TREASURE OF PANCHO VILLA

US, 1955, 96 minutes, Colour.
Rory Calhoun, Shelley Winters, Gilbert Roland, Joseph Calleia.
Directed by George Sherman.

The Treasure of Pancho Villa is one of those colourful entertainment action pieces of the mid-'50s. Filmed on location in Mexico in Superscope, it boasted Mexican scenery for its adventures while having a rather routine plot. The film shows the rebels at the time of Pancho Villa (as in such films as Viva Villa, Villa Rides). The Federales pursue the rebels. An American mercenary helps one of Villa's colonels to rob a train and transport gold - however, he wants the gold for himself.

The film has such stalwarts as Gilbert Roland as the colonel and Joseph Calleia as the betrayer. Rory Calhoun is the hero and a rather subdued and idealistic Shelley Winters is the heroine.

1.Entertaining action drama? Of its period? Now?

2.Mexican locations, Superscope? Action sequences? Musical score?

3.The title, the focus on gold and the pursuit of wealth? Pancho Villa and the Mexican revolution?

4.The framework of the film with Juan Castro and Tom together, Tom reminiscing? The story of the gold? Betrayal? The final hurrah and confrontation? Juan Castro's death? The loss of the gold? Tom returning to America?

5.Tom as the mercenary, the jobs for the rebels? His wanting to retire, in the city? The appeal of Castro's agent? The train robbery? His gun? Joining the rebels, transporting the gold? Meeting Esther, attracted but stern with her? Pablo as the traitor? The dividing of the group, his rescuing Juan Castro? Wanting to take the gold? The final siege, Castro's death?

6.Castro as the noble rebel leader, his men, the mission for the gold, the taking of the train? The meeting with Esther, her background, decision that she could go? Suspicions of Pablo? The trek, the dangers, the accidents? The dividing of the group? The final siege, his death?

7.Pablo, his place in the village, his wife? His going along with the robbery? His part in the journey? Turning against the group, going to inform the Federales? Leading them to the group, the general making him go forward, his death?

8.Esther as the American teacher, her sympathy to the Mexican cause? Going along with the group? Admiration for Castro? In love with Tom?

9.The familiar picture of the Mexican war? Right and wrong? Pancho Villa and the rebels? The Federales? The type of western action in this revolution?