The Firebrand

Loosely based on the lawless life of legendary Joaquin Murieta, the Hispanic Robin Hood of California in the mid-1800s, this film offers a sympathetic view of the plight of the Spanish-speaking long-time residents of the area during the invasion of the gold-hungry gringos. De Vargas has the title role. When Summers, brother of his lady love, Montell, is wounded, De Vargas offers to release his captive, bounty hunter Johnson, in payment for medical treatment for the lad. Against his conscience, Johnson is later pressed by Ranger chief Taylor--whose gold-shipment stewardship has been violated by De Vargas's band--to lead Taylor to the outlaw encampment. In a surprise...