From the moment that Emiliano Zapata was killed in a treacherous ambush, his legend came alive among the peasants of Morelos, was convinced that living in the mountains, ready to return to defend them if it was necessary. As he prophesied in his last days of life, death, managed to make it stronger, and his figure has been a constant source of admiration and recreation, both in academic history and popular culture. One looks to Zapata that lasted over time was the film Viva Zapata !, directed by Elia Kazan from a screenplay by John Steinbeck, with performances by Marlon Brando and Anthony Quinn in the role of the Zapata brothers. Steinbeck was fascinated with the character and made numerous trips to Mexico to see first hand, from oral histories, the necessary elements to form a more intimate view. The result was a script that captured perfectly the living legend who was Zapata.
