the film did not have a large reception (the box-office receipts not being enough even to recoup the costs of production). According to Zinnemann this was because the Spanish Civil War had slipped from the memories of its audience. The New York Times gave it a mixed review, being disappointed with the execution of the film, though impressed with its sets and actors, while Variety was generally impressed, calling it "among the better" of Peck's career. Incensed by scenes showing Viñolas with a mistress, and taking bribes, the government of Spain denied filming as well as distribution in Spain, causing problems for its distributor, Columbia Pictures, which had all of its films denied distribution in Spain, and was compelled to sell its distribution arm in Spain. Columbia Pictures remained closed in Spain for several years, until agreeing to release several Spanish films outside of Spain. Months prior to the release of the film, Columbia Vice President M. J. Frankovich estimated that the studio had lost "millions" in the year since it had decided to go ahead with production against the wishes of the Spanish government. According to Allmovie, the film was scheduled to be shown on national television in the United States, but was cancelled at the request of the Spanish government. Often compared to the previous year's Lawrence of Arabia, as it has two of the same lead actors, Zinnemann countered the comparison with "I don't feel any obligation to be successful, success can be dangerous--you feel you know it all. I've learned a great deal from my failures." One of the film's stars, Omar Sharif, referred to it as a "bad film" by a "good director". Time magazine said about the film in its review: "Pale Horse is a white elephant." See also 1964 in film Assassinations in fiction List of American films of 1964 List of war films and TV specials References External links 1964 films 1960s war drama films 1960s political drama films American political drama films American war drama films American black-and-white films Columbia Pictures films Films scored by Maurice Jarre Films about anarchism Films about Catholicism Films based on British novels Films based on military novels Films directed by Fred Zinnemann Films set in France Films set in Spain Spanish Civil War films 1960s Spanish-language films 1964 drama films Censorship in Spain Film controversies in Spain Films about the Spanish Maquis 1960s English-language films