Marlon Brando’s Favorite Role: The Film He Once Called “the Best Acting I’ve Ever Done”

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Marlon Brando surprisingly claimed that his strongest performance wasn’t in one of his famous movies, but in a lesser-known film. In his 1994 autobiography, Songs My Mother Taught Me, written with Robert Lindsey, he specifically highlighted the 1969 historical drama Burn! (originally titled Queimada!) as containing his best acting work.

The film, directed by Gillo Pontecorvo, takes place in the mid-1800s and stars Marlon Brando as Sir William Walker, a British agent. He’s sent to a Caribbean colony owned by Portugal with a deceptive mission: to start a slave rebellion that will actually help British sugar traders. The story then examines the resulting conflicts and difficult moral choices.

Brando considered Gillo Pontecorvo one of the best directors he ever worked with, despite their difficult relationship on set. They collaborated on a little-known 1968 or 1969 film where Brando played Sir William Walker, an English spy meant to represent the negative impact of European colonialism in the 1800s.

The film reminded me a lot of the Vietnam War, and it really showed how those with power often take advantage of those who don’t. I personally feel like I gave one of my best performances in that movie, but unfortunately, not many people saw it.

Brando highly respected director Pontecorvo, calling him one of the best he’d ever collaborated with and referencing Pontecorvo’s acclaimed film, The Battle of Algiers. He recalled filming in Colombia as incredibly demanding, due to the extreme heat and humidity, and playfully described the conditions as feeling like a Turkish bath, with temperatures often exceeding 103 degrees.

The film Burn! is inspired by true stories. The character of Walker is based on William Walker, an American who attempted to invade Nicaragua in 1855. The filmmakers also drew ideas from the life of intelligence operative Edward Lansdale and the Cuban Revolution.

The movie was a joint effort between film companies in Italy and France, overseen by producer Alberto Grimaldi. United Artists handled distribution worldwide, and Ennio Morricone created the musical score, which enhanced the film’s intense and historical atmosphere.

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2026-01-06 11:45