Ricardo Montalban is Joaquin Murieta, a Mexican who has lost everything — his home, his land and his wife — to the new order in California.
Wandering the countryside, he befriends a scoundrel named Shad Clay (Earl Holliman), who makes his living with his gun.
And together with Clay’s gang, they wind up accepting an assignment from rich landowner Don Miquel Ruiz, who fears his own hacienda is becoming too dangerous.
He agrees to pay Murieta, Clay and their men $25,000 if they’ll deliver his wife — the lovely Otilia Ruiz (Ina Balin) — safely to San Francisco.
It won’t be an easy trip, partly because an old enemy named Gant (Robert Wilke) is out to even an old score with Clay.
And the task becomes more difficult when Murieta makes a surprising discovering.
The coach in which Otilia and her servant are riding is also carrying a valuable religious symbol made of pure gold.
Richardo Montalban as Joaquin Murieta, meeting Shad Clay in The Desperate Mission (1969)
Earl Holliman as Shad Clay, looking to settle another score in The Desperate Mission (1969)
Review:
The good news: The plot is fresh. A look at the cast list might lead one to believe this is another telling of the oft-told tale of Murieta’s transformation into an avenger for his people after the injustices he suffers.
In fact, Ricardo Montalban’s Murrieta proclaims “I belong to nothing” and has turned mercenary, determined to live the best life he can in a California where might makes right.
Clay’s betrayal — naturally, he decides he wants the gold statue for himself — forces him to re-evaluate what he believes in and what he will stand up for.
That said, some of the character motivations once the statue is found seem rather implausible.
Ina Balin as Otilia Ruiz, wife of Don Miguel and part of the precious cargo to be taken to San Francisco in The Desperate Mission (1969)
Mariam Colon as Claudina, servant to Otilia Ruiz in The Desperate Mission (1969)
Directed by:
Earl Bellamy
Cast:
Ricardo Montalban … Joaquin Murieta
Slim Pickens … Three-Finger Jack
Roosevelt Grier … Morgan
Jim McMullan … Arkansaw
Earl Holliman … Shad Clay
Ina Balin … Otilia Ruiz
Robert J. Wilke … Gant
Miriam Colon … Claudina
Anthony Caruso … Don Miguel Ruiz
Eddra Gale … Delores, the bartender
Armando Silvestra … Diego Campos
Jose Chavez … First Monk
Ben Archibek … Frankie Gant
Pancho Cordova … Father Augustine
Charles Horvath … Yuma
Allen Pinson … Corncracker
Eldon Burke … Galvez
Runtime: 97 min.
aka:
Joaquin Murieta
Slim Pickens as Three-Finger Jack, a member of Shad Clay’s gang in The Desperate Mission (1969)
Roosevelt Grier as Morgan, a strong man and member of Shad Clay’s gang in The Desperate Mission (1969)
Memorable lines:
Joaquin Murieta, rushing to the defense of a man he just met, a lovely senorita by his side: “Who am I shooting at?”
Shad Clay: “Her brothers.”
Joaquin: “Five brothers? They must really want you in the family.”
Shad Clay: “Four brothers. That little one is her husband.”
Shad Clay, about he and Joaquin becoming partners: “You know something: I like you. I can’t figure you yet, but I like you. Guess I’ll just have to get used to it. If I can’t, I’ll kill you, partner.”
Gant: “Nobody hurts my boy.”
Joaquin Murrieta: “Maybe you should tell him to quit impersonating a man.”
Don Miguel Ruiz, about the men he’s hired to take his wife to San Francisco, for a handsome price. most of which they won’t get until they reach their destination: “I cannot trust them. But greed, Otilla, is dependable.”
Claudina: “Why are only the poor so devoted to God?”
Otilia Ruiz: “Someone had to pay attention to God. The rich are too busy.”
Jim McMullen as Arkansas, a member of Shad Clay’s gang in The Desperate Mission (1969)
Robert J. WIlke as Gant, a bandit on the trail of Shad Clay in The Desperate Mission (1969)
Ben Archibek as Frankie Gant, son of an outlaw leader in The Desperate Mission (1969)
Armando Silvestra as Diego Campos, Don Miguel Ruiz’s representative in The Desperate Mission (1969)
Anthony Caruso as Don Miguel Ruiz, the rich Mexican who hires Clay and his gang to transport his wife to San Francisco in The Desperate Mission (1969)
Ina Balin as Otilia Ruiz, using her charm on Shad Clay (Earl Holliman) in The Desperate Mission (1969)
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