Bandido!

It's 1916. Revolution is sweeping through Mexico. The crowd is streaming north towards the US but only a few are headed south. American arms dealer Kennedy (Zachary Scott) and his wife are getting the royal treatment by Gen. Lorenzo's regulares. They are closely followed by Wilson (Robert Mitchum). He's looking for Colonel José Escobar (Gilbert Roland) and helps the revolutionaries win a battle. They give him the name Alacran, a deadly scorpion. He has a proposal to steal Kennedy's arms shipment.

The first thirty minutes are great. The premise gets a bit iffy at a certain point. I don't see how Wilson would get away with what he does. The escapes are way too easy. The romance is broadly melodramatic and poorly constructed. Obviously, they would torture the info out of the man. The second half has many issues which taints an otherwise fine first half. It does end with some good action although it could be even better.

This film begins in 1916 with a civil war raging in Mexico and refugees heading north in search of safety. Yet even though the vast majority want to cross the Rio Grande River into the United States, there are a few Americans who willingly venture south in search of opportunities that the war can provide. To that effect, the film subsequently focuses on a gunrunner named "Mr. Kennedy" (Zachary Scott) who has just entered Mexico to help finalize plans with the Mexican government to provide arms and ammunition to them. Also with him is his wife "Lisa Kennedy" (Ursula Thiess) who he uses to impress all of the men he does business with. For her part, Lisa doesn't like being used in this manner but, even though she has expressed her feelings about it to him, her attempts have fallen on deaf ears--and their marriage has been seriously damaged as a result. Meanwhile, another opportunist by the name of "Mr. Wilson" (Robert Mitchum) has observed the interaction between the two and, having obtained knowledge of the transaction between Mr. Kennedy and the Mexican government, has devised a plan to steal the arms shipment and sell it to the opposing side. In order to do that, however, he will need all the help he can get and the man he wishes to do business with, "Colonel Jose Escobar" (Gilbert Roland) is not someone who tolerates failure. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that this film was produced during a time when good Westerns were in great demand at both the local drive-in and indoor theaters across America. Looking back, although it was financially successful in its own right, I'm not sure it was nearly as appreciated as it should have been. But then again, there were other quality Westerns made during this time as well. So, the competition was rather fierce. Be that as it may, I enjoyed this film and I have rated it accordingly. Above average.

The Mitchum Adventurer combines awareness and intelligence with a drawling, almost sleepy relaxation... Possibly the essential Mitchum is to be found in this standard action movie - Mitchum stands fearlessly on the balcony of 'Villa Hidalgo' hotel, with a glass of scotch in his hand, to observe the local war, and lob a few hand grenades at the side which is going to pay him less for his services as a gun-runner...

Mitchum is clearly an adventurer by nature who prefers to make love than war... He does not set out with the intention of fighting in the Mexican civil war... but gets caught up in the struggle of Gilbert Roland and his rebels against the repressive Federales...

Lisa Kennedy, the Thiess character, encounters him soon... and gradually comes to love his nonchalant... laid-back stance... (As usual, Mitchum radiates dignity, intelligence and quiet strength... )

There is an endless battle... followed by a bout of drink... followed by an assault on an ammunition train... followed by a chase across a swamp... followed by a confrontation between rebels and federal troops... and with hundreds of extras running through dust and dodging explosions while nothing much is actually happening...

Gilbert Roland fares better at suggesting the turbulent emotions roiling beneath masculine bravado... His Escobar has a positive flaw: he's desperate for bullets and explosives...

Robert Mitchum was far from being the man in the street, this movement towards increasing involvement made him the representative of the audience in a way that figures of more obviously heroic stature - Peck or Wayne or Gary Cooper - cannot be. His screen persona differed from theirs in its apparent accessibility, without losing the essentially heroic dimension of capacity for action, an ability to deal with situations as they arise...

This is a fun Robert Mitchum movie, with a little taste of the "Magnificent Seven". Mitchum plays an American adventurer who runs afoul of American gunrunner Zacary Scott. While attempting to steal the shipment of guns from Scott he becomes involved with Scotts wife as well as the noble cause of the revolution. He ultimately sees that the rebels get the guns. This movie is very enjoyable, with the always good performance of Gilbert Roland (as the rebel general) and several other recognizible Hispanic actors such as Rudy Hoyos. I haven't seen this movie shown on TV even on cable for years. I would definitely like to see it released on VHS. The movie has some pretty good action scenes so if you get a chance to see it, DO!

...and nobody seems to care too much.The political background is completely absent and boils down to the "regular army" against the "rebels.Like in the good old Maximilian von Hasburg/Juarez days.Plus ça Change..

Enter Kennedy and his wife:he wants to sell ammunition to the Army ;his wife is some kind of bait;her husband" pawns" her when necessary .

Enter Wilson:he sides with the rebels and of course he falls in love with... It's Mitchum's character ...nuff said Robert Mitchum does not seem to care a little bit about what happens in Mexico.His face remains impassive.As he tells Escobar "I have fun and I make money".

A minor Fleischer,moderately entertaining.