Barbarosa

Plot synopsis:
Young Karl Westover (Gary Busey), a pre-Civil War Texas farm boy, accidentally kills his brother-in-law and must flee to Mexico. Early into his flight he is met by the outlaw Barbarosa (Willie Nelson) who, seconds later, kills a man who was following him. It is apparent that Barbarosa knows him, but doesn't say. Despite his disgust that Karl has nothing worth robbing, is loath to leave the poor rube to die in the desert. Barbarosa shows Karl how to find water, make a fire, and catch an armadillo for his supper before leaving him with the advice to go home to Texas.
Karl makes his way to a small pueblo and finds a grubby cantina. He is enjoying his first good meal in a long time and receiving the attentions of his first working girl ever when Barbarosa bursts in and robs everyone at gunpoint. Filling his sombrero with loot, Barbarosa instructs Karl to gather the rest, and steals away while everyone is bemused by Karl's amateurish performance. Nevertheless, Karl escapes, and he and Barbarosa ride together for the winter while Karl learns the life of an outlaw adventurer.
Karl is being pursued by Floyd and Otto Pahmeyer, the brothers of the man he killed, sent by their vengeful father. They are naive farm boys as Karl once was, and Karl and Barbarosa easily get the drop on them. Again to Barbarosa's disgust, Karl leaves them alive and tells them to go home. They say they can't, being more afraid of their father than the banditos. "You know how Papa gets", they tell Karl, and hike off to replace their guns and resume the chase.
The banditos encounter a poor old couple with a burro, and (yet again to Barbarosa's disgust) Karl refuses to rob them. Barbarosa and Karl are then captured by the outlaw Angel Morales and his gang, and as Angel is debating what to do with them the old couple, Angel's parents, arrive in camp and reveal great gobs of loot hidden in their burro's pack; Barbarosa tells Karl, "Well, I hope you're satisfied!" When the old couple tell their story, the enraged Angel shoots Barbarosa in the belly. He spares Karl's life for restraining Barbarosa from robbing his parents, but sets him to digging Barbarosa's grave. When Karl dumps Barbarosa's body in the shallow grave and starts throwing dirt in his face, he sneezes and whispers fiercely, "Stop that!"; it seems that the bullet was deflected by Barbarosa's big silver belt buckle, and he has been playing dead. Barbarosa scuttles off into the brush when no one is looking, and Karl quickly fills in the empty grave.
Angel's gang capture the hapless Floyd and Otto, and Angel shoots them on a whim, again setting Karl to dig the graves. But in the morning, a stuporous Angel struggles awake to find himself buried to the neck in the desert sand, with the dead heads of Floyd and Otto surrounding him. Terrified, he screams fruitlessly for help and for the author of his demise, "Barbaroooooosaaaaaaa!"
Even outlaws must have someplace to call home, it seems. Barbarosa has an ongoing love-hate relationship with the Zavala family. He brings his accumulated loot every few months when he visits his loyal wife, Josefina de Zavala (Isela Vega), who lives at the hacienda of her father, Don Braulio Zavala (Gilbert Roland, in his final film). Intensely bitter, Don Braulio hates Barbarosa for crippling him and killing his son in a drunken fracas, and every few years he sends another young Zavala son, nephew, or cousin to kill Barbarosa; none has yet succeeded, and most have been themselves killed in the attempt. Don Braulio's tales, stylized and heavy with symbolism, spur the young Zavalas to their best efforts to be worthy of such an adversary, and the Zavalas have become rich and powerful thereby. The songs recounting Barbarosa's exploits become longer and more celebratory each year, and recent verses also recount the adventures of Barbarosa's new sidekick, the "Gringo Child." Yet the chorus between every verse exhorts "all you men of courage to grease up your guns and knives . . . this is the part where they kill Barbarosa."
