The Wrath of God

The Wrath of God is a 1972 American Western film directed by Ralph Nelson and starring Robert Mitchum, Frank Langella, Rita Hayworth and Victor Buono. Filmed in Mexico, it is based on the 1971 novel by Jack Higgins writing as James Graham. Plot In 1922, in an unnamed country south of Mexico torn by revolution, Emmet Keogh, an Irish patriot and political assassin, is coerced into transporting a truckload of Scotch whiskey for English gunrunner, Jennings. Along the way, he helps American Catholic priest, Father Oliver Van Horne, who has a flat tire and later, his car stuck above rocks. However, when Keogh reaches his destination, the man he was to deliver the cargo to is dead, killed by Colonel Santilla's men. The men are also about to have their way with a mute Aymara Indian woman named Chela. When Keogh tries to stop them, they decide to hang him. Van Horne shows up just in time, and proceeds to kill Santilla's men with a machine gun except for one who escapes to inform Santilla. Van Horne, Keogh, and Chela flee, but are later caught. After subjecting Keogh, Van Horne, and Jennings (who was actually smuggling arms, not whiskey) to a mock execution by a firing squad, Santilla offers to spare them if they will assassinate Tomas de la Plata, who lives with his mother in a well-protected region in Mojada, which is under his control. He offers them equal shares of $53,000, found in Van Horne's suitcase. Santilla has already wrangled an invitation for Keogh and Jennings, posing as mining company employees, as de la Plata is anxious to reopen a silver mine. On the way, Keogh meets Aymara Chief Nacho and is reunited with Chela, who gives him a necklace. Unbeknownst to Keogh, the Aymaras are a matriarchal society, and women choose their husbands; they are now married. Once there, Van Horne sets about cleaning the church, assisted by orphaned choirboy, Pablito, while Keogh and Jennings dine at de la Plata's hacienda. De la Plata, however, hates priests, and several have been killed in town. The next morning, Keogh and Jennings pretend to inspect the mine, while Van Horne comes along to bless it. There is a cave-in, and the three men rescue Senora de la Plata and several miners except one dying man.