The Bandit Queen (film)

The Bandit Queen is a 1950 American Western film directed by William Berke. The movie featured Barbara Britton and Phillip Reed as the leaders of a Robin Hood type band. The Bandit Queen was produced by Lippert Pictures Inc. and shot in the Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park as well as the San Fernando Valley. Set near Madera, California during the California Gold Rush, The Bandit Queen is a 70 minute blackandwhite movie that was a serial film depiction of Joaquin Murrietas life. Martha Vickers was initially slated to play a twogun gal of the West in her comeback picture in this movie. This release marked the final Lippert Studios film in 1950 with Britton starring in the title role as a Spanish American aristocratic daughter who avenged her parents deaths in recovering stolen wealth through the use of a bullwhip. The Baltimore AfroAmerican described The Bandit Queen as, a pistolpackin mama story.

Dan Hinsdale Willard Parker, who was an attorney, later informed her about his purchase of her familys rancho at a reduced fee because of back taxes owed by Montalvos parents. Montalvo sought the aid of Father Antonio Martin Garralaga, who along with Murietta, is one of the few people to know their double identities. Antonio warned her that her outlaw gang was wanted by the Spanish authority and its soldiers. Upon learning this, Belmont and del Rio furtively worked to regain stolen gold and land rights on the behalf of other neighboring rancheros.

Source: Wikipedia