Il generale dei desperados

Of all the many films on Pancho Villa, this is an unpolished, yet an effective little gem of a 'B' REGAL FILMS product -released by 20th CENTURY-FOX and filmed in-tandum with SIERRA BARON, on location in Mexico, is TOO short for the spectrum of it's subject, running a scant 72 minutes! This is a pleasantly -scripted story, taking place somewhere after VILLA's start,, but nowhere near his end. I really like this minor classic from 1958--which was a giant year for American Westerns. This one is lost, not out on DVD that I know of. It should be--it's worthy of a CinemaScope release. Brian Keith in his first two starring films, here, has little to do in VILLA! Playing a gun-runner who joins up with the title character on a few escapades. ( Keith fares better with a larger role in SIERRA BARON). Cesar Romero makes out well with his role as VILLA's sidekick hit-man , grumbling and hamming his way thru the cantinas' and raids thru the villages. Rodolpho Hoyos, Jr. Is outstanding in the title role, adding some humor while seriously lecturing to his men thruout; he fares better than any other actor who has played this role before or since. A sincere little co-feature that begs, I think, for another look on the big screen! For all it has going for it cast and production wise, one only wonders why this neat little western couldn't have been LONGER! Really, at 72 minutes, ??!! Both VILLA!! And SIERRA BARON , are 20th CENTURY-FOX CinemaScope Picures, Color by Deluxe, and both released in 1958.