ambition to conquer Nicaragua’s neighbors. So far, I’ve been unable to find an *illustration* of this particular banner in any source, online or offline. Are there any experts-or at least anyone knowledgeable-who can clarify this?
Enjoyed this. Maybe a few years into the future people won't realise what was going on (1987) when it was made, and what it is a parody of. But please, Cypher, what film is the little clip of music from at 4:20? It's bugging me.
Yes! Exactly like the Filibusters that invaded Caborca Sonora Mexico . We kicked Walker ass , here in my region in the Sonoran Desert by Hermosillo too. It’s used to called Pitic in that time . Greeting from north Mexico
Oh boy! it's not my first time on this channel, but in previous times I've missed that there's a vid on one of my *favourite movies ever* in here! Totally subscribed now. Walker has less than 3000 ratings on IMDB as I'm writing this. What an absolute shame.
Well now, I thought death of stalin was pretty inaccurate in parts but still found it pretty funny. The guy playing zuhkov was brilliant and Paul Whitehouse and Steve Buscemi were hilarious. It was kinda like a spitting image. I wanna see the same kind of film with Reagan, thatcher, Gorbachev etc
Jason Isaacs played Zurkov. He was bloody brilliant. But CH has also done a video on Death of Stalin where he points out a lot of it's holes I enjoyed it though.
My guess is that Walker's pro-slavery views were downplayed so that it didn't give apologists for US policy in the 1980s the chance to say that the US was not supporting slavery in the 1980s and therefore claim that there was no link between US actions in the two time periods.
William Walker is also the Marlon Brando character in "Burn." He is highly, often contrarily, represented in that movie also. Another very good, total bullshit movie.
And so... While I was asking my elder family members about our ancestors.. it was told as a related family history that while William Walker, Mercenary and slave owner visited Cuba and headed to Nicaragua he purchased a group of slaves. My ancestors were part of that group of slaves. When he was captured in Nicaragua and taken to Honduras to be prosecuted (killed), the slaves he owned were freed! Thank goodness! That was the end of this mercenary slavery ownership! Thank you.
I'm no historian but I'm pretty sure that this Walker guy didn't sound like Ed Harris. More like Malcolm McDowell's portrayal of Alex in A Clockwork Orange. I'm only 8:50 into this video but I'm getting a Kubrickian feel from the film and also from what the main character is suppose to portray.
I have a question: Can the fact that Chuck Norris's character in the show with the same name is called "Walker" or that the Bush's named their kids "Walker" be seen as a political statement (like when a black guy calls his kid Luther) or is Walker just a very common or typical name in Texas?
I bought 15 years ago at a garage sale a book about making the movie/ about walker it was weird I still have it best 50 cents I spent. Not sure if you know but the movie ran out of money half way through, Ed Harris payed personally for the rest of it. Interesting photographs in it. I don't get why somone would make a book about making of the movie that didn't make any money, and where the hell did the guy who originally bought it buy it. The music I will never forget.
@@evilfreak7 It was named just like the movie, and the cover was the movie poster of walker walking in red yellow orange. Like the movie though it was wacky, it talked about making the movie, or just off camera dialogue, and than jump into what was than present day Nicaragua. The pictures were black and white, my favorite is they had one of the soldiers riding giant bull, that never ended up being in the movie.
Saw Walker when it came out if I remember correctly.Harris was excellent as were all the cast.I enjoyed it and understood Cox's intention.Excellent film.
so there is at least someone out there who loves this movie too... :) i constantly have to defend mi love for it against literaly all of my movie-interested friends... even outraged some for making them watch it... :) thanks for the clip!
How about "The Birdman of Alcatraz"? Burt Lancaster as a nice, but misunderstood Robert Stroud, who was anything but nice and wrote sick child pornogrophy stories. He was kept in solitary not to protect him, but protect other prisoners 'from' him. And didnt keep birds at Alcatraz, but Leavenworth.
It's one of the titles in the Criterion Collection, so yeah, you gotta see it. And seriously, I haven't seen so many anachronisms in one movie since the films of Ken Russell. Also from WALKER's director Alex Cox: SID AND NANCY.
