Marlon Brando stars as Mexican revolutionary leader Emiliano Zapata in this celebrated drama from director Elia Kazan. When the movie was first planned, producer Darryl Zanuck wanted Tyrone Power for the lead, but Kazan, who had just made A Streetcar Named Desire, finally persuaded him to go with Brando, while Jean Peters was preferred to Julie Harris for the heroine role. There's also decent support from Joseph Wiseman, later famous as Dr No, the villain in the first Bond film. Brando received one of the film's five Oscar nominations, but it was Anthony Quinn who won the award, for best supporting actor, playing Brando's brother and revolutionary colleague. Powerfully scripted by John Steinbeck, this remains a strong, exciting and heavily politicised picture.

The story of Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata, who led a rebellion against the corrupt, oppressive dictatorship of president Porfirio Díaz in the early 20th century.