The Milagro Beanfield War

The Milagro Beanfield War, motion picture about friction between local farmers and outside investors in a small New Mexico community, based on the 1974 novel by John Nichols. Released in 1988, the film won an Academy Award for Dave Grusin’s musical score. Developers plan to build a large resort in Milagro, which will deplete the area’s natural resources and probably drive most of the local farmers out of business. Water is scarce and is a major source of contention, but no one can get the local people riled up about the problem until one day when Joe Mondragon (played by Chick Vennera) diverts some of the developer’s water onto his own field. He decides to grow beans there. The governor (M. Emmett Walsh) uses his influence to protect the rich man’s water rights, but the local people rally behind Mondragon.

Director

• Robert Redford

Cast

• Rubén Blades (Sheriff Montoya)
• Richard Bradford (Ladd Devine)
• Sonia Braga (Ruby Archuleta)
• Julie Carmen (Nancy Mondragon)
• James Gammon (Horse Thief Shorty)
• Melanie Griffith (Flossie Devine)
• John Heard (Charlie Bloom)
• Carlos Riquelme (Amarante Cordova)
• Daniel Stern (Herbie Platt)
• Chick Vennera (Joe Mondragon)
• Christopher Walken (Kyril Montana)
• Freddy Fender (Mayor Sammy Cantu)
• Tony Genaros (Nick Rael)
• Jerry Hardin (Emerson Capps)
• Ronald G. Joseph (Jerry G)
• Mario Arrambide (Carl)
• Robert Carricart (Coyote Angel)
• Alberto Morin (Member of the Senile Brigade)
• Frederico Roberto (Member of the Senile Brigade)
• Natividad Vacio (Member of the Senile Brigade)
• Pablo Trujillo (Member of the Senile Brigade)
• Eloy Vigil (Member of the Senile Brigade)
• Consuelo Luz (Resident of Milagro)
• Olga Merediz Resident of Milagro)
• Eva Cantu (Resident of Milagro)
• Donald Salazar (Resident of Milagro)
• Alfredo Romero (Resident of Milagro)
• Cipriano Vigil (Resident of Milagro)
• Trinidad Silva (Resident of Milagro)
• Mike Gomez (Resident of Milagro)
• Leandro Cordova (Resident of Milagro)
• Astrea Romero (Resident of Milagro)
• Reynaldo Cantu (Resident of Milagro)
• Arnold Burns (Resident of Milagro)
• Rudy Fernandez (Resident of Milagro)
• Frederick Lopez (Resident of Milagro)
• Marcos L. Martinez (Resident of Milagro)
• Eddie G. Baros (Resident of Milagro)
• Douglas Yanez (Resident of Milagro)
• Bonnie Apodaca (Resident of Milagro)
• Adelita Sandoval (Resident of Milagro)
• Roberto Mondragon (Resident of Milagro)
• Victoria Plata (Resident of Milagro)
• Cletus Tafoya (Resident of Milagro)
• Waldo Cantu (Resident of Milagro)
• Ishmael A. Avila (Resident of Milagro)
• Jimmy Martinez (Resident of Milagro)
• Ruby Marchant (Resident of Milagro)
• Marco A. Oviedo (Resident of Milagro)
• Eric Treisman (Devine's friend)
• Juanita Nichols (Devine's friend)
• Patricio Chavez (Devine's friend)
• Nat Shipman (Devine's friend)
• Margo Cutler (Devine's friend)
• China Bell (Devine's friend)
• Basil Hoffman (Member of governor's office staff)
• Gene Ornales (Member of governor's office staff)
• Sam Vlahos (Member of governor's office staff)
• Philip L. Mead (Member of governor's office staff)
• Ron Frazier (Member of governor's office staff)
• Lynda Witz (Member of governor's office staff)
• M. Emmet Walsh (The governor)

Awards

• Academy Award for Best Music—Original Score (1988): Dave Grusin