Cannon for Cordoba

Cannon for Cordoba

Year: 1970

Runtime: 97 mins

Language: English

Director: Paul Wendkos

WesternAdventureAction

In 1912, amid the Mexican Revolution, raids by Mexican insurgents who call themselves freedom fighters set the Texas‑Mexico border ablaze. The United States commissions General John J. Pershing to capture the notorious rebel leader General Héctor Córdoba. Pershing tracks Córdoba to his fortress, prepares his troops, and makes the decisive move to storm the stronghold.

Tense
Bittersweet ending
Moderately emotional
High intensity
Fast pacing
Simple story

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Cannon for Cordoba (1970)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Cannon for Cordoba (1970). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1912

The film is set in 1912, during the early years of the Mexican Revolution and mounting border crises. Military leaders coordinate a dangerous operation across hostile territory while public policy aims to neutralize threats. The period atmosphere emphasizes frontier justice, secrecy, and the drama of infiltration.

Location

Mexican border region, Cordoba's camp

Set around the US–Mexico border, the story moves through Cordoba's inland camp and surrounding desert landscapes. The location doubles as a staging ground for covert operations and dramatic escapes. The harsh terrain mirrors the tense, high-stakes nature of the mission.

🏜️ Border zone 🏕️ Military camp 🗺️ Strategic location

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:56

Main Characters – Cannon for Cordoba (1970)

Meet the key characters of Cannon for Cordoba (1970), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

General Pershing (John Russell)

As the mission's supervising general, Pershing orders the covert operation to destroy Cordoba's cannons to prevent them from threatening the United States. He is pragmatic, decisive, and focused on public safety, choosing trusted officers to execute the plan. His leadership style emphasizes discipline and strategic restraint in a high-stakes border operation.

🧭 Leadership 🗺️ Strategy 🎖️ Military

Rod Douglas (Captain Rod Douglas)

Rod Douglas is the mission's captain, assembling a handpicked team from among soldiers and jailbreaks. He balances risk with necessity, guiding the operation with calm authority. His tactical mindset and loyalty to Pershing drive the plan from start to finish.

⚔️ Combat 🎯 Precision 🛡️ Duty

Jackson Harkness

Jackson joins the mission driven by vengeance for his brother's torture and death. He is intense and determined, yet his personal vendetta complicates team dynamics. His presence tests the group's cohesion under pressure.

💥 Vengeance 🗡️ Ruthlessness 🔥 Determination

Peter

Peter is a quick-thinking member who helps keep the operation moving under pressure. He contributes practical skills and a level-headed approach to the mission's dangerous tasks. His reliability balances the more volatile personalities on the team.

🧠 Strategy 🎯 Tactics 📈 Risk

Andy Rice

Andy Rice is a jailbreak recruit who brings improvisational skills and street-smarts to the group. He often acts on instinct, occasionally bending rules to get the job done. His resourcefulness proves essential in tight spots.

🔧 Resourcefulness 🧰 Improvisation 💪 Resilience

Antonio Gutierrez

Antonio Gutierrez is a Mexican lieutenant with a personal grudge against Cordoba who joins the mission to help bring him down. He provides inside knowledge and a practical perspective on crossing enemy lines. His commitment is tempered by a history of conflicts at Cordoba's camp.

🕵️ Espionage 🗝️ Access ⚖️ Balance

Leonora Cristobal

Leonora is a complex operative who uses her position to influence Cordoba and get close to him. She betrays Antonio to tailor her own ends, demonstrating a willingness to manipulate danger for personal gain. Her presence injects ambiguity and tension into the mission's loyalties.

🎭 Deception 🗡️ Intrigue 🕊️ Loyalty

Héctor Cordoba

Héctor Cordoba is the former Mexican general leading a powerful faction who has seized cannons. He is formidable, cunning, and willing to take ruthless risks to advance his cause. His presence on the ground keeps the operation dangerous and unpredictable.

🔥 Rebel ⚔️ Warlord 🗡️ Threat

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:56

Major Themes – Cannon for Cordoba (1970)

Explore the central themes of Cannon for Cordoba (1970), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

⚔️ Duty

Duty drives the plot as Pershing and his officers weigh the risks of a covert strike against the imperative to prevent weapons from falling into enemy hands. The mission tests loyalty, discipline, and the line between ends and means. Characters must decide how far they're willing to go for the greater good, even when personal risks are high.

💥 Vengeance

Vengeance motivates Jackson Harkness after his brother's torture, shaping his actions and alliances. He pursues payback while the team must maintain cohesion, revealing how personal motives can complicate strategic aims. The film examines whether a vendetta can coexist with a collective mission.

🧭 Loyalty

Loyalty threads through the crew as allies navigate deception, shifting loyalties, and betrayals. Leonora's double game tests trust within the mission, and Antonio's history influences his choices. The story probes whether loyalty to comrades, country, or personal codes holds strongest under fire.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:56

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Gritty military mission Westerns like Cannon for Cordoba

Tense stories of high-stakes military operations set against the harsh backdrop of the frontier.If you liked the tense, action-driven military operation in Cannon for Cordoba, you'll find similar high-stakes stories here. These movies focus on specialized teams undertaking dangerous missions along the frontier, blending classic Western settings with gritty, tactical action and themes of sacrifice.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a clear military objective, often involving the assembly of a specialized team to undertake a near-suicidal mission against a powerful enemy. The plot is driven by strategic planning, execution under fire, and significant casualties, leading to a victory that is costly and morally complex.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their fusion of the Western genre with a focused military operation plot. They share a tense, urgent tone, fast pacing driven by mission objectives, and a high-intensity viewing experience marked by violent conflict and the grim realities of war on the frontier.

Action dramas with a bittersweet victory like Cannon for Cordoba

Action-packed stories where success comes at a heavy, personal price.Movies like Cannon for Cordoba, where the mission is accomplished but at a great personal cost. If you appreciated the mix of successful action and emotional sacrifice, this thread gathers stories with similar bittersweet conclusions after high-intensity conflict.

bittersweettensesacrificegrimaction-packedvengefulurgentsolemn

Narrative Summary

The narrative builds towards a clear objective, often involving intense conflict and violence. While the protagonists ultimately succeed in their primary goal, the journey results in profound losses—such as the death of key allies or deep personal scars—undercutting the victory with a sense of melancholy and the high price of success.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their shared emotional structure: a high-stakes plot resolved with a successful outcome that feels tempered by loss. They blend fast-paced, high-intensity action with a medium to heavy emotional weight, leading to an ending that is more contemplative and sobering than celebratory.

Unlock the Full Story of Cannon for Cordoba

Don't stop at just watching — explore Cannon for Cordoba in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Cannon for Cordoba is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Cannon for Cordoba Summary

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Cannon for Cordoba Summary

Cannon for Cordoba Timeline

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Cannon for Cordoba Timeline

Cannon for Cordoba Spoiler-Free Summary

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Cannon for Cordoba Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Cannon for Cordoba

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