Aka… What Happened at Campo Grande? / What Happened at Campo Grande (Can), What Happened at Campo Grande? (US), 紅粉兵團 / ‘Red Pink Powder Regiment’ (HK), The Magnificent Two (UK), What Happened at Campo Grande? (US [?])
Pc: Rank Organization (Lon),
Dist: J. Arthur Rank Film Distributor (07/05/67, UK), Rank (1967, HK), Columbia Pictures of Canada (03/23/68, Can, Toronto), Columbia Pictures of Canada (05/31/68, Can, Montreal), Alan Enterprises [Alan Gleitsman] (1970’s, US, tv), Rank Video Library Collection International (12/80, UK, vhs, VC 3240), Thorn EMI Video (04/15/85, Aus, 00502C6D1824), Carlton Visual Entertainment (UK, dvd)
D: Cliff Owen; P: Hugh Stewart; Sc: Peter Blackmore, S.C. Green / Sidney Green, R.M. Hills / Richard Hills & Michael Pertwee; St: Michael Pertwee; Ph: Ernest Steward; Ed: Gerry Hambling; M: Ron Goodwin
C: Eric Morecambe [John Eric Bartholomew] (Eric & Fernando Torres), Ernie Wise [Ernest Wiseman] (Ernie), Margit Saad (General Carla), Virgilio Texera / Virgilio Texeira (General Carrillo), Cecil Parker (Sir John Rutlish, British Ambassador), Martin Benson (El President Diaz), Isobel Black (Officer Juanita), Anna Gilchrist (Officer Elena), Catherine Griller (Officer Careta), Jeannette Wild (Redheaded Officer), Michael Godfrey (Manuelo), Sue Sylvaine (Carmelita Diaz), Tyler Butterworth (Miguel Diaz, child), Alan Chuntz (Diaz Children's Guard), Sandor Eles (Armandez), Veronica Carlson (Female Revolutionary), Bill Cummings (Male Revolutionary), Sara Luzita (Spanish Dancer), Andrea Malandrinos (Juan), Victor Maddern (Drunken Soldier), Charles Laurence (Sharpshooter), Michael Gover (Dr. Pablo), Larry Taylor (Paco), David Charlesworth (Fernando Torres), Hugo de Vernier (Hard-faced Man), Andrew Andreas & Harry Phipps (Servants), Jack Armstrong, Paul Beradi, Willy Bowman, Peter Evans, Arthur Goodman, Arthur Goodman, George Holdcroft, Juba Kennerley, Cecil Paul, Eric Wetherell (Reception Guests), Alecia St. Leger, Pearl Walters & Winnie Wiblin (Female Reception Guests), Gerry Judge (Waiter), John Bailey, Anthony Blackshaw, Harry Fielder, Harry Fielder, Dave Griffiths, Charles Price, Arnold Schulkes, Michael Stevens & Joe Wadham (Soldiers), Tony Snell (Guardsman), Laurence (Sharpshooter), Bernard Barnsley, Peter Brayham, Terence Plummer (Policemen), Rodney Cardiff (Radio Engineer), Bettine Le Beau (Telephonist), Charlie McFadden Boom Operator on TV Studio Set), Manny Michael (Jailer), Carlos Douglas (TV Announcer), Peter Honri (TV Studio Director), Charlie McFadden Boom Operator on TV Studio Set), Fred Stroud (TV Engineer), Hilda Green (Female Peasant), Joseph Tregonino (Male Peasant), Mike Reid (Train Guard), Joe Cornelius & Alan Stuart (Men)
Syn: 1960’s. Parazuelia, South America, On the eve of a
coup d'état two toy soldier salesmen are mistaken for rebel leaders. When the
coup is over, they must keep up the ruse to keep the revolutionaries happy. A
scheming general threatens their charade once they gain power and tries to
eliminate them.
Comm: [Filmed during September – October 1966, at Black Park Country Park, Black Park Road, Wexham, Buckinghamshire (countryside), Longmoor Military Railway, Longmoor Military Camp, Hampshire (train station) and Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK (interiors)] THE MAGNIFICENT TWO is a colorful Mexican revolutionary film that has more in common with the one-off-kilter James Bond sendup “Casino Royle” (1966). Both films have a bevy of machine gun babes running about. THE MAGNIFICENT TWO’s ladies are decked out in pink bikinis at least. And thus is best described as zany, and looks decidedly different from the other ‘Zapata’ films - THE MERCENARY (1968), COMPANEROS (1970) and TURN THE OTHER CHEEK (1971) - of the day. There are some good laughs in this lighthearted comedy.
Although set in the fictional country of Parazuellia, the art department screwed up by using an actual Mexican flag and then displayed it prominently on an official’s car when it pulled up in the scene – rather than make their own mock-up.
THE MAGNIFICENT TWO was Eric Morecambe & Ernie Wise's third feature film. Their second for director Clive Owen. The previous two films were “The Intelligence Men” (Asher, 1965) and “That Riviera Touch” (1966, Owen), both for Rank. This was their final feature film, before going back to TV work. Writers Green & Hills had been writing stretches for Morecambe & Wise for years, both for stage, tv and film. While this was Michael Pertwee's only film with the boys.
Hungarian born Brit Sandor Eles had previously played the loyal Lt. Gomez in GUNS OF DARKNESS.
Portuguese actor Virgilio Texeira had been one of the magnificent ones in the second THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN film RETURN OF THE SEVEN (1966).
Apish Larry Taylor had been in the South African westerns DIAMOND CITY (1949) & ROBBERY UNDER ARMS (1957), and two made-in-Spain: THE SHERIFF OF FRACTURED JAW (1958) and THE SINGER NOT THE SONG (1961). He then played a Mexican bandit on UFO: The Series: 14: Mindbender (01/13/71).
German beauty Margit Saad had been on “The Saint: 39: The Saint Sees It Through" (03/19/63) and “The Third Man: 71: The Trial of Harry Lime (07/16/65).
Future Hammer starlet blonde bombshell Veronica Carlson plays one of the mentioned machine gun toting bikini babes. And is largely wastested.
Scottish born Isobel Black had been one of the deadly fiancées in “The Kiss of the Vampire” (1963) and later followed it with “Twins of Evil” (1971, both for Hammer).
Spanish born Brit actor Carlos Douglas aka Carlos Perez was later in TV movie pilot of YOUNG INDIANA JONES CHRONICLES: 01: THE CURSE OF THE JACKAL (03/04/92, feature length) and YOUNG INDIANA JONES CHRONICLES: 06: SPRING BREAK ADVENTURE (10/7/99, single item). This pilot featured the exploits of Pancho Villa and was shot in Spain! Pure Spaghetti!
Two standouts are: Cecil Parker in a marvelous cameo as the British Ambassador. And early ‘Carry on’ regular Victor Maddern as a drunken sailor.
¡Viva Los
Magníficos Dos!!!
By Michael Ferguson
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