Warner Baxter plays Joaquin Murrieta, a jovial, kind-hearted Mexican peon living in California at the time the United States takes control of the territory. Oh, how that will affect his life.
As the film opens, Joaquin marries the lovely, but much younger Rosita and settles down on a small farm. But gold is discovered in California, and it isn’t long before miners are encroaching on his land.
One night, four of them show up to force him off. They beat he and his mother, they violate Rosita and leave her for dead. Enraged, Joaquin tracks down and kills all four men, then tries to settle back into a peaceful life helping out on his brother’s farm.
Then a white man accuses Joaquin and his brother, Jose, of stealing his donkey. Jose is hung; Joaquin is tied to a tree and violently whipped. At that point, Joaquin gives up all hope of a peaceful existence. It’s time for revenge again, and this time he joins a bandit gang, becomes their leader and starts terrorizing whites in any way possible.
There is one American he trusts — Bruce Cabot as Bill Warren. But even he turns against Murrieta after his brother’s bride-to-be is fatally wounded in a stage holdup orchestrated by the outlaw band. Little matter that Murrieta gave orders against any shooting during the holdup.
Review:
The film is surprisingly good, if overly melodramatic. It’s difficult not to sympathize with Murrieta as the injustices pile up against him and his family. And the final showdown, in which whites attack the Mexican hideout, is especially well done.
Bruce Cabot plays Bill Warren, the one white man Murrieta befriends. J. Carroll Naish is Three-Fingered Jack, leader of the bandits until Joaquin comes along. His performance is — well, shall we say a bit over the top. Ann Loring is Juanita, the lovely Mexican senorita who joins the bandits.
Baxter’s career started as a matinee idol in silent films. In 1928, he earned an Oscar for his role as the Cisco Kid in “In Old Arizona,” one of the early sound Westerns.
Directed by:
William Wellman
Cast:
Warner Baxter … Joaquin Murrieta
Ann Loring … Senorita Juanita
Bruce Cabot … Bill Warren
Margo … Rosita Murrieta
J. Carroll Naish … Three Fingered Jack
Soledad Jimenex … Madre Murrieta
Carlos De Valdez … Jose Murrieta
Eric Linden … Johnnie Warren
Edgar Kennedy … Sheriff Judd
Charles Trowbridge … Ramon de la Cuesta
Harvey Stephens … Capt. Osborne
Ralph Remley … Judge Perkins
George Regas … Tomas
Francis McDonald … Pedro
Kay Hughes … Louise
Runtime: 86 min.
Memorable lines:
Senorita Juanita: “It seems when gold if found, God is lost.”
Joaquin Murrieta, tying up a sheriff: “I am very sorry to have to do this to your senor, but I can see you know nothing about justice.”
Bill Warren, of Murrieta: “I know he’s traveled a long way on the wrong road, but he saved my life once when he didn’t know me from Adam. That’s why I’m not knocking people down to join a posse to go after him.”
Attacker with posse: “Get your hands up. Throw them up.”
Three-Fingered Jack: “Never for no gringo!”
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