Barbarosa and Josefina have a nubile daughter, Juanita (Alma Martinez), who decides she likes the Gringo Child and hides Karl from searchers in her bed. Interrupted by her parents, Karl is kicked into the plaza by the enraged Barbarosa; the ruckus raises Don Braulio and the household, who rush to the plaza, guns blazing. Barbarosa twirls his Appaloosa horse in the gate, whooping, displaying his horsemanship and courage, and the banditos escape at the gallop amid a hail of bloodless gunplay. And when Karl too shows some backbone, telling Barbarosa that he liked Juanita and intends to visit her again, Barbarosa smiles and says that's fine with him.
In the spring, Barbarosa and Karl decide to return to Texas. Climbing out of the Rio Grande canyon, Karl attempts to lend Barbarosa a hand up the final ledge. Karl is hampered by the saddlebags he is holding so Barbarosa says "Get rid of that!" To which Karl flings the saddlebags (containing the loot) back over the cliff. Terminally disgusted, Barbarosa yells at him, "I didn't say throw the MONEY down THERE! I've BEEN down THERE!!!". Karl makes the aruous climb back down the cliff. He disturbs a rattlesnake and falls into the river. When Karl struggles back to the canyon rim that evening he finds Barbarosa waiting beside a campfire. He dumps the saddlebags of money at Barbarosa's feet, but Barbarosa is still peeved: "Bet you didn't bring an armadillo for my supper!" But Karl reveals his other hand from behind his back, tossing a dead armadillo into Barbarosa's lap. Both look at each other and laugh; Karl is learning, and starting to give as good as he gets.
Barbarosa and Karl come to the Texas Hill Country and the German immigrant colony where Karl grew up, and ride into a stockmen's rendezvous. While enjoying eating barbecue and watching horse races, Karl mentions that horses are something he knows about and considers buying some broncos to take home to his father's farm. Suddenly a shot rings out—it is old Mr. Pahmeyer (George Voskovec), still seeking to kill Karl for the death of his sons. In his rage, he misses. Karl covers him with his revolver and makes him stop trying to reload. "Go home, Mr. Pahmeyer, just go home!" he orders, and Mr. Pahmeyer has no choice but to obey.
Karl buys his horses, but Barbarosa declines to accompany him back to lawful living. "To tell the truth, I'm worn out keeping you amused," he grumbles. The two part ways as friends.
Karl drives his herd to the farm, finding it very run down, his mother died, himself given up for dead, and his father Emile (Howland Chamberlain) and sister Hilda (Sharon Compton) despondent. He cheers them up, telling them that he "had a little luck down in Mexico -- me and another fellow." Next morning Emile steps outside to inspect "our horses." "OUR horses?" jokes Karl. "You'd best break a few before it's 'OUR horses'!", and Hilda laughs with them. But their laughter turns to screams as Mr. Pahmeyer takes another potshot from the woods, again missing Karl but killing his father.
Karl goes alone to the Pahmeyer farmhouse, calling Mr. Pahmeyer to come out and end the feud. Mr. Pahmeyer calls back that he is sorry about killing Emile, that he never intended to do that. Karl calls back that he knows that, and again offers to end the feud. But despite the cries of his wife, Mr. Pahmeyer calls, "I don't think I can do it!" and charges out the door with his gun. Howling, "NOOOOO!", Karl is forced to kill him.
Karl and Barbarosa reunite after some time (Karl's beard and hair have grown out). During a brief split, Karl aids Barbarosa in evading Eduardo Zavala (Danny de la Paz), the most recent young would-be killer sent out by Don Braulio. Without Barbarosa's knowledge, he disarms Eduardo and strips him of his guns, his horse, and his boots. "WALK home! Git!" he orders Eduardo.
But Eduardo is made of sterner stuff than his predecessors. He hones his silver crucifix down to a dagger point, wraps his feet in rawhide thongs, and stalks Barbarosa on foot. He leaps upon Barbarosa from ambush and stabs him in the belly, then flees to the south.
As Karl sits with his dying friend, they discuss Barbarosa's life and death. "A man couldn't ask for better than what I had with the Zavalas," Barbarosa says. And then, "The little bastard's going back to tell everyone Barbarosa's dead. Barbarosa can't die!" Karl realizes, "He's afoot!" and may be caught before he gets back to the Zavala hacienda.
