Bandito

The Mitchum Adventurer combines awareness and intelligence with a drawling, almost sleepy relaxation... Possibly the essential Mitchum is to be found in this standard action movie - Mitchum stands fearlessly on the balcony of 'Villa Hidalgo' hotel, with a glass of scotch in his hand, to observe the local war, and lob a few hand grenades at the side which is going to pay him less for his services as a gun-runner...

Mitchum is clearly an adventurer by nature who prefers to make love than war... He does not set out with the intention of fighting in the Mexican civil war... but gets caught up in the struggle of Gilbert Roland and his rebels against the repressive Federales...

Lisa Kennedy, the Thiess character, encounters him soon... and gradually comes to love his nonchalant... laid-back stance... (As usual, Mitchum radiates dignity, intelligence and quiet strength... )

There is an endless battle... followed by a bout of drink... followed by an assault on an ammunition train... followed by a chase across a swamp... followed by a confrontation between rebels and federal troops... and with hundreds of extras running through dust and dodging explosions while nothing much is actually happening...

Gilbert Roland fares better at suggesting the turbulent emotions roiling beneath masculine bravado... His Escobar has a positive flaw: he's desperate for bullets and explosives...

Robert Mitchum was far from being the man in the street, this movement towards increasing involvement made him the representative of the audience in a way that figures of more obviously heroic stature - Peck or Wayne or Gary Cooper - cannot be. His screen persona differed from theirs in its apparent accessibility, without losing the essentially heroic dimension of capacity for action, an ability to deal with situations as they arise...

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.

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.

It's 1916. Revolution is sweeping through Mexico. The crowd is streaming north towards the US but only a few are headed south. American arms dealer Kennedy (Zachary Scott) and his wife are getting the royal treatment by Gen. Lorenzo's regulares. They are closely followed by Wilson (Robert Mitchum). He's looking for Colonel José Escobar (Gilbert Roland) and helps the revolutionaries win a battle. They give him the name Alacran, a deadly scorpion. He has a proposal to steal Kennedy's arms shipment.

The first thirty minutes are great. The premise gets a bit iffy at a certain point. I don't see how Wilson would get away with what he does. The escapes are way too easy. The romance is broadly melodramatic and poorly constructed. Obviously, they would torture the info out of the man. The second half has many issues which taints an otherwise fine first half. It does end with some good action although it could be even better.

This is a fun Robert Mitchum movie, with a little taste of the "Magnificent Seven". Mitchum plays an American adventurer who runs afoul of American gunrunner Zacary Scott. While attempting to steal the shipment of guns from Scott he becomes involved with Scotts wife as well as the noble cause of the revolution. He ultimately sees that the rebels get the guns. This movie is very enjoyable, with the always good performance of Gilbert Roland (as the rebel general) and several other recognizible Hispanic actors such as Rudy Hoyos. I haven't seen this movie shown on TV even on cable for years. I would definitely like to see it released on VHS. The movie has some pretty good action scenes so if you get a chance to see it, DO!