It is set during the 19th century in field of Gibraltar , Cadiz , and other places of Andalucia , where had been proliferating relentless bandits , who alone or in bands , engulfing the region with merciless assaults and ominous murders . Following his father's steps , Juan Lucas (Fernado Rey) becomes the most famous highwayman in Sierra Morena mountains , smuggling and assaulting ; as well as helping local resistance against Napoleonic troops and supporting King Fernando VII who is abducted in Bayona . In love with Ana Romero De Los Viejos (Marie Déa) , a Count's (Juán Espantaleón) daughter , but this love story fails and his hopes seem to have no future . Juán Lucas joins forces with a band (Manolo Morán , Joaquín Roa , among others) of thieves and raiders . After a period of hard learning , Juan Lucas uses all kind of shrewdness in order to lead himself and to be the chief the attacker bunch . Shortly after , there takes place his deadly confrontation to another ruthless leader and later he becomes the boss of the group of assaulting . As soon as Juán Lucas turns into band leader , the gang carries out attacks , kidnappings , blackmails , including bloody battles against French troops . Then , he is pardoned and appointed officer of the Spanish troops under command of General Castaños (Fernando Fernández de Córdoba) who vanquish the Grande Armée in Despeñaperros . When Juan Lucas is rejected by Ana Romero he returns to banditry , as he and his cohorts attack a stagecoach and take a big amount of money . For ironies of history , many bandits were good benefactors of the humble and unfortunate people , giving rise to the glamorous as well as romantic legends of the generous Andalucian Bandidos . In fact , almost all of them were selfish and ambitious men , who could not be expected no sense humanitarian . Most of them were cruel and savage outlaws that infested the area from Andalucia and surroundings . Many of them were heroes in Guerra De La Independencia against the French . These Bandoleros seem to have a whole praise by singing "Coplas of blind" sung in couplets and romances of blind singers which dedicated to famous bandits as "Lucero" , ¨Luis Candelas¨ , ¨Cura Merino¨ , ¨El Empecinado¨ and "El Tempranillo" , whose names run throughout the mountains and villages , being relentlessly frightened and hated by townsfolk . While , authorities attempted to defeat these bandits or Bandoleros by large garrisons called ¨Migueletes¨ .
This ¨Tortilla¨ or ¨Gazpacho¨ adventure is filled with go riding , round-up , intrigue , chases , fights and breathtaking confrontations , including precious rousing original music by Juan Quintero and luminous cinematography by Cecilio Paniagua . This traditional ¨Bandido¨ movie made in Andaluzi-Western style contains nice action , pursuits , impressive assaults and evocative outdoors . Decent screenplay dealing with ambition , revenge , redemption and an uneven love story that turn out to be the main axis of the plot . Although the story has been told before , adequate filmmaking and over-the-top acting win out , as it results in a very fine adventure flick . It is a combination of drama and full of villainy , betrayal , romance , heroism and redemption . It packs gorgeous landscapes , charming cinematography , imaginative soundtrack and appropriate costumes ; all meld together under Rafael Gil's enjoyable direction . It belongs to a sub-genre about Andalucian bandits , such as : ¨Luis Candelas , Ladron De Madrid¨ by Fernando Alonso , ¨Carne De Horca¨ by Ladislao Vajda , "Weeping for a Bandit" by Carlos Saura and including the famous TV series ¨Curro Jimenez¨ with Sancho Gracia . Being inspired on real stories of known ¨Bandoleros¨ , and especially in ¨El Tempranillo¨ , a rebel and liberal outlaw operating in Sierra Morena , who formed a numerous band , about 50 men , his most famous assault was in Écija , finally he had an ambush and was double-crossed by an old partner who shot to him , dying at 28 years old . Fine acting by Fernando Rey as a bandit who joins a dangerous band to rob and destroy enemy troops . In the movie appears usual support actors of the forties and fifties , such as : Manolo Morán , Joaquin Roa , Juan Espantaleón , Rafael Calvo , Fernando Fernández de Córdoba , Manuel Arbó , José Prada , José Franco , Rufino Inglés and special mention for the old quack Julia Caba Alba .
The motion picture was lavishly produced by Suevia Films/Cesareo Gonzalez that along with Cifesa were the most known production companies during Francoist period , that often financed these false but breathtaking historical spectacles . This movie was well realized by Rafael Gil , shooting a hastily assembled attractive picture . Director Gil took advantage of the marvelous exteriors from Andalucia . Being filmed in usual style of the forties and in stylistic scholarship , without leaving a trace the historical issues , in terms of dramatic and narrative excitement . Rafael was one of the best filmmakers from Spanish cinema , directing several classic movies , such as : ¨Don Quijote De La Mancha¨ , ¨El Clavo¨ , ¨La Fe¨ , ¨La Señora De Fatima¨, ¨La Reina Santa¨ , ¨La Guerra De Dios¨ , ¨El Beso De Judas¨ , and several others.
