Themes: Race Relations, Social Injustice, Murder Investigations
Main Cast: Patrick Wayne, Yvonne Craig, Dennis Hopper, Dan O'Herlihy
Release Year: 1959
Country: US
Run Time: 89 minutes
Plot
Although it revolves around a crucial issue in the history of California, this subpar drama misses its targets somehow. The time is 1848 in California when an American justice system has to try Californians who are either Mexican in culture and speech and heritage, or not. Hatfield Carnes (Dennis Hopper) is a sorry example of the "not" side of the equation, and he is on trial for murdering a Mexican. The Mexican-Americans who back California's U.S. government are anxious to see if American justice is racially and ethnically blind. In the meantime, there is a romance or two to divert attention as Hatfield's accusers get ready for the trial. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
Cliff Ketchum - Ben Stroud; Ken Curtis - Lee Hearn; Pedro Gonzalez-Gonzalez - Santiago; John Michael Quijada - Vaquero; Miguel Camacho - Miguel; Carlos Romero - Quiroga; Edward Jaurequi - Drifter; Mario Arteaga; Cliff Lyons - Jury Foreman; Charles Heard
Credit
Jack Okey - Art Director, C. Frank Beetson, Jr. - Costume Designer, Ann Peck - Costume Designer, Ted Tetzlaff - Director, Tom McAdoo - Editor, Dimitri Tiomkin - Composer (Music Score), Dimitri Tiomkin - Musical Direction/Supervision, Jack Sparks - Songwriter, Dimitri Tiomkin - Songwriter, Ned Washington - Songwriter, Winton Hoch - Cinematographer, Henry Sharp - Cinematographer, Patrick Ford - Producer, Norman Hall - Screenwriter, John Reese - Short Story Author
