Joel McCrea is Clete Mattson, who just makes it across the Mexican border ahead of a troop of Union cavalry.
He’s taken in by Gen. Eduardo Callegja (Pedro Armendariz) and soon reveals his mission. He and his men have stolen $2 million in gold from the North and want to use it to buy supplies, ammunition and food to help the Confederate Army.
Calleja and Capt. Felipe Vargas are certainly interested in making a swap if it means getting their hands on the gold. Calleja is the man in charge in Zona Libre, a south-of-the-border refuge for lawless types.
A German baron is willing to cut a deal with Mattson as well. And a man named Newlund seems more interested in Mattson’s whereabouts and safety that would make sense.
Mattson soon begins to wonder if anyone is actually going to give him supplies once they get the loot. Oh, and he falls for Carmelita Carjas (Yvonne De Carlo), who helped fish him out of the river in the first place. Of course, Calleja also has his eyes on the pretty brunette.
Review:
The film features a final fistfight in quicksand, but not much else that will strike anyone as original or memorable. In fact, it’s one of McCrea’s weakest Westerns.
The performances of Pedro Armendariz and Alfonso Bedoya are particularly tiresome. Bedoya plays Calleja’s chief lieutenant as a drunken lout, leaving one to wonder how Calleja held onto his private kingdom as long as he did.
Newlund turns out to be a federal agent out to make sure Mattson fails so he can’t extend a war that’s already a lost cause. But he bungles he job so bad, he winds up switching sides.
Then there’s De Carlo, lovely as always, as the woman who balks when Calleja treats her as one of his possessions. His partner, she’s more interested in wealth than ideals. It’s her lost bracelet, a present from Calleja, that nearly spoils Mattson’s mission.
Oh, and check out that hokey Zona Libre flag in the film’s final scene. Yep, that ending’s sorta silly, too.
Directed by:
George Sherman
Cast:
Joel McCrea … Maj. Clete Mattson
Yvonne De Carlo … Carmelita Carjas
Pedro Armendariz … Gen. Eduardo Calleja
Howard Petrie … Newlund
Eriki Nordin … Annina Strasser
Alfonso Bedoya … Capt. Felipe Vargas
Ivan Triesault … Baron Kurt von Hollden
George J. Lewis … Lt. Sanchez
George Wallace … Fletcher
Lane Chandler … Quartz Anderson
Charles Horvath … Crowe
Nacho Galindo … Lopez
Martin Garralaga … Guzman
Joe Bassett … Stanton
Salvador Baguez … Gen. Robles
Felipe Turich … Pablo
Runtime: 80 min.
Memorable lines:
Camelita, watching Mattson try to cross the Rio Grande, the army in pursuit: “He’s past the halfway mark.”
Gen. Calleja: “Too bad. We’re have to bury him over here.”
Mattson, asked about his war alliance: “I’m for the winner.”
Union officer: “Gen Calleja is an outlaw. He’s holding Santa Libre without the consent of the Mexican government.
Capt. Vargas: “Gov-ment. What’s gov-ment? You got ‘bram Lincoln. That’s one gov-ment. You have a Jefferson Davis. That’s another gov-ment. Viva, General Calleja! Hee-hee.”
Gen. Calleja: “Why do you do this to me? Do you find me that unattractive?”
Carmelita: “Last night, I would have found a pig more attractive.”
Mattson to Carmelita: “Can I buy you a drink for fishing me out of the river?”
Carmelita: “No, I don’t drink. And I like fishing.”
Carmelita to Mattson: “Well, you’ve been chased, beat up, nearly drowned, had two good beatings. All in one day. Do you still think the cause is worth it?”
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