The Robin Hood of El Dorado
Encyclopedia
The Robin Hood of El Dorado is a western
film directed by William A. Wellman
for MGM in 1936. The film stars Warner Baxter
as real life Mexican folk hero Joaquin Murrietta and Ann Loring as his love interest.
J. Carroll Naish portrays Murrietta's notorious nemesis, "Three-Fingered Jack". The screenplay was written by the actor
Joseph Calleia
, Melvin Levy and Wellman, with assistance from Robert Carson
, whom MGM had assigned as his writing partner. In 1937 Wellman and Carson won an Academy Awardfor Best Screenplay for A Star Is Born
. The Robin Hood of El Dorado was based on the biography of Murrietta by Walter Noble Burns and was MGM's attempt as a follow up to Viva Villa. The film's working title was "I AM JOAQUIN!"
of Old California in 1850, a kind, gentle man who was driven to violence.
Wellman made it a hard-hitting story about racial prejudice and violence by both sides—Murrietta and his Mexican band and the white settlers.
Film historian Frank T. Thompson writes that "Wellman made a stronger statement on the subject of racism than a whole spate of later films (like Gentleman's Agreement
)."
The Robin Hood of El Dorado also anticipates the revisionist westerns of the 1960s, especially The Wild Bunch
(1969), directed by Sam Peckinpah
. Both films mix violence and sentimentality with an undercurrent of regret for a vanishing way of life. Specifically, the Mexican folk song, La Golondrina, is used to similar effect—as a farewell to the outlaw band and as a prelude to extremely violent climaxes.
Western (genre)
The Western is a genre of various visual arts, such as film, television, radio, literature, painting and others. Westerns are devoted to telling stories set primarily in the latter half of the 19th century in the American Old West, hence the name. Some Westerns are set as early as the Battle of...
film directed by William A. Wellman
William A. Wellman
William Augustus Wellman was an American film director. Although Wellman began his film career as an actor, he worked on over 80 films, as director, producer and consultant but most often as a director, notable for his work in crime, adventure and action genre films, often focusing on aviation...
for MGM in 1936. The film stars Warner Baxter
Warner Baxter
Warner Leroy Baxter was an American actor, known for his role as The Cisco Kid in In Old Arizona , for which he won the second Academy Award for Best Actor in the 1928–1929 Academy Awards. Warner Baxter started his movie career in silent movies...
as real life Mexican folk hero Joaquin Murrietta and Ann Loring as his love interest.
J. Carroll Naish portrays Murrietta's notorious nemesis, "Three-Fingered Jack". The screenplay was written by the actor
Joseph Calleia
Joseph Calleia
Joseph Calleia was a Maltese born American singer, composer, screenwriter and actor, both on Broadway and in film...
, Melvin Levy and Wellman, with assistance from Robert Carson
Robert Carson
Robert Carson was a British numismatist. He was a leading expert on Roman coins, and was employed as Keeper of Coins and Medals at the British Museum from 1978 to 1983.-External links:**...
, whom MGM had assigned as his writing partner. In 1937 Wellman and Carson won an Academy Awardfor Best Screenplay for A Star Is Born
A Star Is Born (1937 film)
A Star Is Born is a 1937 Technicolor romantic drama film produced by David O. Selznick and directed by William A. Wellman, with a script by Wellman, Robert Carson, Dorothy Parker and Alan Campbell. It stars Janet Gaynor as an aspiring Hollywood actress, and Fredric March as an aging movie star who...
. The Robin Hood of El Dorado was based on the biography of Murrietta by Walter Noble Burns and was MGM's attempt as a follow up to Viva Villa. The film's working title was "I AM JOAQUIN!"
The Film
The movie portrays Joaquin Murrietta as the Robin HoodRobin Hood
Robin Hood was a heroic outlaw in English folklore. A highly skilled archer and swordsman, he is known for "robbing from the rich and giving to the poor", assisted by a group of fellow outlaws known as his "Merry Men". Traditionally, Robin Hood and his men are depicted wearing Lincoln green clothes....
of Old California in 1850, a kind, gentle man who was driven to violence.
Wellman made it a hard-hitting story about racial prejudice and violence by both sides—Murrietta and his Mexican band and the white settlers.
