Before Duncan Ronaldo took over the part of the Cisco Kid, Cesar Romero, Warner Baxter and Gilbert Roland played the part in films. Because several actors played in so many movies, it's very easy to confuse this film with Romero's "The Gay Caballero" (1940) as well as Roland's "The Gay Cavalier". Sounds confusing, huh? Well, the writers certainly could have used a bit more creativity in choosing names for the pictures, that's for sure!
When the film begins, Cisco is nearby when a group of bandits are out doing their bandity things. The Cavalry is nearby and the leader mistakenly thinks Cisco is responsible for the mayhem. It turns out some American is posing as the Kid...and this is a common problem in the Cisco Kid movies--folks pretending to be him and attributing crimes to him that he didn't commit. What's also familiar is seeing Joe Sawyer in the film playing a soldier, as he also was in an earlier Cisco Kid movie, "Lucky Cisco Kid".
Compared to earlier incarnations of The Cisco Kid, the Carillo/Ronaldo films were much more action-oriented and Cisco was more of a good guy. He was NOT the great lover like some of the earlier versions. I would think that Ronaldo's sort of characterization would appeal more to kids. I thought this film lacked the fun of some of the earlier films...though it wasn't bad. Overall, mildly entertaining and VERY, VERY familiar.
By the way, the Hispanic country where Duncan Ronaldo came from was Romania!! Also, although Pancho acted a bit dopey, Leo Carillo was actually a very intelligent, cultured and patrician sort of guy...born in Los Angeles! Talk about playing against type!