Just discovered your channel . Wanted to say I really enjoy the content (I came back to leave the comment on this video because you requested in another to stay on topic). Another interesting topic is the short lived central American federation. Read up on if you feel curious.
Will it be publicly available once done? Also, I find it kinda fascinating that every small kid in Nicaragua knows who Walker was yet even in his birth state many Americans are like "who?"
Just out of curiosity, do you happen to follow current Nicaraguan politics at all (you using the PLC flag for the "liberal" side might indicate so)? Did you hear of the debate around the NICA ACT? Do you have any opinion, especially with the background of Americans meddling in Nicaragua? Or is that too current-eventsy for you to comment and/or be interested in as an historian?
Given the controversy of the 2016 election, and Ortega getting 3 elections in a row (something unconstitutional before his second time in office), these sanctions seem justified. Personally, i think it is stupid, especially when we complain about election meddling here. Then again, why doesn't this kind of political situation result in sanctions for Russia. Oh wait, i know why...
The slavery issue should be seen in the context of the struggle between North and South for control the U.S. Senate. The reason Walker supported slavery was to get southerners to support his filibustering activity. The book was published in 1860 for the same purpose. You are not going find his real feelings on slavery in the book.
@@CynicalHistorian I was thinking more along the lines of annexing land from countries to create a new state using a private militia. That is interesting though.
The helicopter at the end is a Soviet-made Mi-8 Hip. So not only were there helicopters in the 1850's (besides American troops/CIA, the Soviet Union, Newsweek, et al.). But that the Americans had somehow gotten their hands on a Soviet chopper. Perhaps, that way they could extract the bloodied and bewildered Americans while disguised as Communists? ;-)
Would you be up for doing a hangout on my channel to talk about common myths you hear in historical debates? I mostly talk about politics from a democratic socialist perspective, but I’d like to do more on history. I’m also trying to ge step back history on board. (You’d get to do a lot of Wilson bashing)
@@stuarthastie6374 I actually own two copies now, one UK DVD which only will play on computers, and the US Criterion collection DVD. It used to be on the streaming site Hoopla as well, but was taken off recently.
I trust me, in Mexico and Latin America, we remember those little misdeeds don’t you worry about that. It’s just difficult to keep the tab with Americans and all. And yeah, most mexican sources think of the filibusters as freak accidents of history and a time we dodged a bullet (donated the bullet of not having the US federal gov deploy armed forces and block Veracruz and take Mexico City)
This film is totally bonkers, and Alex Cox has no subtlety as he hammers in his message with a sledgehammer, but that's also why I enjoyed the film as much as I did!
Jake Fuentes well spotted. That’s a Mi-17 soviet helicopter, the reason was that this movie was actually filmed in Nicaragua and they borrowed a helicopter from the nicaraguan air force, which only had soviet chopers
Do you think it is possible for a cartel to take over a small country like Nicaragua? I genuinely believe a drug cartel could filibuster a small country, and im surprised no one has tried.(excluding Pablo Escobar I guess)
Nicaragua army is not colombia army that was under narco capo Pablo Escobar shoes sole. 🇳🇮 Nicaragua is small country compare to colombia but its military people have some balls. If you don't believe ask the U.S Marine force. They invaded several times 🇳🇮 Nicaragua like Walker and those several times were defeated one way or another. Just like in Vietnam war the 🇺🇸 USA lost that war so they did in North Korea. This film doesn't reflect what did Walker did in 🇳🇮 Nicaragua. He was a crackhead loser who didn't care about nobody. Imagine Walker would have done it in today's world. Most likely he would have been executed immediately. The thing is back then there were so many traitors in Nicaragua that they would sell their souls to the devil for a few dollars😎 That's why Walker took the Power in Nicaragua
Saludos desde Lota Chile, Esta pelicula es completamente desconocida en la America Latina ¿?. La historia es ignorada por los pueblos Latino Americanos. Y se repite una y otra vez. Mis mas profundo respeto para el direcctor Alex Cox y el sorprendente Ed Harris. Este cine Norte Americano no dice que no todos los Yanquis son unos hijo de ......... 😬. Gracias Cynical.
