Bandido!

Robert Mitchum had a hand in producing Bandido, an independent production released by United Artists in 1956. It was supposed to be more of an existential type story about a mercenary during the Mexican Civil Wars of the teen years. What finally emerged was your run of the mill action adventure story with Mitchum mixing business with pleasure during the revolution. The business was arms, but the pleasure was Ursula Thiess.

Thiess is married to Zachary Scott who finds money far more beautiful than Thiess if that's possible. He's looking to sell a large cache of arms to the government which certainly has the cash on hand. Mitchum however while he says he's detached from the politics does harbor a certain sympathy for the rebels who locally are headed by Gilbert Roland.

The film was shot on location in Mexico and the two best things it has going for it are the beautiful location photography in Mexico and the performance of Gilbert Roland. Roland's a bit more intense in his role as the revolutionary chief than he normally is, but he still has that incredible charm working overtime for him. There are so many films where I find him the best thing in them.

According to the Mitchum biography by Lee Server, he got himself in a bit of woman trouble while down there. Nothing new for Mitchum except for the fact it was his stand in who abused a young woman who thought it was Bob himself. When you have that kind of a reputation, trouble will seek you out even when you're completely innocent. It all worked out for Mitchum however.

Ursula Thiess pretty much ended her career as actress with this film, she had married Robert Taylor a couple of years earlier and was now going to be a mother again. She had two children by her first marriage to German producer George Thiess, but now she was going to devote full time to the raising of Taylor's children.

Bandido is your run of the mill action adventure story. One wonders though what Mitchum had in mind for the original plot.

You can usually count on Richard Fleisher to deliver the goods, and here he does not disappoint. Robert Mitchum as an American soldier-0f-fortune gives a good performance. However, the always reliable Zachary Scott virtually steals the movie in the heavy role. The film was shot on location and that certainly adds to the fun. I recommend this film.

...and nobody seems to care too much.The political background is completely absent and boils down to the "regular army" against the "rebels.Like in the good old Maximilian von Hasburg/Juarez days.Plus ça Change..

Enter Kennedy and his wife:he wants to sell ammunition to the Army ;his wife is some kind of bait;her husband" pawns" her when necessary .

Enter Wilson:he sides with the rebels and of course he falls in love with... It's Mitchum's character ...nuff said Robert Mitchum does not seem to care a little bit about what happens in Mexico.His face remains impassive.As he tells Escobar "I have fun and I make money".

A minor Fleischer,moderately entertaining.

There is something fabulous in watching a "B" western movie which never really made headlines or money,and watching two great actors in Robert Mitchum and Gilbert Roland. The story line is standard,scenery average but you have two Hollywood stars doing what they did best. Very few of todays' "stars" have the personality or magnetism of Robert Mitchum and it is always a treat just to watch him on the screen.I watch these movies just to see these personalities jump out at you from the screen,and find very little satisfaction in watching many of todays' movies which lack everything,from direction,writing,and star power.One can only put up with special effects for a short while,this movie is back to the basics,enjoyable to while away a couple of hours and forget the troubles of the modern world.

This film begins in 1916 with a civil war raging in Mexico and refugees heading north in search of safety. Yet even though the vast majority want to cross the Rio Grande River into the United States, there are a few Americans who willingly venture south in search of opportunities that the war can provide. To that effect, the film subsequently focuses on a gunrunner named "Mr. Kennedy" (Zachary Scott) who has just entered Mexico to help finalize plans with the Mexican government to provide arms and ammunition to them. Also with him is his wife "Lisa Kennedy" (Ursula Thiess) who he uses to impress all of the men he does business with. For her part, Lisa doesn't like being used in this manner but, even though she has expressed her feelings about it to him, her attempts have fallen on deaf ears--and their marriage has been seriously damaged as a result. Meanwhile, another opportunist by the name of "Mr. Wilson" (Robert Mitchum) has observed the interaction between the two and, having obtained knowledge of the transaction between Mr. Kennedy and the Mexican government, has devised a plan to steal the arms shipment and sell it to the opposing side. In order to do that, however, he will need all the help he can get and the man he wishes to do business with, "Colonel Jose Escobar" (Gilbert Roland) is not someone who tolerates failure. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that this film was produced during a time when good Westerns were in great demand at both the local drive-in and indoor theaters across America. Looking back, although it was financially successful in its own right, I'm not sure it was nearly as appreciated as it should have been. But then again, there were other quality Westerns made during this time as well. So, the competition was rather fierce. Be that as it may, I enjoyed this film and I have rated it accordingly. Above average.