So finds out gold prospector Van Heflin when he encounters a group of rebels in the Mexican Revolution and joins forces with them to aide them in their cause. The leader happens to be a woman (the obviously American Julie Adams in dark makeup) who is as tough, and possibly even tougher, then many of the men in the gang. She is able to deal with a bullet wound without calling out in pain, but her sudden friendship with Heflin leads to trouble between Heflin and another one of the rebels (Rudolfo Acosta). More issues occur when Acosta ends up with Adams' gentler sister (Abbe Lane), holding her hostage. With the determination of freedom fighters from All Nations, Adams and her gang struggle to win their victory as romance strikes between Adams and Heflin.
Of course, there is going to be some quibbling against Adams for playing a Mexican woman, but she was simply just a young Universal contract player doing what she was assigned to do. she does indeed look quite stunning in the tight pants that she wears and combines both femininity and toughness in her characterization. Pedro Gonzalez-Gonzalez, the Mexican-American version of Sabu, provides an enjoyable if somewhat stereotypical view of the eager to please young Hispanic who hasn't quite matured enough to grasp the seriousness of the mission that he is in even though his heart believes in real justice, and the dangers that entails, but he is so likeable a personality that it is difficult to find fault with the types of roles he was cast as a struggling actor.
Fortunately, this was made in Technicolor which makes it beautiful to see the lushness of the outdoor scenes. Under the direction of Budd Boetticher, it is completely entertaining and moves at the speed of a running burro. I didn't really learn anything new about the Mexican Revolution from this but the characters are each given personalities that make their cause worth rooting for, and even the bad guys are painted in grey colors, not just simple black and white villainy.
Of course, there is going to be some quibbling against Adams for playing a Mexican woman, but she was simply just a young Universal contract player doing what she was assigned to do. she does indeed look quite stunning in the tight pants that she wears and combines both femininity and toughness in her characterization. Pedro Gonzalez-Gonzalez, the Mexican-American version of Sabu, provides an enjoyable if somewhat stereotypical view of the eager to please young Hispanic who hasn't quite matured enough to grasp the seriousness of the mission that he is in even though his heart believes in real justice, and the dangers that entails, but he is so likeable a personality that it is difficult to find fault with the types of roles he was cast as a struggling actor.
Fortunately, this was made in Technicolor which makes it beautiful to see the lushness of the outdoor scenes. Under the direction of Budd Boetticher, it is completely entertaining and moves at the speed of a running burro. I didn't really learn anything new about the Mexican Revolution from this but the characters are each given personalities that make their cause worth rooting for, and even the bad guys are painted in grey colors, not just simple black and white villainy.