Blood Red (1989)

Giancarlo Giannini is Sebastian Collogero, an immigrant from Sicily, just granted citizenship and proud of the successful winery he’s created in California.

He’s upset that his womanizing son Marco (Eric Roberts) isn’t more interested in the family business, more appreciative of the opportunity he’ll inherit.

Soon, though, that’s far from his biggest worry,

William Bradford Berrigan (Dennis Hopper) is building the Berrigan Pacific Railroad. And his plans call for tracks to run right through California’s new wine country.

When the wine growers prove unwilling to sell their land, he begins bribing politicians, gaining right of ways that will force them off.

And when they still refuse to leave, he brings in a group of enforcers led by a man named Andrews (Burt Young) to take the valley by force.

Sebastian Collogero is among the most stubborn of the wine growers. That stubborness costs him his life.

But that spurs his son into action. And when neighboring growers won’t help, he calls on two cousins, Enzio and Silvio, and an old friend, Samuel Joseph, to help him stand up against the railroad tycoon and his henchmen.

Eric Roberts as Maco Collogero, indifferent about vineyards but determined to avenge his father in Blood Red (1989)

Lara Harris as Angelica, the woman who falls for Marco Collogero in Blood Red (1989)

Review:

It’s the old railroad baron vs. landowners plot line, dusted off and, for a change of pace. moved to California wine country in the late 19th century.

Unfortunately, there’s not much that stands out about the film, even with Dennis Hopper in the cast and early screen appearances from Eric Roberts, long hair flowing, Michael Madsen and Julia Roberts.

To date, this is the only film in which Eric and sister Julia appeared together. They play brother and sister in the film too.

But don’t watch the film for that. While Eric’s Marco character is the plot’s central figure, Julia’s role is little more than a cameo.

The female lead goes to Lara Harris as Angelica, daughter of a rival wine maker to Sebastian Collogero and fresh out of convent school.

Dennis Hopper as William Berrigan, a railroad tycoon determined to own the California vineyards in Blood Red (1989)

Giancarlo Giannini as Sebastian Collogero, the vineyard owner who refuses to sell out to the railroad in Blood Red (1989)

Directed by:
Peter Masterson

Cast:
Eric Roberts … Marco Collogero
Giancarlo Glannini … Sebastian Collogero
Dennis Hopper … William Bradford Berrigan
Burt Young … Andrews
Carlin Glynn … Miss Jeffreys
Lara Harris … Angelica
Joseph Runningfox … Samuel Joseph
Al Ruscio … Antonio Segestra
Michael Madsen … Enzio
Elias Koteas … Silvio
Francesca De Sapio … Rosa Collogero
Marc Lawrence … Michael Fazio
Frank Camanella … Dr. Scola
Aldo Ray … Father Stassio
Gary Swanson … Sen. Willard Endicott
Susan Anspach … Widow
Kevin Cooney … Mayor Riggs
Ben George … McLain
Julia Roberts … Maria Collogero
Alexandrai Masterson .. Anna Collogero

Runtime: 91 min.

Burt Young as Andrews, the killer whose henchmen Berrigan hires to move the growers off their land in Blood Red (1989)

Gary Swanson as Sen. WIllard Endicott, the one politician trying to protect landowners from the railroad in Blood Red (1989)

Memorable lines:

Sebatian Collogero, of Marco, to his wife: “How come you’re son is never home? How come he’s never in church? Instead, he runs all over the countryside like a dog in heat.”

Sebastian Collogero, after a wine shipment is destroyed: “What about justice?”
Brandon lawman: “Justice? Well, justice wears a blindfold, don’t she? Round here, she’s also deaf and dumb. And, currently, she’s the property of the Berrigan Pacific Railroad.”

Carlin Glynn as Miss Jeffreys, a woman who helps the immigrants become U.S. citizens in Blood Red (1989)

Alexandri Masterson as Anna Collegero, Francesca De Sapio as Rosa Collegero and Julia Roberts as Maria Collogero in Blood Red (1989)