MovieChat Forums > The Deserter (1971) Discussion > Caleb's squad

Caleb's squad

posted 17 years ago by bullit2513
4 replies | jump to latest

I bought this movie on VHS a couple years ago and really liked it. But looking at the cast listing, I'm having some trouble identifying some people. I can identify all of the "name" characters/actors, but there are five I'm not sure about.

Remo De Angelis .... Mark
Gianni Vanicola .... Jeff
Doc Greaves .... Scott
Lucio Rosato .... Jed
Roberto Simmi .... Justin

One of them is the Doc who accompanies them and is killed in Mangus Durango's camp. There's also a shot in the training sequences of someone else who is never identified. But upon arriving back at the fort, Capt. Crawford (Ian Bannen) says that "we lost men" out there so that makes me think more than just O'Toole died. Could there have been some scenes cut? I found the original NY Times review and it said the movie clocks in at 104 minutes while my VHS is only 100.

I know not a whole lot of people have seen this movie so it might be some obscure questions, but any ideas? Can you identify anyone else?

"Congratulations, Major. It appears that at last you have found yourself a real war." Ben Tyreen

[–] rogerscorpion 17 years ago

Are you talking about connecting the actors with other roles--to identify them? Doc Greaves, for instance, has only this film on his filmography.
A lot of Italian actors took Amercian names, when they were making Italian westerns--Terrence Hill & Bud Spencer--for 2 notable examples.

Carpe Noctem

[–] bullit2513 17 years ago

No, I mean in the context of this movie. There are people in The Deserter's credit list that I'm not able to identify, the ones I listed in the original post.

"Congratulations, Major. It appears that at last you have found yourself a real war." Ben Tyreen

[–] rogerscorpion 17 years ago

Oh--well--I know that happens. I can't help you. Sorry. Perhaps, they were edited out, but the credits weren't.

Carpe Noctem

[–] bullit2513 16 years ago

Well, I rewatched the movie, and Doc Greaves as Scott is the surgeon/medic from Fort Bowie that accompanies Caleb and his squad out. All I can figure is that the other unidentified men are with the squad and just aren't identified. In one of the shots you see three men herding the pack animals that aren't seen anywhere else. I guess that's them.

"Congratulations, Major. It appears that at last you have found yourself a real war." Ben Tyreen