Juarez (1939): Cast & Plot
Juarez is a 1939 historical drama directed by William Dieterle, starring Claude Rains as Emperor Louis Napoleon III, Bette Davis and Stuart Holmes. It runs 2 hours 5 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 5m (125 min)
- Director
- William Dieterle
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Warner Bros. Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Juarez About?
The premise of Juarez without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Upon their arrival in Mexico, the newly‑crowned Emperor Maximilian and Empress Carlota confront a nation deeply supportive of President Benito Juárez and the ideals of democracy. The film chronicles this clash of imperial ambition with popular republican sentiment, highlighting the political turmoil of the era.
Juarez Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- maximilian i of mexico
- french occupied mexico
- french empire
- benito juarez
- character name as title
- reference to hernando cortes
- reference to napoleon bonaparte
- reference to quetzocatal
- image of abraham lincoln
- prologue
- reference to gettysburg
- horseback riding
+38 more Show fewer
- mexican president
- reference to monroe doctrine
- us aid
- historical drama
- army colonel
- assassination of abraham lincoln
- racial prejudice
- adopted boy
- husband wife relationship
- mexican civil war
- emperor of mexico
- napoleon iii character
- mental breakdown
- austrian man
- execution by firing squad
- puppet government
- queen
- 1860s
- pow prisoner of war
- 19th century
- rains and garfield
- davis and rains
- muni and davis
- based on a stage play
- dieterle and calhern
- dieterle and muni
- mexican
- mexico
- french
- american civil war
- democracy
- france
- monroe doctrine
- franco mexican war
- captive
- year 1867
- year 1864
- year 1863
Juarez Cast & Characters
Claude Rains leads the cast as Emperor Louis Napoleon III, with Bette Davis as Empress Carlotta von Hapsburg and Stuart Holmes as Soldier with Letter to Maximilian (uncredited). Directed by William Dieterle; 49 actors are credited in all.
- Director William Dieterle
-
Claude Rains as Emperor Louis Napoleon III -
Bette Davis as Empress Carlotta von Hapsburg - Stuart Holmes as Soldier with Letter to Maximilian (uncredited)
- Paul Porcasi as Councilman in Meeting with Maximilian (uncredited)
Also Starring in Juarez
· 45 more- Brian Aherne Emperor Maximilian von Hapsburg
- Gale Sondergaard Empress Eugenie
- Paul Muni Benito Pablo Juárez
- Joseph Calleia Alejandro Uradi
- Henry O'Neill General Miguel Miramon
- Frank Reicher Duc de Morny (uncredited)
- Donald Crisp Maréchal Bazaine
- Louis Calhern LeMarc
- Noble Johnson General Regules (uncredited)
- John Garfield General Porfirio Diaz
- Dewey Robinson Soldier Collecting Signatures (uncredited)
- Robert Warwick Major Du Pont (uncredited)
- Monte Blue Lerdo de Tajada
- John Miljan Mariano Escobedo
- Holmes Herbert Marshal Randon (uncredited)
- Harry Davenport Dr. Samuel Basch
Show all 49 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Walter Kingsford Prince Richard Metternich
- Claire Du Brey Woman (uncredited)
- Gilbert Roland Colonel Miguel Lopez
- Douglas Wood Mr. Hartman (uncredited)
- Montagu Love Jose de Montares
- Martín Garralaga Negroni
- Vladimir Sokoloff Camilo
- Irving Pichel General Carbajal
- Egon Brecher Baron von Magnus (uncredited)
- Frank Lackteen Coachman
- Pedro de Cordoba Riva Palacio
- Jason Robards Sr.
- Georgia Caine Lady in Waiting
- Fred Malatesta Señor Salas (uncredited)
- Michael Visaroff
- Billy Wilkerson Tomas Mejia
- Claudia Dell Agnes Salm (uncredited)
- Pedro Regas Antonio Regales (uncredited)
- Robert Frazer
- Walter Fenner Achille Fould (uncredited)
- Carlos De Valdez Tailor (uncredited)
- Mickey Kuhn Augustin Iturbide
- Hugh Sothern John Bigelow
- Walter O. Stahl Senator de Valle (uncredited)
- Alexander Leftwich Drouyn de Lhuys (uncredited)
- Gennaro Curci Señor de Leon (uncredited)
- Guy Bates Post
- Lillian Nicholson Josefa Iturbide (uncredited)
- Manuel Díaz Pepe
Juarez Plot Summary
What happens in Juarez from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Set against the fraught backdrop of 1860s Mexico, this historical drama traces the long-running clash between Emperor Maximilian von Habsburg [Brian Aherne] and Benito Pablo Juárez [Paul Muni], a confrontation shaped by foreign intervention, shifting alliances, and the stubborn hope of a democratic future for the country.
When Napoleon III Napoleon III [Claude Rains] instruments a throne for Maximilian, the Austrian archduke arrives in Mexico along with his wife, Carlota of Belgium [Bette Davis], with expectations of establishing French influence by confiscating land returned to native communities and punishing the rebels under his command. The alliance tests loyalties, idealism, and the weight of imperial ambition as Maximilian must navigate a government that is not fully his own and a nation that is far from united.
Full summary
The whole story of Juarez, scene by scene
Juarez Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Juarez.
Seen Juarez?
Movies Like Juarez
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Viva Zapata!, Enamorada and Cuartelazo.
Juarez FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Juarez, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Juarez?
Juarez runs 2 hours 5 minutes (125 minutes).
When was Juarez released?
Juarez was released on April 24, 1939.
Who directed Juarez?
Juarez was directed by William Dieterle.
More films by William Dieterle Who is in the cast of Juarez?
Juarez stars Claude Rains as Emperor Louis Napoleon III, Bette Davis as Empress Carlotta von Hapsburg and Stuart Holmes as Soldier with Letter to Maximilian (uncredited), among 49 credited actors.
Does Juarez have a post-credit scene?
No. Juarez has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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