In my reassessing process of my movies in chronological order "The Desperate Mission" which I had watched in 1978 on TV in my teenager years, aside one more time in cable TV circa 1998, I'had never hear about this picture ever since, waiting for DVD format whereof never came, so my last hope lies in the Youtube, where has several western channels, it was there waiting for me, just subtitles in English, an average image not restored yet, anyway it will do.
The stablished Spanish farmer Joaquin Murieta (Ricardo Montalban) loses his ranch and wife in burning flames after an onslaught perpetrated by outlaws in order to spelling him there at the behest of powerful landowners in a lawless territory, he headed to a near city, however in a middle at well of water Murieta stumbles at his fate, when meeting the outlaw Shad Clay (Earl Holliman, yes that friendly guy from Forbidden Planet) after tries steal his horse, the skilled Murieta overcame the possible loss, left behind his opponent on foot to be back to the city.
Just arriving in the small village, Shad Clay appears, he controls a bunch of men, three key members draw attention of clever mind Murieta a stronger black guy Morgan (Roosevelt Grier) who is bought his freedom for meager twenty dollars, the newbie Arkansaw (Jim McMullan) whom he saves from the gallows due he stolen a horse and finally the older Three-Finger Jack (Slim Pickens) which Shad overpowers by fear, sudden comes a Spanish man Campos sent by Don Miguel Ruiz (Anthony Caruso) to contract mercenaries to escort his wife Otilia Ruiz (Ina Balin) to delivery her in safety until San Francisco whence she'll travel back to Spain.
On the long journey upon a leadership of the dubious Shad Clay and Murieta as just Partner on the hard assignment, soon the wiser Murieta figures out how he'll dealing with Chad's gang through their bonding with crook Chad, slowing he'll exposing to them that they didn't owe nothing to him, undermining the forsible connection between Chad and their followers, suddenly appears an unexpected matter that will change the course of the upcoming events, La Madonna of Gold carried underneath of stagecoach will triggers the greedy and betrayal, then came up the worship of catholic Saint on Spanish background, under the pleas of Mexican servant Claudine (Mirian Colon) at last Murieta surrenders upon their catholic roots.
Aside it was made for TV it has a clash of opposite religious people, meanwhile the Mexicans have a strong influence of catholic Spain, the Americans are usually pragmatic over this issue, further the noiseless struggles over Murieta and Chad is easily sensed by a keen eyes of the viewers, it' just a matter of time of an irretrievable showdown, I wonder it came out officially on DVD, although I' have strong disbelief it's going to happen.
Resume:
First watch: 1978 / How many: 4 / Source: TV-Youtube / Rating: 7.25.
