Das Zeichen des Verräters

"The Mark of the Renegade" is a film starring Ricardo Montalban which is set in California, circa 1825. This is just after Mexico won its independence from Spain and this meant not only independence for Mexico but its territories in what is now the United States (roughly the Southwestern part of the USA).

As far as the plot goes, it's very confusing and WHY much of the action is occurring is not very clear through much of the movie. In fact, it's not until the final scene when it's all explained...which isn't exactly great writing. Montalban plays Marcos Zappa, a man who carries a brand on his forehead because he was seen as a traitor to this recent revolution....though you strongly suspect that he was not a traitor at all. Regardless, because he's seen as a traitor he's fallen in with bandits (oddly, led by George Tobias of all people). However, soon Don Pedro (Gilbert Roland) arrives and blackmails him into performing an odd mission for him....to seduce Manuela de Vasquez (Cyd Charisse)...though why, you have no idiea. The problem is that Manuela is already engaged....and to a man who seems very nice. What's really going on here?!

Let's cut to the chase. The actors and polish are very good here...the story itself is a bit of a confusing mess. Not a bad film but it certainly could have been so much better.