As a nicaraguan and Central American, I hope they make a movie (or series) as much accurate as possible about the real story, this was such an important event in our regional history, the “war of independence” that we never had (the war against Spain was mostly fought in Mexico). I liked this movie but it puts so much emphasis on the contemporary Iran contra affair, I understand the message they wanted to deliver back then, but watching those anacronism now feels like a comedy, knowing the Cold War is long gone. It doesn’t have the seriousness that such story should have. It’s a shame that this film was influenced by the politics of its time, but at the same time I’m afraid that said politics was the reason that made Hollywood interested in a movie about an American guy invading nicaragua in the first place I must give credit to the soundtrack and the scenery of this movie, It was filmed in the real locations. Granada is a well preserved colonial town with old churches and buildings which might make some believe this was a high budget production recreating a 1800’s town
I showed this to a friend who saw Walker, and he said there was an even more clear innacuracy than the slavery one: when Walker tells his Nicaraguan mistress that he is a social democrat. Not because the term didn't exist yet (it did) but wasn't popular and meaning what it does now yet, but because Walker never portrayed himself as that, or did he? Given that it was a very socialist meaning term in the 1850s, Walker as a socialist democrat is even more innacurate than him as reluctant slaver.
He was definitely a Democrat (they were the pro-slavery faction), but "social" is kinda a misnomer. It didn't really have today's meaning back then and wouldn't be used in that way. Kinda a minor detail though. The whole romantic subplot is of course made up, as with basically any social interactions
It is kind of a shame, if Walker really was that sort of reformist, racialist, imperialist, slaver social democrat he'd make for a very interesting study subject (like all ideological odities), alas this was a very good invention on the film's part.
What's the lesson, kids? Baby Reagan triggered a bullet until papa bit the bullet by havin' his foot be the impact, despite being told NOT to mess with guns.
Say what you will about the subject matter in BIRTH OF A NATION - but there is one thing that cannot be denied- it is not only a masterpiece, but it is the film that INVENTED the language of film that we use today.
I saw this movie with high hopes and it disappointed me completely. It was incomprehensible and crazy and I think the director lost control of the movie half way through.
Oh my God, as soon as you talked about them reading Newsweek - I need to see this movie
My head canon is that Walker is set in Westworld.
@@forickgrimaldus8301 I
The man, the myth, the legend.
As a Nicaraguan, I can confirm there were indeed helicopters in the 1850's
Lol!
I'm glad that can all be cleared up 😅
As someone who was born in Nicaragua and is now an American citizen and in the military.... wiiiillllllssssoooooonnnn!!!!
so your pro slave?
and this is contradicting asf because the US military arrested wilson more than once
+Robert Gutierrez Which one exactly? Jerez? Chamorro? Martinez? Estrada?
I don't agree with the claim that there is little scholarship on filibusters, particularly in Central America. On the contrary, plenty of work has been developed, though it is mostly written in Spanish and comes from Central American universities. I guess the reason is that while Walker's invasion was of little consequence for the U.S., for some of these countries, this event was foundational for their national identity and state formation. Having said that, the review is quite interesting, thank you!
Yeah, I meant in English. Couldn't tell you about the general scholarship in Spanish
lots and lots of it... the ticos (costa ricans) base their national pride on beating the guy...
he was going to invade costa rica and the costa rican army was the one that beat him in rivas,
he barricaded himself in a house wich was set ablaze by a costa rican soldier named juan santamaria, who died setting the fire, he's a national hero, the int. airport in san jose is named after him, he even got a national holiday 11th of april.
Heidenspross - thanks for explaining this!
@@itsblitz4437 can you hook me up with Cheryl, or Carroll, or whatever?
