This was a tough movie to follow because the sound was so poor. It had the feel of a 1950's 'B' Western making it hard to imagine it was made as late as 1963. That would explain Jock Mahoney's aged appearance since his 1958 TV series "Yancy Derringer", flourishes of which we see in the character of Don Michael O'Casey. Here he shows some of that Yancy charisma with the ladies, along with the stunt riding skills that made him a hit as Range Rider in the early Fifties.
Set in 1842 California, the story revolves around the question of that territory's statehood. Don Francisco Hernandez (Michael Pate) has allied himself with General Miguel Torena against that prospect in the hopes of becoming it's first Mexican governor. His romantic ambitions call for a marriage to a woman who doesn't love him, Marianna De La Rosa (Susan Seaforth), who in turn finds she has feelings for the handsome renegade Don Mike. There's also a woman in the middle, Carlotta Torres, who does love Francisco, but realizes that he's an evil and ambitious man.
Though the viewer finds himself siding with the cause of 'Viva Hernandez', it's a tenuous position since the film builds little in the way of sympathy for one side or the other. Don Francisco's hopes for power are crushed when the General confesses that he's on the outs with his superiors in Mexico City, and when Irish Mexican O'Casey defeats him in a sword duel, he knows enough to call it quits. Until he makes a run for it, and is gunned down by a Hernandez loyalist. Oh yeah, Don Francisco was Michael O'Casey's uncle, but it's not that important.
There's really little to recommend this film other than an offbeat treat for fans of Jacques/Jack/Jock O'Mahoney. Though as mentioned earlier, you'll be watching an older Yancy putting his spell on the ladies as he finds a way to outwit the bad guys.
Set in 1842 California, the story revolves around the question of that territory's statehood. Don Francisco Hernandez (Michael Pate) has allied himself with General Miguel Torena against that prospect in the hopes of becoming it's first Mexican governor. His romantic ambitions call for a marriage to a woman who doesn't love him, Marianna De La Rosa (Susan Seaforth), who in turn finds she has feelings for the handsome renegade Don Mike. There's also a woman in the middle, Carlotta Torres, who does love Francisco, but realizes that he's an evil and ambitious man.
Though the viewer finds himself siding with the cause of 'Viva Hernandez', it's a tenuous position since the film builds little in the way of sympathy for one side or the other. Don Francisco's hopes for power are crushed when the General confesses that he's on the outs with his superiors in Mexico City, and when Irish Mexican O'Casey defeats him in a sword duel, he knows enough to call it quits. Until he makes a run for it, and is gunned down by a Hernandez loyalist. Oh yeah, Don Francisco was Michael O'Casey's uncle, but it's not that important.
There's really little to recommend this film other than an offbeat treat for fans of Jacques/Jack/Jock O'Mahoney. Though as mentioned earlier, you'll be watching an older Yancy putting his spell on the ladies as he finds a way to outwit the bad guys.