Pirates of Monterey

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.

• 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

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.{{Cite news|title=Special Story to Star Finds Lorring and Dall|author=Schallert, Edwin|date=Apr 2, 1945|work=Los Angeles Times|page=A2}} This was meant to be Frontier Gal but Montez refused to make the movie and went on suspension. De Carlo acted opposite Cameron instead.{{Cite news|title=NEWS OF THE SCREEN: Fred MacMurray Set for 'Guerrilla in Philippines'-- Loew's Houses to Show Special Short V-E Day|date=Apr 17, 1945|work=New York Times|page=32}}{{Cite news|title=Yvonne De Carlo Stands Out Again as 'Threat Girl': Carroll Cutie Has Spotlight in Sarong Set Yvonne De Carlo Causes Concern in Sarong Circles|author=Schallert, Edwin|date=June 3, 1945|work=Los Angeles Times|page=B1}}

Eventually Montez agreed to make this movie with Cameron, which was announced in April 1946. Erle C. Kenton was originally meant to direct.{{Cite news|title=MONTEZ, CAMERON TO CO-STAR IN FILM: Named for Leads in 'Pirates of Monterey' at Universal, to Be Done in Technicolor|date=Apr 2, 1946|work=New York Times|page=23}}

Mikhail Rasumny was borrowed from Paramount to appear in the film.{{Cite news|title=Gail Russell Borrowed for 'Angel' Portrayal|author=Schallert, Edwin|date=Apr 11, 1946|work=Los Angeles Times|page=A2}}

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 director—Alfred Werker, who also has been around—plainly 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.{{Cite news|title=DRAMA AND FILM: Zanuck Accumulating New Italian Sparklers|author=Schallert, Edwin|date=Dec 25, 1947|work=Los Angeles Times|page=A11}}

{{reflist}}

• {{IMDb title|0039709}}
• {{TCMDb title|86745}}
• [https://archive.org/stream/variety168-1947–11#page/n71/mode/1up Review of film] at Variety

{{Alfred L. Werker}}

Category:American historical adventure films

Category:1947 films

Category:1940s historical adventure films

Category:Universal Pictures films

Category:Films directed by Alfred L. Werker

Category:Films set in the 1840s

Category:Films set in California

Category:American Western (genre) films

Category:1947 Western (genre) films

Category:1940s American films

Category:1940s English-language films

Category:English-language Western (genre) films

Category:English-language historical adventure films