King of the Gauchos

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Movie
German title King of the Gauchos
Original title Way of a gaucho
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1952
length 95 minutes
Age rating FSK 12
Rod
Director Jacques Tourneur
script Philip Dunne
production Philip Dunne
for 20th Century Fox
music Sol Kaplan
camera Harry Jackson
cut Robert Fritch
occupation

King of the Gauchos (original title: "Way of a Gaucho") is an American western directed by Jacques Tourneur from 1952. Rory Calhoun and Gene Tierney are cast in the main roles . The script was written by Philip Dunne . It is based on a novel by Herbert Childs . In his home country the film was first shown in cinemas on October 16, 1952, and in the Federal Republic of Germany on March 13 the following year.

action

Argentina in 1875. Don Miguel Aleondo returns from the big city to his home farm in the pampas to take over the inheritance of his recently deceased father and to manage the livestock industry. This event is celebrated with a lavish party. After a few glasses of wine, one of the older gauchos refuses to toast the returnee. He accuses him of having become an effeminate city dweller who can not run the estancia with dignity. Martin, a young gaucho and friend of Don Miguel since childhood, takes his side. The following argument ends fatally for the critic. Thereupon Martin is arrested by the police officers present. Don Miguel's intercession spared him imprisonment; for that he has to prove himself to the militia . His superior there is Major Salinas, who has got it into his head to drive the gaucho out of pride.

In the turmoil of a fight against insurgent Indians, Martin manages to escape. On the way he discovers an Indian who is taking a girl with him as a prisoner. He recognizes the beauty because she has already been a guest at Don Miguel's Estanzia. The boy manages to free the girl. The two of them spend a few days and nights together in the loneliness of the wide steppe. In doing so, they come closer. When Martin brought Teresa back to the estate of his master and friend, Salinas arrested him as a deserter . However, with the help of some friends, he can escape a second time. After the militia did not find Martin despite an intensive search, everyone believed that he died of thirst in the pampas.

Some time later. Martin is now called Val Verde. He has joined a group of gauchos who want to prevent the railroad from penetrating further and further into the pampas. Because Martin is particularly brave, his cronies choose him as their leader. Little by little, he becomes the absolute ruler of the pampas. Major Salinas firmly believes that Val Verde is none other than Martin and still seeks to humiliate him. Teresa is also convinced that her lover is still alive. After learning of Selinas' suspicion, she sets out to find Martin in his mountain hideout. Little does she know that Salinas is following her with some soldiers. However, the gauchos manage to arrest Salinas. But Martin gives his enemy freedom again.

Teresa and Martin ride to Father Fernandez's monastery to get married before him. But again, Salinas is on their trail and forces them to flee before their wedding. Now the two want to ride over the snowy Andes to Chile. However, Teresa is not up to the hardships, especially since she is now pregnant. Therefore, it remains in the care of Father Fernandez. Martin, on the other hand, is hiding in his friend Miguel's cattle shed. Teresa begs him to help her fiancé. But this time too Salinas has the right feeling and secretly follows Miguel. When he arrives at the hut, Miguel tries to convey to his friend that it is better for him to face the authorities, otherwise he will never be able to live in peace again. The appearance of Salinas, however, leaves Martin no time to think; once again he takes flight. A large herd of cattle blocks his way. Miguel wants to save his friend, but gets under the hooves of the excited animals and is fatally injured.

Martin faces Salinas. He is so amazed that he allows him to be married to Teresa by Father Fernandez.

criticism

The Lexicon of International Films came to the following conclusion: "Captivating, well-photographed western-style adventure drama."

source

Program for the film: The New Film Program , published by H. Klemmer & Co., Neustadt an der Weinstrasse, without a number

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Lexikon des Internationale Films, rororo-Taschenbuch No. 6322 (1988), p. 2076