Karl cremates Barbarosa's body, and pursues Eduardo at the gallop. But Eduardo has learned, and knocks Karl out by hitting him with a branch. Taking Karl's horse, Eduardo makes it back to the hacienda and is greeted as a hero. A fiesta is planned in his honor.
Karl sits beside a campfire, defeated, nursing his headache. There is a rustle in the brush, and out comes Barbarosa's Appaloosa, with Barbarosa's saddle and enormous sombrero. Karl perks up.
The fiesta at the Zavala hacienda is the most funereal party imaginable. Don Braulio Josephina and Jaunita look lost and bereft, the rest of the clan dance while contemplating directionless life without a Barbarosa to fight. Out of the night gallops a red-bearded man in an enormous sombrero on an Appaloosa, whooping and twirling and shooting up the sky. As Eduardo is about to be presented a black wreath of honor, Karl aims and shoots the wreath just before it is placed on his head. The Zavalas shout, "Barbarosa! Barbarosa! Barbarosaaaa!" and scramble for their guns and knives.
(In the unedited original, Eduardo's announcement of Barbarosa's death to Don Braulio is followed by an angry exchange between the two men. The exchange reveals that Don Braulio has been using Barbarosa as a family demon to strengthen the family. Don Braulio is angry that Barbarosa is dead. Eduardo is angry that he, and all men sent out before him, were used by Don Braulio. They agree to continue the facade and plans for a festival are made. Without this normally edited scene the acceptance of Barbarosa's reappearance by Don Braulio and Eduardo makes no sense.)

Tags: revenge, comedy, murder

Review:
From the quirky opening scenes in this film (a photographer, a dead guy propped up in a pine box & various family members posing w/same)you are taken to an intriguing and rather unsettling place.
The cinematography in the film suggests one of those cool(albeit weird) 'spaghetti westerns'.
The director's vision comes through, chillingly well at times all throughout this film.Willie Nelson's performance is, well what can you say except he is his consummate Willie-ness and in this film it works particularly well.
Gary Busey's interpretation of his role as Karl is understated and approaches absolute perfection.
This is another one of those films that you really need to watch several times to "get" the full effect.
The one and only negative I found with this movie is a personal distaste for the (over)use of the expletive 'G.D.' - it's totally unnecessary and my Southern Baptist ears were ringing by the end of the film.
Back when this film came out (1982), a friend told me it was no good, Willie Nelson can't act, blah, blah, blah.
Well, 22 years later, 'Barbarosa' is on cable on American Movie Classics on a hot July afternoon, there isn't nothing' else on, so I say, okay, I'll give it fifteen minutes to get my attention.Well, I gotta say, 'Barbarosa just BLEW ME AWAY!I am Texan born and bred, and have done a fair amount of inquiry into old Texas lore, and this film is just SO RIGHT in so many details.
In recent films like 'Cold Mountain', 'Open Range', and 'The Missing', it is much in vogue to get the 19th century period details exactly right.
Well, 'Barbrosa' knocked that ball out of the park 22 years ago!The basic feel of the old Texas homesteads and the horse race and barbecue, they still existed much like that out in West Texas when I was a kid.The basic plot line is about two converging family blood feuds, one Spanish, the other German American, that is so TOTALLY authentic for this period!
Gary Busey is one of my favorite actors, despite a habit of making tons of low budget el crappo films.
He is at the top of his game in 'Barbarosa'.While the film does have it's quirky moments, it is basically believable, and some of those old-timers were indeed quirky.(Warning!
They CAN carry leprosy.) My only beef is that the musical score didn't always seem to match the dramatic action, the music is wry and whimsical at the wrong time, possibly aping some spaghetti Western, but is fine when it sticks to Spanish guitar.Some have labeled 'Barbarosa' a spaghetti Western.
This was a successful attempt to make an authentically period Texas border film, by folks who knew what they are doing.Some find the gunplay subdued and 'unrealistic', but 'Barbarosa' rightly shows the reality of old west killing where setting up the bushwhack and sniffing the ambush were far more decisive than actually pulling of the trigger.In the old man's tale, you learn that Barbarosa was originally a Texas Ranger, who were often called los diablo's (the devils) by border Mexicans.