@@itsblitz4437 Sure, my personal favorites between recent books are:
Molina, I. Díaz, D. 2008. La Campaña Nacional (1856-1857): historiografia, literatura y memoria. San Jose: Editorial UCR;
Acuña Ortega, V. (2010) Filibusterismo y Destino Manifiesto en las Américas. Alajuela: Museo Juan Santamaria;
Acuña Ortega, V. (2013). Vertiendes del recuerdo. Historia y memoria de la guerra contra los filibusteros: Estados Unidos, Nicaragua y Costa Rica (siglos XIX-XXI). San José: Editorial Costa Rica;
Quesada, J.R. (2006). Clarin patriotico: la guerra contra los filibusteros y la nacionalidad costarricense. Alajuela: Museo Juan Santamaria (this is about poetry made about this war).
Díaz also has a book about April 11th, which is the day of Second Battle of Rivas.
Do note, that these are Costa Rican sources (because I'm Costa Rican and it is what I know best). There are other accounts from other Central American historians, whom use different sources and have different nationalistic bents.
Also, if you like a Central American account from an American scholar, do check the work of Steven Palmer. He and Ivan Molina have written plenty about the effect of this invasion on regional and national identities. Hope it helps! Best!
"Walker is perhaps the most inaccurate movie I’ve ever reviewed."
Wow, there's a movie worse than Braveheart?
anonymous anonymous braveheart dosent have coke in it
Haaaa.
lmao, Braveheart had goofy costumes. Walker had cars in the 1860s. THE 1860S
@@badfoody
wat
Bingis Bahn can you imagine William Wallace on the front page of The Times? 😂
Oh Mr Cox. What a career you could have had if this film had been appreciated.
I remember seeing this on HBO or Cinemax when I was a kid in the late 80s, it was so bewildering and action packed in some type of Hamburger Hill meet Young Guns done by Monty Python kind of way that I think parts of my memory purposely forgot it ! I'll have to watch it and its entirety now . Thank you for the review !
Oh man my senior thesis in college was on the historiography of William Walker. Using this film as a source was so much fun. I probably would have reached out to you had this video existed back then!
10:35
What’s a Cynical Historian video without some Wilson bashing?
Mr. Beat? Minus the music?
WILSOOOOOON!!!
Hillariously, Wilson actually won a noble peace prize. Just shows what a heap of garbage that prize is.
I am an Americanist historian of WWI. Wilson was a terrible president.
Holy crap Ed Harris?! Thanks for going over this. I need to watch this now.
"I don't like to degrade historical figures"
Also..."Wilson was an idiot"
That's not degrading him. That's acknowledging that he is degraded. It is an accurate observation, not an assignment of status.
well he was
@@someguy7723 As they say, where you stand depends on where you sit. In my country, Wilson has a number of streets and squares named after him, because he contributed significantly to our regaining independence after more than 120 years of slavery.
Interestingly enough, Joe Strummer did the soundtrack for this movie, and he was the frontman of The Clash, who named their 1980 album after the Sandinistas in Nicaragua.
Considering the credit scene and that this was actually filmed in Nicaragua during the sandinista war, makes sense
Enjoying the video man!
What's with the upload stagnation? Hopefully you have not got a job or study to do. Oh no.
The director is the same guy that made the films "Sid and Nancy" and "Repo Man". Both punk rock films. It doesn't suprise me.
Love this. My ancestors were the ones that lead the armies to fight this guy at Rivas in Nicaragua and in Costa Rica.
Walker was my great great great great grandfather's brother.
To take the format of the material (patent absurdity) and bake it into your review…
This was awesome.
plus joe strummer
Ideas for next based on a true story
Movies: Reds, Gangs of New York, Rag Time, Darkest Hour, Lincoln, The Post, Death of Stalin, The siege of Jadoville, 7 days in entebbe, 13 days, conformation.
Tv Shows: the Americans, Waco, The crown, john adams, band of brothers.
Siege of Jadotville was accurate besides the death of Irish while no one died
"This is fine" with a burning backdrop...
Oh man. There are several small countries that the United States invaded in one form or another. One film I hold personal in my own retrospective of history would have to be this 1975 made for tv western movie titled "I Will Fight No More Forever" which was about the Nez Perce and Chief Joseph trying to outrun the US army. So yeah, for some of us, certain movies can strike an interest. I can imagine that this movie has got some interest for similar reasons.
