The Revolution Will Be Televised: Nine's Banderas is "Pancho Villa" in HBO Film, Sept. 7

By Ernio Hernandez
07 Sep 2003

Antonio Banderas as "Pancho Villa."
Antonio Banderas as "Pancho Villa."
Photo by © 2003 Home Box Office, Inc.

Antonio Banderas, star of the current Broadway revival of Nine, stars as Pancho Villa in "And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself." The Larry Gelbart-penned HBO Films' biopic of the legendary Mexican revolutionary debuts on the cable network, Sept. 7.

A true story, "And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself," focuses on how moviemakers D.W. Griffith and Harry Aitken filmed the life story of the fugitive through a number of documentary features including "The Life of General Villa." The features actually included footage on the battlefield.

Larry Gelbart, who wrote the books for the musicals A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and City of Angels, wrote the screenplay which is directed by Bruce Beresford — who directed the film version of Alfred Uhry's Driving Miss Daisy. Gelbart also serves as executive producer.

Banderas filmed the movie on location in Mexico in the fall of 2002. The Nine star heads a cast that also includes Eion Bailey ("Band of Brothers," "Center Stage"), Jim Broadbent ("Moulin Rouge," "In The Bedroom"), Colm Feore ("Chicago") and Alan Arkin ("Slums of Beverly Hills").

"Pancho Villa" is a production of The Mark Gordon Company, City Entertainment and Green Moon Productions. Mark Gordon, Joshua Maurer and Gelbart executive produce. Tony Mark, Sue Jett and Diane Sillan produce.

"And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself" airs on HBO, Sept. 7 at 9:30 PM (ET). Check your local listings. For more information and a full schedule of future airings, visit HBO Films at www.hbo.com/films.