This obscure Western was one of my favorite movies as a kid.
While this must mean that a large number of people watched the movie, everyone I know who has seen it saw it on my TV.Willie Nelson, not someone I think of as an actor, is excellent.
Gary Busey, in the height of his coke-head days, turns in another wonderful performance.
The story is different, as the previous reviewer pointed out, from all the other Westerns, and the cinematography is unbelievable.Definitely a movie to rent or buy..
Gary Busey playing a second generation German American farm boy being pursued by Old World family members to avenge a death.
Ironically, he teams up with Willie Nelson to escape his executioners only to find that Willy is being pursued by Mexicans who call him "Barbarosa".Busey is excellent as the farm boy and Nelson just plays himself in this unique Western that appears to utilize great scenery to include authentic 19th century farmhouses and a great plot.
Gilbert Roland, in a classic supporting role, plays the elder of the Mexicans who utilizes his respect in the Mexican community to whip up hatred towards "Barbarosa".This acknowledges that Texas, like the rest of the U.S., was formed and shaped by many ethnic groups.
A Great Western and an Examination of Myth.
Barbarosa is one of the best westerns ever made.
Both men are looking for a place in the world and the role they find is that of outlaw hero, players in a mythic drama that gives them meaning.
The myth is that of the Outlaw Lover ( as in Hughes' The Outlaw or Brando's One-Eyed Jacks ) and both Nelson and Busey play their roles to perfection.
The directing is excellent and the dialogue nigh perfect -- a great western!
I've seen this movie several times over the years, since it first came out on VHS.
Nelson and Roland each have great screen presences, are good throughout, but particularly in their one scene together.
A lot of westerns end up being remakes of previous outings, so when someone comes up with something original, I take notice.
This is one such movie and it is one of my all time favorites.While Willie Nelson will never get an Oscar for acting, he plays himself brilliantly ...
And Gary Busey does a fine job playing a farm boy turned outlaw.
Their relationship grows with each scene and draws you into it until you are emotionally connected with them both.This movie is definitely not for the folks who want non-stop action with guns blazing from the opening scene until the final credits, but if you like a slower paced movie that takes it's time building it's characters and drawing you into their lives, this movie is for you..
First, I have to say, the very first person to review this movie on IMDb apparently is only attracted to violence in movies, and doesn't want to try to actually see the story line.
Odd, how at a later date, every review has an "unhelpful" flag next to it.The story woven in Barbarosa is an excellent one, and no one could've pulled off the title role except Willie.
The eventual transformation of Karl, from naive farm boy on the run into Barbarosa himself, is astonishing, everything from the way he looks to the way he sounds.
Busey is perfect for his role..
A legendary outlaw(Willie Nelson) join forces with a youngest(Gary Busey) who converts his protégé.
One was a legend the other would become one, both are usually on the lam and pursued by vengeful men caused for family blood feud carried out by Don Braulio (Gilbert Roland).This gentle western contains action-Western, adventures, pursuits and brief touch of comedy about the enjoyable relationship between master and pupil.
Most of the action of this modest Western takes place on breathtaking outdoors similarly to marvelous landscapes of the majestic John Ford .Packs a light touch in the wake of ¨Paul Newman- Robert Redford's Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid¨ adding a little bit of violence.There are some good action scenes that can fit in the previous film.The straightforward screenplay and unglamorous production give a true feeling of the Old West set in Texas.
The performances by outcast, free-spirited Willie Nelson and Gary Busey do bring pleasure.
Nelson shows the many sides of his spirited character.Australian director Fred Schepisi has flavorfully directed a nice and interesting Western.His greatest hits took place in the 80s such as proved in ¨Iceman,Plenty,Roxanne,Cry in the dark¨¨and of course ¨Barbarosa¨.For sheer spirit-lifting entertainment you can't do better that watching this picture..
Willie Nelson and Gary Busey were born to play these parts.
As for Busey, I will forever love him just for having made this film.
I saw Barbarosa during its original release and have been in love with it ever since.
Even though I have Barbarosa on tape, I watch this movie whenever it is on TV.