N2 B-1986
Great film. Not entirely accurate, but heartbreaking.
soundtrack by joe strummer brought me to film..shout out to the late great joe strummer
totally want to see it now...hmmm might have to buy this on Amazon don't see a streaming option
Dig the channel brother!!!!
Criterion is doing a rerelease in April
1:06, James Brooke was basically a British filibuster, he successfully conquered large parts of North Borneo from Brunei and created what is now Sarawak. The fucker is now a "hero" in Sarawak.
"The White Raja"
I have the Walker soundtrack on vinyl. Not only are there some really cool songs on there, like Musket Waltz, but the soundtrack was done by the late Joe Strummer of the Clash.
This is a great film, Alex Cox also directed Repo Man one of my favorite films
AWESOME video Cypher! So many highlights...the fun/humor your bringing to these subjects is so simple, comfortable and just brilliantly accurate and suited. I really enjoyed this, pretty much all for your approach to and attitude towards the subject.
WTH? I can’t believe I’ve never heard of this guy. Great video!
So this movie is a huge meme, it’s blazing saddles but less outrageous
10:42
So, what are your opinions on Woodrow Wilson, Cypher?
A great case for isolationism.
"This is a true story" correct, it's a story
Thank you so much; what fascinating and detailed background to this wonderful, overlooked film. I have the Criterion addition of Walker, which contains Rudy Wurlitzer's historical ruminations on the Colonel - including the fact that he inspired the first ever Broadway musical.
I know this is gonna sound like an odd request, but-can someone point me to a good source that shows/gives an *accurate* depiction of the _flag_ of the Walker regime?
The only pics I seem to find online shows what appears to be the Nicaraguan flag with it’s official logo replaced by a red star. Yet a bio of Walker published a few years ago gave a description of a flag with-IIRC-“5” alternating blue/white stripes, a red star, and a written motto of “Five or none”; according to the bio (again, IIRC), the motto was meant to signal Walker’s ambition to conquer Nicaragua’s neighbors. So far, I’ve been unable to find an *illustration* of this particular banner in any source, online or offline.
Are there any experts-or at least anyone knowledgeable-who can clarify this?
Enjoyed this. Maybe a few years into the future people won't realise what was going on (1987) when it was made, and what it is a parody of. But please, Cypher, what film is the little clip of music from at 4:20? It's bugging me.
that's the Curb Your Enthusiasm theme
Cheers
2:18 No Mexican military was involved. A few Mexican ranchers commanded by Jose Melendrez defeted William Walker.
Yes! Exactly like the Filibusters that invaded Caborca Sonora Mexico . We kicked Walker ass , here in my region in the Sonoran Desert by Hermosillo too. It’s used to called Pitic in that time . Greeting from north Mexico
Oh boy! it's not my first time on this channel, but in previous times I've missed that there's a vid on one of my *favourite movies ever* in here! Totally subscribed now. Walker has less than 3000 ratings on IMDB as I'm writing this. What an absolute shame.
This video had me cracking up the whole time. Thank you.
The Contra lost the war? Please check again...
Well now, I thought death of stalin was pretty inaccurate in parts but still found it pretty funny. The guy playing zuhkov was brilliant and Paul Whitehouse and Steve Buscemi were hilarious. It was kinda like a spitting image. I wanna see the same kind of film with Reagan, thatcher, Gorbachev etc
Jason Isaacs played Zurkov. He was bloody brilliant.
But CH has also done a video on Death of Stalin where he points out a lot of it's holes
I enjoyed it though.
4:50 what movie is that from!?!??!?!?!
Blazing Saddles by Mel Brooks. I highly recommend giving it a watch
what movie is at 4:48?
6:58 this is must be where David Byrne, got his intro to his movie True Stories, it starts out with a similar banner. lol
Always great commentary
My guess is that Walker's pro-slavery views were downplayed so that it didn't give apologists for US policy in the 1980s the chance to say that the US was not supporting slavery in the 1980s and therefore claim that there was no link between US actions in the two time periods.
