South of the Rio Grande * (1945, Duncan Renaldo, Martin Garralaga, George J Lewis) – Classic Movie Review 13,714  

The American black and white semi-musical Western film South of the Rio Grande stars Duncan Renaldo as Cisco and Martin Garralaga as Pancho in the third of three Cisco Kid films made by Monogram Pictures in 1945.

Director Lambert Hillyer’s 1945 Monogram Pictures American black and white semi-musical Western film South of the Rio Grande stars Duncan Renaldo, Martin Garralaga and George J Lewis.

It is always nice to see Cisco and Pancho, but the third Renaldo Cisco Kid entry is slackly plotted and dully made, with not enough action, and with boring musical numbers. It is watchable but not very entertaining, lacks spark, and is mostly a disappointing dud, especially as its short 62 minutes running time is padded out with Cisco serenading a girlfriend, music from The Guadalajara Trio as the cantina musicians, and two actresses as cantina singers.

Duncan Renaldo and Martin Garralaga star as O Henry’s character Cisco and his sidekick Pancho, who reveal military officer and the operator of a large ranch Miguel Sanchez (George J Lewis) as a nasty bad guy who has killed innocent ranchers for their cattle. His girlfriend Pepita (Armida) sings in the cantina. Dolores Gonzales (Lillian Molieri) has been forced to sing in the cantina too.

Cisco and Pancho go undercover at the Sanchez hacienda in Mexico to infiltrate the corrupt operations of Miguel Sanchez, gather evidence against him and his crimes, rescue the abducted Dolores Gonzales, and clean up the town.

Cast: Duncan Renaldo, Martin Garralga, George J Lewis, Armida, Lillian Molieri, Francis McDonald, Charles Stevens, Pedro Regas, Soledad Jiménez, Tito Renaldo, and The Guadalajara Trio.

South of the Rio Grande is directed by Lambert Hillyer, runs 62 minutes, is made by Monogram Pictures, is written by Victor Hammond and Ralph Gilbert Bettison [Ralph Bettinson], based on an original story by Johnston McCulley and the character by O Henry, is produced by William A Sickner, is produced by Philip N Krasne, and scored by Edward J Kay (musical director).

It was shot at Melody Ranch, 24715 Oak Creek Avenue, Newhall, California.

It premiered on September 8, 1945 (US), was released on September 15, 1945 (US) and August 5, 1946 (UK).

The the third of three Cisco Kid films made in 1945, it follows the April 3 1945 release of The Cisco Kid Returns and In Old New Mexico on May 15 1945.

What’s in a name? The Cisco Kid Returns reveals Cisco’s real name to be Juan Francisco Hernandez, but in In Old New Mexico it is changed to Juan Carlos Francisco Antonio, but in South of the Rio Grande it is again Juan Francisco Hernandez.

It is followed by The Gay Cavalier (1946) starring Gilbert Roland and Martin Garralaga.

Duncan Renaldo went on to star in the 1950–1956 TV series The Cisco Kid of 156 half-hour episodes.  It was also the first TV series to be filmed in colour. Pancho was played by Leo Carrillo.

Lambert Hillyer also directed the 1932 Columbia Pictures Western film South of the Rio Grande starring Buck Jones, with a story by Harold Shumate.

© Derek Winnert 2025 – Classic Movie Review 13,714

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