The title role of Barbarosa is played by Willie Nelson and he's a former Texas Ranger turned outlaw who's on the run from his various crimes and from his in-laws who don't like him very much.
He's lost several other family members in trying to kill Nelson to avenge that.But Nelson picks up Gary Busey a farm kid on the run from a feud himself because he accidentally killed his brother-in-law.
Busey takes up with Nelson and his outlaw ways and the two become an amiable pair.Judging by the other reviewers Barbarosa seems to have a bit of a following.
I wouldn't call it great by any means, still it's certainly entertaining enough for the discriminating western fans.Barbarosa's significance to me is that it is the farewell performance of Gilbert Roland whose career went back six decades into the silent era when he was touted as a would be Valentino successor.
He's an understandably bitter man in this film and it was a good performance to go out on.Western fans won't mind this one and Nelson and Busey have a nice chemistry between them..
Seeing a negative review (one of two posted here out of the 12 so far) at the top of the list for this tremendously moving work of mythical story-telling has moved me to post this.It would be redundant to say anything more than has already been stated in the many insightful and intelligent comments to be found in those ten other reviews, all of which are well worth reading.All I can say in closing has also been stated a thousand times before: there is no accounting for taste and thank goodness that in this case, if only for just once, I may happily throw my hat into the ring with the majority--even if it should first have to be stolen off the head of one of the Zavalas while he is sleeping.
Gary Busey walks away with this one....
This films drifts along through some absolutely gorgeous western scenery.
Willie Nelson   (Barbarosa) has some good scenes, along with Gilbert Roland who plays his revengeful father-in-law, but Gary Busey steals the show as Carl, the hard luck "farmboy".
It's not the greatest movie ever made, but I enjoyed watching it......more like a fable than a western.
The story is almost Shakespearean in scope and the pacing isn't as fast as most audiences seem to demand, but there's a lot there for the patient viewer.Barbarosa (played by Willie Nelson) and Karl (played by Gary Busey) have both been involved in killings that have turned families against them.
In the end, it becomes more of a meditation on how these men have lived their lives than any kind of morality play (which seems to be what the western is often used to convey).
Even little things like the way Busey calls, "Hello to the house." in one scene are perfect (my grandmother told stories of her father approaching homes that way back in 'horse and buggy days').
The movie also features Gilbert Roland in his last role.
This is a film that reconciles the legend of the old west with its realities and becomes more powerful as a result.
I notice Netflix has it in stock.If you love westerns, you're sure to enjoy this one..
Gary Busey and Willie Nelson both turned in Oscar winning performances but everyone, no matter how small their bit part; turned in stellar performances.
The mark of a truly great story is that it becomes a legend because as far fetched as it might seem we somehow want to believe that the legend is true - therefore the movie dispels disbelief.
"Barbarosa" stars the great country singer Willie Nelson in the title role: a self-styled outlaw, who makes the acquaintance of bumbling former farmboy Karl (Gary Busey).
Barbarosa isn't particularly looking for a sidekick or a protégé, but he and the eager-to-please Karl forge a strong friendship.
As they go around committing robberies, there is a nemesis from Barbarosas' past, Don Braulio (Gilbert Roland) who is eager to put an end to his days.Australian filmmaker Fred Schepisi made his American debut with this thoughtful and likable film, a very nicely shot combination of character study and Western drama.
Wittliff has some good lines, and gives us a story and characters worth caring about.
Busey's rarely been more appealing, and he and Nelson get some fine chemistry going as their personalities clash.
There are also some first rate actors in other supporting roles: Danny De La Paz, George Voskovec as the vengeful Herman Pahmeyer, Howland Chamberlain, Harry Caesar, Kai Wulff, and father and son character actors Roberto and Luis Contreras.Best of all, this film manages to make its points and explore its themes while also wrapping up in a reasonable amount of time (90 minutes all told).
It's all gorgeously shot (by Ian Baker) and wonderfully scored (by Bruce Smeaton).Buseys' son Jake has a tiny role as a "cook boy".Eight out of 10..