I wish I still had my review I did for a history class back in 94. We touched a lot of the same notes. Metaphor is strong in this one.
what song is that @ 4:17 ?? help lol
The soundtrack for the movie is by Joe Strummer of The Clash. In my opinion, an very underrated soundtrack, worth listening to.
William Walker is also the Marlon Brando character in "Burn." He is highly, often contrarily, represented in that movie also. Another very good, total bullshit movie.
And so... While I was asking my elder family members about our ancestors.. it was told as a related family history that while William Walker, Mercenary and slave owner visited Cuba and headed to Nicaragua he purchased a group of slaves. My ancestors were part of that group of slaves.
When he was captured in Nicaragua and taken to Honduras to be prosecuted (killed), the slaves he owned were freed! Thank goodness!
That was the end of this mercenary slavery ownership! Thank you.
What's the guitar theme
I'm no historian but I'm pretty sure that this Walker guy didn't sound like Ed Harris. More like Malcolm McDowell's portrayal of Alex in A Clockwork Orange. I'm only 8:50 into this video but I'm getting a Kubrickian feel from the film and also from what the main character is suppose to portray.
Surrealism is so rare in movies.
I recommend "The Devels" "Cat People" and Marat/Sade" to you.
I have a question: Can the fact that Chuck Norris's character in the show with the same name is called "Walker" or that the Bush's named their kids "Walker" be seen as a political statement (like when a black guy calls his kid Luther) or is Walker just a very common or typical name in Texas?
That's based off Samuel Hamilton Walker, who was an early TX Ranger
@@CynicalHistorian Thank you
I bought 15 years ago at a garage sale a book about making the movie/ about walker it was weird I still have it best 50 cents I spent. Not sure if you know but the movie ran out of money half way through, Ed Harris payed personally for the rest of it. Interesting photographs in it. I don't get why somone would make a book about making of the movie that didn't make any money, and where the hell did the guy who originally bought it buy it. The music I will never forget.
do you remember what this book was called?
@@evilfreak7 It was named just like the movie, and the cover was the movie poster of walker walking in red yellow orange. Like the movie though it was wacky, it talked about making the movie, or just off camera dialogue, and than jump into what was than present day Nicaragua. The pictures were black and white, my favorite is they had one of the soldiers riding giant bull, that never ended up being in the movie.
Cox the director ewas blacklisted, so I guess the book must go into the reasons.
Saw Walker when it came out if I remember correctly.Harris was excellent as were all the cast.I enjoyed it and understood Cox's intention.Excellent film.
so there is at least someone out there who loves this movie too... :) i constantly have to defend mi love for it against literaly all of my movie-interested friends... even outraged some for making them watch it... :) thanks for the clip!
Thank you for making this
How about "The Birdman of Alcatraz"? Burt Lancaster as a nice, but misunderstood Robert Stroud, who was anything but nice and wrote sick child pornogrophy stories. He was kept in solitary not to protect him, but protect other prisoners 'from' him. And didnt keep birds at Alcatraz, but Leavenworth.
It's one of the titles in the Criterion Collection, so yeah, you gotta see it. And seriously, I haven't seen so many anachronisms in one movie since the films of Ken Russell. Also from WALKER's director Alex Cox: SID AND NANCY.
Just discovered your channel . Wanted to say I really enjoy the content (I came back to leave the comment on this video because you requested in another to stay on topic). Another interesting topic is the short lived central American federation. Read up on if you feel curious.
Good work, as always :)
Are you going to do a video on Chappaquidick?
So, he was basically general But Naked?
I can't find this movie anywhere
Why don't you do Enemy at the Gates? That one was a whole minefield of historical inaccuracies.
Repo man, Sid and Nancy and Walker Alex Cox is genius... period.
I love your work!!!
Can you do "The last emperor (1987)"
Where do I find this movie
I have it on DVD. I think it came dree with a newspaper.
I have it on DVD. I think it came dree with a newspaper.
This is very insightful !!
I dont think you mentioned the word Serial . I think this movie is a good anecdote.
