The Torch (1950)

User Rating:

4.9/10   

Director:

Emilio Fernández

Writers:

Emilio Fernández (original screenplay) and
Íñigo de Martino (original screenplay) ...

Release Date:

2 June 1950 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Comedy | Drama | Romance | War

Tagline:

BY GUN...BY FLAME...BY FORCE...He took everything he wanted!

Plot:

A revolutionary and his band take over a small Mexican town. The townspeople begin to take sides over whether to fight him, join forces with him or just try to get along with him.

Plot Keywords:

Father | Rebel | Retreat | Desert | Firecracker

Cast

Paulette Goddard	...	María Dolores Penafiel
Pedro Armendáriz	...	José Juan Reyes
Gilbert Roland	...	Father Sierra
Walter Reed	...	Robert Stanley
Julio Villarreal	...	Don Carlos Penafiel
Carlos Múzquiz	...	Fidel Bernal
Margarito Luna	...	Capt. Bocanegra
José Torvay	...	Capt. Quiñones (as José I. Torvay)
Pascual García Peña	...	Don Apolinio
Antonia Daneem	...	Adeli
Jorge Treviño
Rosaura Revueltas
Eduardo Arozamena
Guillermo Calles

Also Known As:

Bandit General (UK)
Del odio nace el amor (Mexico)

Runtime:

83 min

Country:

Mexico | USA

Language:

Spanish | English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound)

Certification:

Canada:G (Ontario) | USA:Approved (PCA #14435) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Mexico

Company:

Bert Granet Productions

Movie Connections:

Remake of Enamorada (1946)

Independent Quickie in Mexico

THE TORCH was shot entirely in Mexico, originally titled BELOVED and starring, along with Paulette Goddard, was Pedro Armendariz and Gilbert Roland. It is said that Diego Rivera painted Paulette while she was there filming the movie. It was also where she acquired much of her famous jewelry collection.

THE TORCH is a dark comedy/drama with a screenplay by Inigo de Martino Noriega about a notorious Mexican bandit (Armendariz) who ransacks a town and takes it over. He's a sort of South-of-the-border Robin Hood. While he proceeds to bring all the wealthy business men of the town down to their knees, he discovers the daughter of one of them (Goddard) whom he immediately pursues. She, of course, refuses his advances. With the help of the local Padre (Roland) the two are brought together, and in time she discovers his good intentions and qualities. Engaged to another man of the town, she leaves him to join the bandit king. The final picture shows the rich daughter walking bedside the bandit on horseback, as a camp follower, a symbol of devotion in those days and times. A bit corny, but fun to watch the stars hold their own. The scenery of Mexico along with Goddard's still good looks make it worth the watching. It is available on VHS.