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Burn!

Play trailer Poster for Burn! PG 1969 1h 52m Adventure Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
80% Tomatometer 15 Reviews 80% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
During the 1840s, Britain sends secret agent Sir William Walker (Marlon Brando) to break up Portugal's sugar monopoly on the fictional Caribbean island of Queimada. Walker incites the slaves to revolt under the leadership of a dockworker, José Dolores, while simultaneously convincing plantation owners to turn against the government. A decade later, however, Walker must return to Queimada to confront his one-time pupil, Dolores, who now leads a revolt to throw out the British.

Where to Watch

Burn!

Critics Reviews

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Pauline Kael The New Yorker Sep 11, 2023
Maybe it was one of those ambitious ideas that look great until you try to carry them out; if there was a way to make it work, Pontecorvo didn’t. Go to Full Review Michael O'Sullivan Washington Post Oct 15, 2004
Pontecorvo's pointed 1969 drama of the politics of war feels surprisingly timely. Go to Full Review Stephen Hunter Washington Post Oct 15, 2004
I don't think Queimada is as great a movie as Battle of Algiers, but it retains its vitality, its outrage, its savagery and its spirit. Go to Full Review Tom Meek Cambridge Day Jul 28, 2020
3.5/4
Am amazing collaboration between Marlon Brando and Italian director Gillo Pontecorvo... Go to Full Review Adam Lippe Examiner.com Mar 5, 2012
If there's a better filmic explanation for how people can justify exploitation and colonialism, I don't know what it is. Go to Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Jul 28, 2011
B-
As a follow-up to Battle of Algiers, Burn! is a flawed film, but it's worth seeing for its tone of outrage and provocative ideas about colonialism, big business, and slavery. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Jelisije J @jjosifovic Mar 11, 2026 A very dated film starring the legendary Marlon Brando as a British agent starting a revolution to control a country sugar cane production. A very interesting film where how governments around the world will turn another country lifestyle completely around for their own government benefits. See more Mike W @MikeW269 Jan 2, 2025 I gave up half way through. It wasnt worth more time than that. Brando did not give much to the movie other than his brooding self. There was noise, action, and chaos. But the story was difficult to follow. See more andrea m @RT25513455 Nov 10, 2024 The film shows that inviting to start a rebellion is not as administering a country.At the end what happens is only to replace one colonial power with anoter. Music is also appropriate and give a special mood to the story. See more Jan 4, 2021 A very good film . It tells us the role of who is organizing a social change just because no social change occurs aside from the change of the dominant foreign Country power (like Gattopardo). Fantastic as usual is the music by Morricone. I do not love Brando in all films he played but here his interpretation is one of his best See more ashley h @ashleyhobgood87 Apr 23, 2020 Burn! is an incredible film. It is about Sir William Walker who instigates a slave revolt on the Caribbean island of Queimada. Marlon Brando and Evaristo Marquez give amazing performances. The screenplay is well written. Gillo Pontecorvo did a great job directing this movie. I enjoyed watching this motion picture because of the action and drama. Burn! is a must see. See more s r @ScottR Mar 4, 2020 Ambitious, but not much going on here. It was a chore to get through. See more Read all reviews
Burn!

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Cast & Crew

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Gillo Pontecorvo

Director

Marlon Brando

Sir William Walker

Evaristo Márquez

José Dolores

Renato Salvatori

Teddy Sanchez

Norman Hill

Shelton

Thomas Lyons

Actor

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Burn!

Burn! (1969) Burn! (1969) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis During the 1840s, Britain sends secret agent Sir William Walker (Marlon Brando) to break up Portugal's sugar monopoly on the fictional Caribbean island of Queimada. Walker incites the slaves to revolt under the leadership of a dockworker, José Dolores, while simultaneously convincing plantation owners to turn against the government. A decade later, however, Walker must return to Queimada to confront his one-time pupil, Dolores, who now leads a revolt to throw out the British.
Director
Gillo Pontecorvo
Producer
Alberto Grimaldi
Production Co
Les Productions Artistes Associés, Produzioni Europee Associate (PEA)
Rating
PG (Nudity|Some Violence)
Genre
Adventure
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Feb 11, 2017
Runtime
1h 52m
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