El Topo (1970)
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- Not Rated
- 2h 5min
- Drama, Western
- 15 Apr 1971 (Mexico)
- Movie
A mysterious black-clad gunfighter wanders a mystical Western landscape encountering multiple bizarre characters.
Director:
Writer:
Awards:
- 4 wins & 3 nominations.
- See more »
Reviews:
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Alejandro Jodorowsky | ... |
El Topo
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| Brontis Jodorowsky | ... |
Hijo / Topo's son
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José Legarreta | ... |
Moribundo
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| Alfonso Arau | ... |
Bandido 1
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José Luis Fernández | ... |
Bandido 2
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Ali Junco | ... |
Bandido 3
(as Alí Junco)
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| Gerardo Zepeda | ... |
Bandido 4
(as Gerardo Cepeda)
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René Barrera | ... |
Bandido 5
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René Alís | ... |
Bandido 6
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Federico Gonzáles | ... |
Bandido 7
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Vicente Lara | ... |
Bandido 8
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Pablo Leder | ... |
Monje 1
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Giuliano Girini Sasseroli | ... |
Monje 2
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Cristian Merkel | ... |
Monje 3
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Aldo Grumelli | ... |
Monje 4
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Mara Lorenzio | ... |
Marah / La mujer - The Woman
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| David Silva | ... |
Coronel
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Ignacio Martínez España | ... |
Manco
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Eliseo Gardea Saucedo | ... |
Cojo
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| Héctor Martínez | ... |
Maestro 1
(as Hector Martinez 'El Borrado')
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| Paula Romo | ... |
Desconocida
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Bertha Lomelí | ... |
Gitana
(as Berta Lomeli)
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Juan José Gurrola | ... |
Maestro 2
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Víctor Fosado | ... |
Maestro 3
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Agustín Isunza | ... |
Maestro 4
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| Jacqueline Luis | ... |
Mujercita
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Carlos Lavenant | ... |
Verdugo 1
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Eliseo Pereda | ... |
Verdugo 2
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Pablo Marichal | ... |
Esclavo
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Beatriz Beltrán Lobo | ... |
Señora 1
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Carmen Lamadrid | ... |
Señora 2
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Pepita González | ... |
Señora 3
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Cecilia Leger | ... |
Señora 4
(as Cecilia Leguer)
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Elvira Gosti | ... |
Señora 5
(as Elvira Agosti)
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Antonio Álvarez | ... |
Prisonero 1
(as Antonio Alvarez)
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Rueben Gonzáles | ... |
Prisonero 2
(as Rubén González)
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Víctor Manuel Osorio | ... |
Prisonero 3
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José Pérez Bustos | ... |
Prisonero 4
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Eduardo Danel | ... |
Prisonero 5
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Álvaro García | ... |
Prisonero 6
(as Alvaro García)
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José Antonio Alcaraz | ... |
Sheriff
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Felipe Díaz Garza | ... |
Ayudante
(as Felipe Diazgarza)
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Patricio Pereda | ... |
Niño
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Marcos E. Contreras | ... |
Boxeador 1
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Arturo Silva | ... |
Boxeador 2
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Robert John | ... |
Hijo del Topo
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Julián de Meriche | ... |
Cura
(as Julien de Meriche)
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| Valerie Jodorowsky | ... |
Mujer iglesia
(as Valerie Trumblay)
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José Luis González de León | ... |
Hombre iglesia
(as J.L. González de León)
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Francisco González Salazar | ... |
Tendero
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Pedro García | ... |
Hombre zanahoria
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Directed by
| Alejandro Jodorowsky | ... | (as Alexandro Jodorowsky) |
Written by
| Alejandro Jodorowsky | ... | (written by) (as Alexandro Jodorowsky) |
Produced by
| Mick Gochanour | ... | producer (uncredited) |
| Juan López Moctezuma | ... | associate producer |
| Moshe Rosemberg | ... | associate producer (as Moishe Rosemberg) |
| Saúl Rosemberg | ... | associate producer |
| Roberto Viskin | ... | associate producer |
Music by
| Alejandro Jodorowsky | ... | (as Alexandro Jodorowsky) |
Cinematography by
| Rafael Corkidi | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Federico Landeros | ||
Editorial Department