Film historian Frank T. Thompson writes that "Wellman made a stronger statement on the subject of racism than a whole spate of later films (like Gentleman's Agreement
Gentleman's Agreement
Gentleman's Agreement is a 1947 drama film about a journalist who goes undercover as a Jew to conduct research for an exposé on antisemitism in New York City and the affluent community of Darien, Connecticut...
)."
The Robin Hood of El Dorado also anticipates the revisionist westerns of the 1960s, especially The Wild Bunch
The Wild Bunch
The Wild Bunch is a 1969 American Western film directed by Sam Peckinpah about an aging outlaw gang on the Texas-Mexico border, trying to exist in the changing "modern" world of 1913...
(1969), directed by Sam Peckinpah
Sam Peckinpah
David Samuel "Sam" Peckinpah was an American filmmaker and screenwriter who achieved prominence following the release of the Western epic The Wild Bunch...
. Both films mix violence and sentimentality with an undercurrent of regret for a vanishing way of life. Specifically, the Mexican folk song, La Golondrina, is used to similar effect—as a farewell to the outlaw band and as a prelude to extremely violent climaxes.
The Cast
- Warner Baxter (Joaquin Murrietta)
- Ann Loring (Juanita de la Cuesta)
- Bruce CabotBruce CabotBruce Cabot was an American film actor, best remembered as Jack Driscoll in King Kong . He is also known for his roles in films such as the sixth version of Last of the Mohicans, Fritz Lang's Fury and the western Dodge City.-Early life:Cabot was born Etienne Pelissier Jacques de Bujac in Carlsbad,...
(Bill Warren) - Margo (Rosita)
- J. Carroll Naish (Three-Fingered Jack)
- Soledad Jimenez (Madre Murrietta)
- Carlos de Valdez (Jose Murrietta)
- Eric LindenEric LindenEric Linden was an American actor. He began his film career in 1931, appearing in over 30 movies, including a minor role in Gone with the Wind.-Biography:...
(Johnnie Warren) - Edgar KennedyEdgar KennedyEdgar Livingston Kennedy was an American comedic film actor, known as "the king of the slow burn". A slow burn is an exasperated facial expression, performed very deliberately; Kennedy embellished this by rubbing his hand over his bald head and across his face, in an attempt to hold his temper...
(Sheriff Judd) - Charles TrowbridgeCharles TrowbridgeCharles Trowbridge was an American film actor. He appeared in 233 films between 1915 and 1958.He was born in Veracruz, Mexico and died in Los Angeles, California.-Selected filmography:*Tycoon...
(Ramon de la Cuesta) - Harvey StevensHarvey StevensHarvey Stevens is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Footscray and Collingwood in the Victorian Football League ....
(Captain Osborne) - Ralph Remley (Judge Perkins)
- George RegasGeorge RegasGeorge Regas was a Greek actor.Born in Sparta, Greece, he was the brother of actor Pedro Regas. He was a stage actor in Athens before coming to the U.S. In New York he played Romeo in a Grecian version of Romeo and Juliet.In 1921 Regas acted in his first motion picture: The Love Light with Mary...
(Tomas) - Harry WoodsHarry WoodsHarry Woods may refer to:* Harry M. Woods , musician and songwriter* Harry Woods , American actor* Harry Woods , English football player* Harry Woods , Australian politician...
(Pete) - Francis McDonaldFrancis McDonaldFrancis McDonald was an American actor whose career spanned 52 years. Although never really a headlining actor, he made 41 film and television appearances between 1913 and 1965, appearing in films such as The Temptress in 1926 with Greta Garbo...
(Pedro the Spy) - Kay HughesKay HughesKaty Hughes was an American actress with a brief career in the 1930s and 40s appearing mainly in westerns and serials.-Life:Katy was born Catherine Hughes Irlam, Lancashire, England in 1993 but grew up in Cadishead....
(Louise) - Paul HurstPaul HurstPaul Michael Hurst is a former English footballer who played in Football League Two in England, for Rotherham, where he played for over 10 years. He is currently joint manager of Conference National side Grimsby Town with Rob Scott.-Playing career:Hurst figured regularly on the left side of the...
(Wilson) - Boothe Howard (Tablard)