Che! is a 1969 American biographical drama film directed by Richard Fleischer and starring Omar Sharif as Marxist revolutionary Ernesto “Che” Guevara. It follows Guevara from when he first landed in Cuba in 1956 to his death in Bolivia in 1967, although the film does not portray the formative pre-Cuban revolution sections of Che’s life as described in the autobiographical book The Motorcycle Diaries (1993).
The film tells of Che Guevara (Omar Sharif), a young Argentine doctor who proves his mettle during the Cuban guerilla war in the late 1950s. He gains the respect of his men and becomes the leader of a patrol.
Fidel Castro (Jack Palance) is impressed by Guevara’s tactics and discipline and makes him his chief advisor. When Castro defeats Cuban dictator Batista after two years of fighting, Guevara directs a series of massive reprisals, yet, Guevara dreams of fomenting a worldwide revolution. After Castro backs down during the Cuban Missile Crisis, Guevara accuses Castro of being a Soviet tool and decides to leave Cuba.
Guevara lands in Bolivia, where he attempts to begin his dream of a worldwide peasant revolution, but the Bolivian peasants do not follow his lead and he becomes pursued by the Bolivian Army.
The film score was composed, arranged and conducted by Lalo Schifrin and the soundtrack album was released on the Tetragrammaton label in 1969 (by wikipedia)
The composer takes his lead from the traditional music of Cuba, Argentina (his native country), and Bolivia, where the film was set.
The result is an instrumental album of South American styles that stands on its own, thankfully, since the film (which starred Omar Sharif in the title role and featured Jack Palance as Fidel Castro) doesn’t get too much circulation these days.(by William Ruhlmann)
Personnel:
George del Barrio (piano)
Marcus Cabuto (trumpet)
Humberto Cane (bass)
Luis Gasca (trumpet)
Kaskara (voice on 03., 05. + 12.)
Bill Plummer (bass)
Lalo Schifrin (piano)
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flute:
Ronnie Lang, Jose Lazano, Bud Shank, Sheridon Stokes, Tom Scott, Ted Nash, Justin Gordon
guitar:
Bob Bain, Dennis Budimer, Jose Gamboa, Al Hendrickson, Lalo Ruiz, Tommy Tedesco
percussion:
Francisco Aguabella, Larry Bunker, Julio Collazo, Orlando Lopez, Mongo Santamaria, Ken Watson
violin:
Alfredo Ebat, Bobby Bruce, Erno Neufeld, David Frisina, Paul Shure, Marvin Limonick, Alexander Murray, George Mast, Nathan Kaproff, Bonnie Douglas, Anatol Kaminsky, Herman Clebanoff
viola:
Myra Kestenbaum, Peter Mark, Allan Harshman, Milton Thomas
cello:
Raphael Kramer, Edgar Lustgarten, Kurt Rener
harp:
Dorothy Remsen, Catherine Gotthoffer – harp
Tracklist:
01. Ché (Orchestra Version) 2.22
02. La Columna 2.39
03. Emboscada 3:17
04. La Ruta 2.42
05. Charangos 2.04
06. Fiesta Numero Dos 3.06
07. Recuerdos 2.44
08. Fiesta Numro Uno 2.13
09. Anita 2.00
10. La Barraca 1.56
11. Tiempo Pasado 3.00
12. Ché (Solo Guitar Version) 3.17
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13. Fiesta Numro Uno (raw sound) 3.09
Music composed by Lalo Schifrin
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