| Scot Olive | ... | colorist (uncredited) |
Production Design by
| Alejandro Jodorowsky | ... | (as Alexandro Jodorowsky) |
Art Direction by
| José Durán | ||
Set Decoration by
| José Luis Garduño | ||
Costume Design by
| Alejandro Jodorowsky | ... | (as Alexandro Jodorowsky) |
Production Management
| Roberto Viskin | ... | production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| José Luis González de León | ... | assistant director |
Sound Department
| Gonzalo Gavira | ... | sound effects engineer |
| Lilia Lupercio | ... | sound editor |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Miguel Garzón | ... | camera operator |
| Pedro Moreno | ... | chief electrician |
| Antonio Ruiz | ... | camera operator |
Casting Department
| Guillermo Díaz | ... | extras casting |
Music Department
| Nacho Méndez | ... | Music Arranger / Orchestrator / music arranger (as Nacho Mendez) / orchestrator (as Nacho Mendez) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Rafael Villaseñor Kuri | ... | script supervisor |
Additional Crew
| Allen Klein | ... | presenter |
| Luz María Rojas | ... | production assistant |
| Vicente Rojo | ... | title designer |
| Jorge Rubio Salazar | ... | production assistant (as Jorge Rubio) |
| Humberto Gurza | ... | animal wrangler (uncredited) |
| Miguel Gurza | ... | animal wrangler (uncredited) |
| 'Chema' Hernandez | ... | livestock coordinator (uncredited) |
Production Companies
- Producciones Panicas (presents)
Distributors
- Douglas Music Films (1970) (United States) (theatrical) (limited)
- ABKCO Films (1971) (United States) (theatrical) (dubbed)
- ABKCO Films (1973) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Criterion Pictures (II) (1973) (Canada) (theatrical)
- ABKCO Films (2007) (United States) (theatrical) (re-release)
- Camera One (1975) (France) (theatrical)
- Happinet(I). (2010) (Japan) (theatrical) (re-release)
- Nikkatsu (1987) (Japan) (theatrical)
- Nikkatsu (Japan) (theatrical)
- Nouveaux Pictures (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Odyssey Classics (2023) (Netherlands) (theatrical) (re-release) (4K restored version)
- Pretty Pictures (2006) (France) (theatrical) (re-release)
- Scotia International Filmverleih (1975) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- Stefano Film (1975) (Italy) (theatrical) (dubbed)
- Tuschinski Film Distribution (1975) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- Amuse Soft (Japan) (VHS)
- Amuse Soft (Japan) (video) (laserdisc)
- Amuse Video (Japan) (VHS)
- Amuse Video (Japan) (video) (laserdisc)
- Anchor Bay Entertainment (2007) (United States) (DVD)
- Anchor Bay Entertainment (2011) (United States) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- Bildstörung (2013) (Germany) (DVD)
- DMEG (2004) (Sweden) (VHS)
- El 9 Besepi S.L. (2023) (Spain)
- Gruppo Minerva International (Italy) (VHS)
- Palisades Tartan (2009) (United Kingdom)
- Raro Video (2006) (Italy) (DVD)
- Raro Video (2007) (Italy) (DVD)
- Rosebud Video (France) (VHS)
- Screentime (1987) (West Germany) (VHS)
- Siren Visual Entertainment (2007) (Australia) (DVD)
- Tartan Video (2007) (United Kingdom) (DVD)
- VCL Communications (Germany) (VHS)
- Yleisradio (YLE) (2020) (Finland) (tv)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Unidad-Mexico (technical personel)
- Estudios América (technical personel)
- Sonido Klang Film (sound)
- Laboratorios T.V. Cine (film processing)
- Estudios América (filmed at)
- Section 49 of Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Industria Cinematográfica (STIC) (technical support)
- International Broadcast Facilities (subtitles and translations: Blu-ray)
- MixUp NYC (audio restoration: Blu-ray)
- Postworks New York (digital restoration: Blu-ray)
- Deluxe Digital Studios (DVD pre-mastering: Blu-ray)
- EMI Music France (special thanks: Blu-ray)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
El Topo decides to confront warrior masters on a transformative desert journey. He begins with his six-year-old son, who must bury his childhood totems to become a man. El Topo (the mole) claims to be God while dressed as a gunslinger in black, riding a horse through a mystical landscape strewn with American Western and ancient Eastern religious symbols. Bandits slaughtered a village on his path, so El Topo avenges the massacred, then forcibly takes their leader's woman Mara as his. El Topo's surreal way is bloody, sexual, and self-reflective, musing of his own demons, as he tries to vanquish those he encounters. Written by David Stevens |
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| Taglines | The legendary cult classic See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $1,000,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | Other noteworthy figures said to be fans of the film, besides John Lennon and Yoko Ono, include directors David Lynch and Samuel Fuller, actors Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper, and performers Bob Dylan, Marilyn Manson, and Peter Gabriel. It has been claimed that this movie was the beginning of Gabriel's inspiration for the classic Genesis concept album, 'The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway'. See more » |
| Goofs | The opening scene is of a man on horseback riding through the desert, although the horse is on deep sand the sound is of a horse on hard ground. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Jonathan Ross Presents for One Week Only: Alejandro Jodorowsky (1991). See more » |
| Crazy Credits | The closing credits in the English-dubbed version of El Topo state that ABKCO Films copyrighted the film in 1967; however, ABKCO didn't purchase (any rights to) it until June of 1971! See more » |
| Quotes |
El Topo:
Too much perfection is a mistake. See more » |