Bandido (1956)

Director:

Richard Fleischer

Writers:

Earl Felton (screenplay)
Earl Felton (story)

Release Date:

September 1956 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Western

Tagline:

Big! Bold! Blasting!

Plot:

An arms dealer and a mercenary cross swords during the 1916 Mexican revolution.

Plot Keywords:

Mexican Revolution | Mexican | Escape | Love Triangle | Gunshot Wound

Cast

Robert Mitchum	...	Wilson
Ursula Thiess	...	Lisa Kennedy
Gilbert Roland	...	Col. Escobar
Zachary Scott	...	Kennedy
Rodolfo Acosta	...	Sebastian
José Torvay	...	Gonzalez
Henry Brandon	...	Gunther
Douglas Fowley	...	McGhee

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA | Mexico

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.55 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

West Germany:12 (nf) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico

Company:

D.R.M. Productions

Trivia:

The film was shot on many of the actual battle sites of the 1916 Mexican revolution, the period during which this film is set. Many of the older Mexicans hired as extras in the film were former soldiers of Pancho Villa and others were former government troops who fought them.

Dulldido, Dumbdido

How can a movie be this noisy and still put me to sleep? Is it the writing, which would have me believe:

o An adventurer with seeming inexhaustible amounts of money would risk life and limb to GIVE away tons of arms and ammunition to `the revolution'? o That rebels would ride off and leave machine guns and light artillery pieces behind? o That Robert Mitchum, a prisoner scheduled to be shot, could hide two hand grenades in his jacket? o That Ursula Theiss, held hostage by seasoned rebels, would be allowed to keep a gun in her purse?

Ursula Theiss (Mrs. Robert Taylor) is pretty, but her love scenes with Mitchum lack spark. Far better is the interplay between Mitchum and Gilbert Roland, as well as his scenes with Zachery Scott and José Torvay (Gonzalez). In fact Mitchum's scenes with practically everyone but Theiss are better than his with her. Not very smart when the plot devices hinge on the Mitchum / Theiss relationship.

Dull, dull, dull, and LOUD!