It would seem Alex Cox has been Black Listed.
Hey I distinctly recall suggesting in comments you review it. Was this video (in part) my doing?
I'm actually working on a term paper on filibustering, so it's kinda a result of that
Will it be publicly available once done?
Also, I find it kinda fascinating that every small kid in Nicaragua knows who Walker was yet even in his birth state many Americans are like "who?"
Dunno. I could easily turn it into an episode. But it is fairly scholarly. Next week will be an experiment along those lines
Just out of curiosity, do you happen to follow current Nicaraguan politics at all (you using the PLC flag for the "liberal" side might indicate so)? Did you hear of the debate around the NICA ACT? Do you have any opinion, especially with the background of Americans meddling in Nicaragua? Or is that too current-eventsy for you to comment and/or be interested in as an historian?
Given the controversy of the 2016 election, and Ortega getting 3 elections in a row (something unconstitutional before his second time in office), these sanctions seem justified. Personally, i think it is stupid, especially when we complain about election meddling here. Then again, why doesn't this kind of political situation result in sanctions for Russia. Oh wait, i know why...
The slavery issue should be seen in the context of the struggle between North and South for control the U.S. Senate. The reason Walker supported slavery was to get southerners to support his filibustering activity. The book was published in 1860 for the same purpose. You are not going find his real feelings on slavery in the book.
Do you think filibustering is still possible, at least in some parts of the world, today?
yep, just recently happened in Gambia, 2014. Read here: www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/four-americans-sentenced-failed-gambian-coup-n573371
@@CynicalHistorian
I was thinking more along the lines of annexing land from countries to create a new state using a private militia.
That is interesting though.
The helicopter at the end is a Soviet-made Mi-8 Hip. So not only were there helicopters in the 1850's (besides American troops/CIA, the Soviet Union, Newsweek, et al.). But that the Americans had somehow gotten their hands on a Soviet chopper. Perhaps, that way they could extract the bloodied and bewildered Americans while disguised as Communists? ;-)
And here I thought I was the only one who remembered this film!
I have it on blue ray
Would you be up for doing a hangout on my channel to talk about common myths you hear in historical debates? I mostly talk about politics from a democratic socialist perspective, but I’d like to do more on history. I’m also trying to ge step back history on board. (You’d get to do a lot of Wilson bashing)
8:19 'A git' never knew you used that term in America
@@paulcroshier6708 We they use it as a noun...
Where can you watch this movie?
To answer my past self's question, I bought a UK version of the DVD on Amazon. It only works on a computer disc drive.
I got it on DVD free with a UK newspaper.
@@stuarthastie6374 I actually own two copies now, one UK DVD which only will play on computers, and the US Criterion collection DVD. It used to be on the streaming site Hoopla as well, but was taken off recently.
@@pleasant_asymmetry lf you like the query I recommend "The Devils" and "Marat /Sade" and " The Draughtsmans Contract", and "Dune" and "The Tin Drum*
and now...... I understand why Ed Harris was cast as the Man in Black in Westworld.... He'd already had that role!
Play 5:24. This is me if you mention the Vietnam War.
Love the video man. I kind of want a American Made video now
I trust me, in Mexico and Latin America, we remember those little misdeeds don’t you worry about that. It’s just difficult to keep the tab with Americans and all. And yeah, most mexican sources think of the filibusters as freak accidents of history and a time we dodged a bullet (donated the bullet of not having the US federal gov deploy armed forces and block Veracruz and take Mexico City)
The American filibuster where people from USA. The USA send them an American force army and lost in Baja California and Sonora
This film is totally bonkers, and Alex Cox has no subtlety as he hammers in his message with a sledgehammer, but that's also why I enjoyed the film as much as I did!
Have you ever thought of reviewing history books?
I've done a couple before. Might do some more to fill time later this year
Link
Great Review
Amusing that his name is misspelled on his grave.
Wow it happens 31 years ago
Why did US soldiers come out of a Russian helicopter?
