The Mexican guerilla leader Tepepa and his gang fight against the chief of police, Cascorro.
Direction
Petroni's sweeping compositions rival Leone's best work.
Acting
Welles chewing scenery like it's his last meal.
Cinematography
Dusty Mexican landscapes shot like fever dreams.
Director
Giulio Petroni
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Welles was so difficult on set that Petroni allegedly filmed him mostly in silhouette or from behind when possible. The shadows weren't always artistic choice — they were survival.
This was Petroni's direct response to The Battle of Algiers, trying to bring that same revolutionary complexity to the western genre. It flopped commercially because audiences wanted clean heroes, not this messy truth.
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