- For the bullet belt, see Bandolier.
Bandolero! is a 1968 western directed by Andrew V. McLaglen starring James Stewart, Dean Martin, Raquel Welch and George Kennedy.
Plot
Posing as a hangman, Mace Bishop arrives in town with the intention of freeing his brother Dee from the gallows. Dee and his gang have been arrested for a bank robbery in which Maria Stoner's husband was killed. After freeing his brother, Mace successfully robs the bank on his own after the gang has fled with the posse in pursuit.
Dee has taken Maria as a hostage. The posse, led by local sheriff July Johnson and deputy Roscoe Bookbinder, chases the fugitives across the Mexican border into territory policed by bandoleros, whom Maria describes as men out to kill any gringos (foreigners) that they can find. Maria further warns Dee that the sheriff will follow, because they have taken the one thing that July Johnson has always wanted: her.
Despite initial protestations, Maria falls for Dee and finds herself in a quandary. She had never felt anything for the sheriff, nor for her husband, who had purchased her from her family. The posse tracks them to an abandoned town and captures the gang. The bandoleros also arrive, shooting Roscoe, so the sheriff releases the outlaws so that the men can fight back in defense.
In this final showdown, almost everyone is killed. Dee is fatally stabbed by the leader of the bandits, El Jefe, and then Mace is shot by another. Maria grabs a pistol and shoots El Jefe dead. Maria and the sheriff, with little left of the posse, bury the Bishop brothers and dead posse members without markers, after which Maria notes that no one will know who was there nor what had happened.
Production
The film was shot at the Alamo Village, the movie set originally created for John Wayne's "The Alamo." The Alamo Village is located north of Bracketville, Texas.
During the filming, Raquel Welch complained on the set about being asked for autographs. James Stewart chastised her, reminding her that her salary was paid by the movie fans.[citation needed]
Larry McMurtry, the author of the novel "Lonesome Dove," reportedly paid homage to Bandolero! by using similar names for the characters in his book. Both tales begin near the Mexico border and involve bandoleros. Both have a sheriff named July Johnson and a deputy Roscoe who travel a great distance in search of a wanted criminal and the woman who has rejected the sheriff's love. Both stories have a charismatic outlaw named Dee, who is about to be hanged and who wins the love of the woman before he dies. In the Lonesome Dove miniseries, the main characters twice pass directly in front of the Alamo -- or at least a set built to replicate the Alamo.
Cast
James Stewart ... Mace Bishop
Dean Martin ... Dee Bishop
Raquel Welch ... Maria Stoner
George Kennedy ... Sheriff July Johnson
Andrew Prine ... Deputy Sheriff Roscoe Bookbinder
Will Geer ... Pop Chaney
Clint Ritchie ... Babe Jenkins
Denver Pyle ... Muncie Carter
Tom Heaton ... Joe Chaney
Rudy Diaz ... Angel
Sean McClory ... Robbie O'Hare
Harry Carey, Jr. ... Cort Hayjack (billed as Harry Carey)
Don 'Red' Barry ... Jack Hawkins (billed as Donald Barry)
Guy Raymond ... Ossie Grimes
Perry Lopez ... Frisco
Wilford Brimley ... Stunts
John Michum ... bath house customer
See also
References
External links
