Cobra Verde
A fearsome 19th century bandit, Cobra Verde cuts a swath through Brazil until he arrives at the sugar plantation of Don Octávio Countinho. Not knowing that his new guest is the notorious bandit and impressed by his ruthless ways, Don Octávio hires Cobra Verde to oversee his slaves. But when Cobra Verde impregnates Don Octávio’s three daughters, the incensed plantation owner exiles the outlaw to Africa where he is expected to reopen the slave trade. Following his trans-Atlantic journey, Cobra Verde exploits tribal conflicts to commandeer an abandoned fortress and whips an army of naked warriors into a frenzied bloodlust as he vies for survival.
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Cast
14 people
Klaus Kinski
Francisco Manoel da Silva aka Cobra Verde
Known for
Aguirre, the Wrath of God
Nosferatu the Vampyre
King Ampaw
Taparica
Also in
Alabama (2000 Light Years)
Jodeln is ka Sünd
José Lewgoy
Don Octavio Coutinho
Known for
Fitzcarraldo
Kiss of the Spider Woman
Salvatore Basile
Captain Fraternidade
Known for
Cannibal Holocaust
The Two Missionaries
Peter Berling
Bernabé
Known for
Aguirre, the Wrath of God
Fitzcarraldo
Guillermo Coronel
Euclides
No other roles listed
Nana Agyefi Kwame II
Bossa Ahadee
No other roles listed
Nana Fedu Abodo
Yovogan
No other roles listed
Kofi Yerenkyi
Bakoko
No other roles listed
Kwesi Fase
Kankpe
No other roles listed
Benito Stefanelli
Pedro Vicente
Known for
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
For a Few Dollars More
Cego Oliveira
Himself
Also in
Nordeste: Cordel, Repente e Canção
Werner Herzog Director · Bruce Chatwin Author Popol Vuh Composer
First release December 3, 1987 · Produced in Germany, Ghana · Languages English, Ewe, German, Portuguese
Production
Werner Herzog Filmproduktion
Production
ZDF
Production
Ghana Film Industry Corporation
Production
Germany · Ghana
Produced in
Languages
Original language
German
Spoken on screen
English · Ewe · German · Portuguese
Release dates
Germany · December 3, 1987
Theatrical
No release date listed for United States.
China
April 18, 2026 · Premiere · Beijing International Film Festival
Spain
May 27, 1988 · Theatrical
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Some details come from TheTVDB.