Cheezy Movies have been releasing some amazing classic films on DVD. Here at Classic Cinema Plus we have had the extreme pleasure to review some of them including; Superman and the Mole Men, Dinorsaurs!, The Adventures of Captain Marvel, The Slime People, and The Mask.
This time around we review the 1969 comedy feature Viva Max featuring an all star cast of actors that you have no doubt known and loved for years.
General Maximilian Rodrigues de Santos is disparaged by his girlfriend for his leadership claiming that his men wouldn't follow him to a house of ill repute. Max decides to prove her wrong By leading his men over the border into Texas to re-capture the Alamo. When the Texas National Guard is dispatched it leads to a stand off, but a standoff with no ammunition as Max's troops forgot theirs and the state department insists that one on be killed.
Viva Max is an off the wall crazy adventure that will have you chuckling through all the absurdity. Elliott Baker adapted this screenplay from the novel "Viva Max" by Jim Lehrer. The film was directed by Jerry Paris. He is probably best known for playing Jerry Helper, the dentist and next-door neighbor of Rob and Laura Petrie, on The Dick Van Dyke Show. But he was a prolific director directing so many episodes of classic TV including Happy Days, The Odd Couple, The Munsters, Here's Lucy and so many more. But he also directed many movies most notably Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment, Police Academy 3: Back in Training.
Viva Max really has an impressive cast of actors and actresses. The viewer will no doubt remember these performers. They include; Peter Ustinov (Quo Vadis), Pamela Tiffin (One, Two, Three), Jonathan Winters (Mork and Mindy), John Astin (The Addams Family), Keenan Wynn (Dr. Strangelove...), Harry Morgan (M*A*S*H*), Alice Ghostley (Bewitched) and Kenneth Mars (Young Frankenstein).
Now an interesting production note is The Daughters of the Republic of Texas objected to the filming of the Alamo to the point of staging protests on location. So the producers instead films scenes at an Alamo replica in Brackettville, Texas and interior shots at a studios in Italy.
Now for this DVD release. Viva Max has been transferred in it's original full screen format with a 2.0 mono audio. The film looks pretty nice on DVD. The colors vibrant, the picture isn't pristine there is some damage to the print, but not bad.
As for bonus features there are three trailers for other Cheezy Movies releases including; Adiós Amigo, Convoy and SuperVan.
Watch The Trailer Below:
So if you are a fan of the absurd I believe Viva Max will be right up your alley. You can get a copy of VIva Max today on Amazon.
Out of 4 Film Reels (4 Being the Best) Cheezy Movies DVD of "Viva Max!" it receives...
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