Barbarosa is a terrific western, very under-rated, and easily deserving a higher place in the pantheon of oaters.Many posters correctly point out the film's theme of legend-building, how the myth of the Barbarosa started and grows.But there's another key and tragic element to this fine film - the cost young men must pay to fuel their fathers' hatred and rivalries.
As a western, this movie was so dull and tedious.
Willie Nelson looked too old and too tired for his role.
He looked nothing like the supposed "menacing and bloodthirsty" Barbarosa.
Karl Westover (Gary Busey) is a runaway Texas farm boy.
His brothers want to bring him back but he follows bandit Barbarosa (Willie Nelson) instead.
A Mexican bandit kills his brothers and shoots Barbarosa.
However Karl and Barbarosa are both hunted men.Willie Nelson lacks the acting power to be a feared bandit and Gary Busey's character is way too stupid.
There is something genuinely sweet and innocent about Willie Nelson  even though he wasn't even fifty yet while filming Barbarosa he already has the worn, tough, aged face of a man twenty years older than he, and yet he has the eyes of a puppy dog.
He is the perfect man to play the legendary thief Barbarosa, a man who is feared by many but whom the audience must like immediately.
Gary Busey playing the farm boy Carl seems a little too old for this role (he was pushing late 30's) but is terrific as well.Barbarosa is a light, easy-going film, with some occasional moments of violence.
It's obvious where the film is headed once the two protagonists meet up; every step of the movie has been mapped out.
The Spaniards all know of the the legend that they whisper his name with eyes wide as he rides byand yet nobody in Carl's town mentions Barbarosa once.
Barbarosa gets shot by a group of Spaniards who are out looking for him and Carl is the one who has to bury him.
Instead of a 'Wow, you really are invincible!' reaction, we get a 'Oh that's good, you're OK.' Maybe that's the point  that Carl accepts Barbarosa as a person, not a fable or a legend.
They're only a few days away apparently  does Barbarosa not like that part of the country  do his people never leave town?
Barbarosa is a lot of back-story and not enough of a friendship tale.
The scenes with Barbarosa teaching Carl are trite and unbelievable.
Carl seems to know too much too soon about being out in the wild.Barbarosa is never exciting enough to be an adventure film and there aren't enough calmer moments for the film to develop the friendship between these characters.
It's not until the very last bit of the film that we learn why Barbarosa became who he was, and it's no big surprise.The very end of Barbarosa should have worked  it's a obvious gimmick that's tried and true, but the friendship hasn't been solidified like it should and so the ending falls flat.
Barbarosa isn't a bad movie, it's that so much of the movie is like the ending - it's a nice try, but it never hits the bullseye.**1/2 out of ****.
Where is the original cut of this movie?.
The first time I saw this movie it had a scene in it where Don Brajilo berates the returning Eduardo for killing Barbarosa and explains that the feud with Barbarosa was his way of deliberately pumping up the family to make something of itself, and asks Eduardo what he will do to keep the family going when it is his turn to be patrone.
Has anyone but my wife and myself seen this film with at least one or more extra scenes.
By the way, in my opinion this is not only one of the finest westerns that I have ever seen, but one of the best movies of all time.
Naïve, but eager farmhand Karl Westover (a fine and amiable performance by Gary Busey) goes on the lam after he accidentally kills his brother-in-law.
Karl befriends shrewd and resourceful outlaw Barbarosa (wonderfully played with tremendous rascally charm by Willie Nelson), who teaches Karl how to survive in the wild.Director Fred Schepisi offers a flavorsome and meticulous evocation of a past time and place, relates the story at a measured pace, makes the most out of the dusty and desolate Tex-Mex prairie frontier setting, and puts a welcome and refreshing emphasis on people over action.
Moreover, the natural and engaging chemistry between Nelson and Busey gives this picture a winning surplus of pure heart and appeal; they receive sturdy support from Isela Vega as Barbarosa's lusty estranged wife Josephina, Gilbert Roland as the vengeful Don Braulio, Danny De La Paz as the angry and relentless Eduardo, George Voskovec as the vindictive Herman Pahmeyer, Alma Martinez as the sweet Juanita, and Luis Contreras as slimy bandito Angel.