LEWM: "THREE AMIGOS!" ESL LESSON

ARCENAL STUDIOS presents LEARNING ENGLISH WITH MOVIES: "THREE AMIGOS!" (1986) - a video lesson for ESL students who would like to improve their English skills by using MOVIES as the main topic.

 

THREE AMIGOS!

 

This 1986 western comedy was directed by John Landis and starred comedy legends Steve Martin, Chevy Chase and Martin Short.

 

Steve Martin co-wrote the screenplay with Lorne Michaels, the creator of SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, while the songs were written by academy award winner Randy Newman.

 

Originally, Steve Martin was to be joined by Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi.

 

Other actors were also considered for the cast, including Bill Murray, Robin Williams, Rick Moranis and John Candy.

 

In the end, Chevy Chase and Martin Short were cast.

 

Chevy Chase was not only one of the most popular SNL alumn, but also starred in many successful comedies including Caddyshack, Fletch, and National Lampoon’s Vacation.

 

Martin Short is a Canadian actor and writer best known for his hilarious characters on the SCTV show by acclaimed comedy troupe SECOND CITY as well as films such as INNERSPACE, THREE FUGITIVES AND CAPTAIN RON.

 

During production, Steve Martin and Martin Short became very good friends and would later work together on films like THE FATHER OF THE BRIDE as well as TV appearances and live performances.

 

For the role of the villain, Award winning Mexican actor and director Alfonso Arau was cast as EL GUAPO.

 

He would achieve critical acclaim with films such as LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE and A WALK IN THE CLOUDS.

 

The producers were also considering Steven Spielberg as director before hiring John Landis.

 

Director John Landis has directed some of Hollywood’s most successful films, including ANIMAL HOUSE, THE BLUES BROTHERS, COMING TO AMERICA AND AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON, just to name a few.

 

It was his success with musicals and the horror/comedy AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON that lead him to direct Michael Jackson’s THRILLER music video.

 

Despite some production problems, the film was successfully released into theaters in 1986, becoming a modest hit with both critics and audiences.

 

However, thanks to home video, the film has achieved a cult status for comedy fans.

When Mexican bandit terrorizes the small Mexican village of SANTO POCO, Carmen, the daughter of the village leader, goes to town looking for gunfighters to protect them.

After her pleas for help go unanswered, she sees a silent film starring THE THREE AMIGOS.

Believing that the courageous THREE AMIGOS were real heroes, she sends a telegram to them, asking for help.

After a disagreement with a Hollywood producer, the THREE AMIGOS are fired and kicked out of the studio lot.

When they receive Carmen’s telegram, they believe it to be a job offer in Mexico.

When they arrive in Santo Poco, they are mistaken for ruthless gunslingers looking for El Guapo.

After a group of El Guapo’s men attack the village, the THREE AMIGOS, still under the impression that they are performing a show, scare the bandits away.

As a result, The Village celebrates their victory against the bandits with a big party.

El GUAPO and his men decide to face the THREE AMIGOS and it is only then that they realize that they are not performing a show.

Fearing death, the AMIGOS ride away from the village while EL GUAPO loots the village and kidnaps Carmen.

Ned convinces Lucky and Dusty to go back and not only rescue Carmen but also face EL GUAPO.

After an haphazard rescue attempt, they manage to rescue Carmen and escape.

Fearing retaliation from El Guapo, the Amigos rally the villagers to help protect the village by creating trenches, costumes and weapons.

When EL GUAPO and his men arrive, they are welcomed by an army of AMIGOS comprised of villagers wearing costumes.

Together with the AMIGOS, they wound and kill some of the bandits and successfully scare the rest away.

Among the casualties is EL GUAPO himself, who manages to wound Lucky on the foot before dying from a fatal shot.

In the end, the villagers offer the AMIGOS all the money they have as reward for their help but to their surprise, they refuse and ride into the sunset.