"South of Monteray" is another of Monogram's Cisco Kid series starring Gilbert Roland as Cisco. The production values were a cut above those many of Momogram's other series. This one moves at a quicker space thanks in most part to the casting of veteran bad guy Harry Woods as the chief villain.
The story has Bennet (Woods), the town tax collector taking over local ranches for non-payment of the high taxes and re-selling the ranches to his friends at a profit. He has the support of the local Commandante of Police Auturo (Martin Garralaga).
Auturo's sister Carmelita (Iris Flores) is engaged to local activist (Carlos Mandreno). However, Auturo is scheming to have his sister marry Bennet. Aurturo arrests and jails Carlos when he slugs Bennet over a land deal. It also gets Carlos out of the way so that Aurturo can get his sister married of to Bennet.
Into town comes Cisco and Baby (Frank Yaconelli) to look into the plight of the ranchers. Cisco learns that several robberies have taken place with "The Silver Bandit" being to blame. Cisco is mistaken for the bandit and is wounded in the chase. He unknowingly goes to Auturo's ranch where Carmelita tends to his wound. Cisco learns of Carlos" plight and offers to help. After a remarkably fast convalescence, Cisco goes to town where he meets an old "acquaitance", Maria Morales who is working at the local cantina.
Anyway, Cisco gets himself arrested and thrown into jail with Carlos. They manage to escape and.......................................
Roland played Cisco as a girl in every town, tequila drinking, cigarette smoking bold caballero, a far cry from the way Duncan Renaldo played heem. Harry Woods, with his evil sneer and wicked ways, brings this outing up a notch or two. Woods had long been menacing the "B" cowboy heroes and added an extra dimension to this film. Cisco even gets into a rare fight with Woods. Martin Garralaga who had played "Pancho" in an earlier series with Duncan Renaldo, again plays a villain. Yaconelli's "Baby" was "Pancho like" and even strummed a guitar.
An enjoyable film.
The story has Bennet (Woods), the town tax collector taking over local ranches for non-payment of the high taxes and re-selling the ranches to his friends at a profit. He has the support of the local Commandante of Police Auturo (Martin Garralaga).
Auturo's sister Carmelita (Iris Flores) is engaged to local activist (Carlos Mandreno). However, Auturo is scheming to have his sister marry Bennet. Aurturo arrests and jails Carlos when he slugs Bennet over a land deal. It also gets Carlos out of the way so that Aurturo can get his sister married of to Bennet.
Into town comes Cisco and Baby (Frank Yaconelli) to look into the plight of the ranchers. Cisco learns that several robberies have taken place with "The Silver Bandit" being to blame. Cisco is mistaken for the bandit and is wounded in the chase. He unknowingly goes to Auturo's ranch where Carmelita tends to his wound. Cisco learns of Carlos" plight and offers to help. After a remarkably fast convalescence, Cisco goes to town where he meets an old "acquaitance", Maria Morales who is working at the local cantina.
Anyway, Cisco gets himself arrested and thrown into jail with Carlos. They manage to escape and.......................................
Roland played Cisco as a girl in every town, tequila drinking, cigarette smoking bold caballero, a far cry from the way Duncan Renaldo played heem. Harry Woods, with his evil sneer and wicked ways, brings this outing up a notch or two. Woods had long been menacing the "B" cowboy heroes and added an extra dimension to this film. Cisco even gets into a rare fight with Woods. Martin Garralaga who had played "Pancho" in an earlier series with Duncan Renaldo, again plays a villain. Yaconelli's "Baby" was "Pancho like" and even strummed a guitar.
An enjoyable film.
