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Pirates of Monterey
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Wikipedia article
'Pirates of Monterey' is a 1947 American Technicolor Western film directed by Alfred L. Werker starring Maria Montez and Rod Cameron. It was the last movie she made for Universal.[http://mariamontez.org/piratesofmonterey2.html 'Pirates of Monterey'] at Mariamontez.org
Plot
It is 1840 and California is ruled by the Mexican government. Kent is transporting rifles from Mexico City to California to be used by soldiers there. Wealthy aristocrat Marguerita Novarro and her maid are rescued by Phillip Kent when their carriage breaks loose.
The women hide and ride with Kent's caravan to Santa Barbara. Although she is wealthy and can pay, Kent says he will forego any remuneration from Marguerita in exchange for the first dance at a festival. As love blossoms, they continue north to Monterey with the caravan, where Kent is reunited with an old friend, Lt. Carlos Ortega, only to learn that Ortega is engaged to be married to Marguerita.
An attack by Royalists leaves Ortega seriously injured. Manuel De Roja is taken prisoner by Kent and turned over to one of Ortega's men, but the officer in charge turns out to be Manuel's own brother, Major De Roja.
Now in love, Marguerita and Kent try to leave Monterey together but are captured by De Roja's men. A jealous Ortega searches and is also taken captive, but after an escape, Kent kills De Roja in a battle with swords. Mexico's soldiers rout the royalists, and a grateful Ortega gives his blessings to Marguerita and Kent.
Cast
* Maria Montez as Marguerita Novarro
* Rod Cameron as Phillip Kent
* Gilbert Roland as Major De Roja
* Gale Sondergaard as Senorita De Sola
* Philip Reed as Lt. Carlos Ortega
* Michael Raffetto as Sgt. Gomara
Production
Rod Cameron had impressed Universal with his performance opposite Yvonne De Carlo in 'Salome, Where She Danced' and the studio wanted to put him in a similar technicolor film with Maria Montez. This was meant to be 'Frontier Gal' but Montez refused to make the movie and went on suspension. De Carlo acted opposite Cameron instead.
Eventually Montez agreed to make this movie with Cameron, which was announced in April 1946. Erle C. Kenton was originally meant to direct.
Mikhail Rasumny was borrowed from Paramount to appear in the film.
Reception
The 'Chicago Tribune' wrote that "With the exception of sprightly little Mikhail Rasumny, who contributes a bit of comedy occasionally, this film is dull business, peopled by elaborately costumed but expressionless characters.""Movie Gets All Dressed Up but Goes No Place: "PIRATES OF MONTEREY" THE CAST" Tinee, Mae. 'Chicago Daily Tribune' 19 Nov 1947: 33.
The 'Los Angeles Times' said the film "doesn't, by any stretch of the imagination, class as an "epic", but it is beautifully photographed in Technicolor and contains enough fightin', feudin', and fussin' to satisfy fans of shoot-'em-up cinema fare.""Pirates of Monterey' Old California Thriller" Scott, John L. 'Los Angeles Times' 17 Dec 1947: A9.
'The New York Times' claimed "the script for this rawhide romance was obviously ground out mechanically by an old typewriter on the Universal lot, set for 200 pages, while the writers played gin or slept. And the gent who is credited as directorAlfred Werker, who also has been aroundplainly fulfilled his assignment in the same tired, mechanical way."[https://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9F00EEDE1F3AE233A25754C1A9649D946693D6CF Review of film] at 'New York Times'
'The Christian Science Monitor' said "only the very young will be able to excite themselves about" the film."'Pirates of Monterey'" M.M.. 'The Christian Science Monitor' 16 Jan 1948: 4.
Universal were reportedly so pleased with Philip Reed's performance they offered him a seven-year contract at one film a year.
References
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