Jake Fuentes well spotted. That’s a Mi-17 soviet helicopter, the reason was that this movie was actually filmed in Nicaragua and they borrowed a helicopter from the nicaraguan air force, which only had soviet chopers
Is this a Monty Python movie?
Woodrow wilson is the man source of my nightmares
Do you think it is possible for a cartel to take over a small country like Nicaragua? I genuinely believe a drug cartel could filibuster a small country, and im surprised no one has tried.(excluding Pablo Escobar I guess)
Panama
Nicaragua army is not colombia army that was under narco capo Pablo Escobar shoes sole. 🇳🇮 Nicaragua is small country compare to colombia but its military people have some balls. If you don't believe ask the U.S Marine force. They invaded several times 🇳🇮 Nicaragua like Walker and those several times were defeated one way or another. Just like in Vietnam war the 🇺🇸 USA lost that war so they did in North Korea. This film doesn't reflect what did Walker did in 🇳🇮 Nicaragua. He was a crackhead loser who didn't care about nobody. Imagine Walker would have done it in today's world. Most likely he would have been executed immediately. The thing is back then there were so many traitors in Nicaragua that they would sell their souls to the devil for a few dollars😎 That's why Walker took the Power in Nicaragua
Saludos desde Lota Chile, Esta pelicula es completamente desconocida en la America Latina ¿?. La historia es ignorada por los pueblos Latino Americanos. Y se repite una y otra vez. Mis mas profundo respeto para el direcctor Alex Cox y el sorprendente Ed Harris. Este cine Norte Americano no dice que no todos los Yanquis son unos hijo de ......... 😬. Gracias Cynical.
As a nicaraguan and Central American, I hope they make a movie (or series) as much accurate as possible about the real story, this was such an important event in our regional history, the “war of independence” that we never had (the war against Spain was mostly fought in Mexico). I liked this movie but it puts so much emphasis on the contemporary Iran contra affair, I understand the message they wanted to deliver back then, but watching those anacronism now feels like a comedy, knowing the Cold War is long gone. It doesn’t have the seriousness that such story should have. It’s a shame that this film was influenced by the politics of its time, but at the same time I’m afraid that said politics was the reason that made Hollywood interested in a movie about an American guy invading nicaragua in the first place
I must give credit to the soundtrack and the scenery of this movie, It was filmed in the real locations. Granada is a well preserved colonial town with old churches and buildings which might make some believe this was a high budget production recreating a 1800’s town
I showed this to a friend who saw Walker, and he said there was an even more clear innacuracy than the slavery one: when Walker tells his Nicaraguan mistress that he is a social democrat. Not because the term didn't exist yet (it did) but wasn't popular and meaning what it does now yet, but because Walker never portrayed himself as that, or did he? Given that it was a very socialist meaning term in the 1850s, Walker as a socialist democrat is even more innacurate than him as reluctant slaver.
He was definitely a Democrat (they were the pro-slavery faction), but "social" is kinda a misnomer. It didn't really have today's meaning back then and wouldn't be used in that way. Kinda a minor detail though. The whole romantic subplot is of course made up, as with basically any social interactions
It is kind of a shame, if Walker really was that sort of reformist, racialist, imperialist, slaver social democrat he'd make for a very interesting study subject (like all ideological odities), alas this was a very good invention on the film's part.
Dude, I just discovered your channel and totally hate everything about you. (Insert brother veteran bro hug here) Keep up the good work.
What's the lesson, kids? Baby Reagan triggered a bullet until papa bit the bullet by havin' his foot be the impact, despite being told NOT to mess with guns.
Say what you will about the subject matter in BIRTH OF A NATION - but there is one thing that cannot be denied- it is not only a masterpiece, but it is the film that INVENTED the language of film that we use today.
Great Stuff, thank you, loved the Movie
I saw it on British TV - I was totally confused - I thought it was about how USA grabbed The Panama Zone ??? Struck me as good though.
I saw this movie with high hopes and it disappointed me completely. It was incomprehensible and crazy and I think the director lost control of the movie half way through.
I love this movie.
Alex Cox is a weird guy...but his stuff sticks with you.