The Treasure of Pancho Villa ** (1955, Rory Calhoun, Shelley Winters, Gilbert Roland, Joseph Calleia) – Classic Movie Review 11,006

Director George Sherman’s 1955 Western film The Treasure of Pancho Villa is based on a story by J Robert Bren and Gladys Atwater, and stars Rory Calhoun, Shelley Winters, Gilbert Roland and Joseph Calleia.

The 1910 to 1920 Mexican Revolution is turned into your basic action Western double-feature fodder, but, for all that, it is very nicely filmed in widescreen (Superscope) and Technicolor on location in Mexico.

Greedy American adventurer/ retired bank robber Tom Bryan (Calhoun) arrives in Mexico in 1915 and attempts to deprive the revolutionaries Ruth Harris (Shelley Winters) and Colonel Juan Castro (Gilbert Roland) of a vast amount of central government gold stolen in an assault and robbery of a train.

Script-writer Niven Busch attempts some long words and deep thoughts in this convoluted piece, obviously having some better movie in mind, though the film seems happier once the guns start blazing and the dynamite gets exploding.

The Treasure of Pancho Villa is directed by George Sherman, runs 92 minutes, is made by Edmund Grainger Productions, is released by RKO Radio Pictures, is written by Niven Busch, based on a story by J Robert Bren and Gladys Atwater, is shot in Superscope and Technicolor by William Snyder, is produced by Edmund Grainger and scored by Leith Stevens.

The location shooting is at Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico, but there is also studio filming at Estudios Churubusco Azteca, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico.

Also in the cast are Joseph Calleia as Pablo Morales, Fanny Schiller as Laria Morales, Carlos Múzquiz as Commandant, Tony Carbajal as Farolito, Pasquel Pena as Ricardo and Rodd Redwing as Yaqui tracker.

Rory Calhoun: two stars.

Calhoun was inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame with two stars in 1960. His motion pictures star is located at 7007 Hollywood Boulevard and his television star at 1752 Vine Street.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,006

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