THE GAUCHO

The Gaucho’s gang of outlaws pillage the countryside of Argentina and then ride into a mountain village where they drink, dance, raise hell, and bed willing women. The “Mountain Girl” (Vélez) has her eyes set on the Gaucho and proceeds to seduce him. Their entangled tango is about as erotic as Hollywood could get without making the censors draw their scissors in combat. Overcoming all early rivals for the attention of the Gaucho, Lupe’s character fights, rides horses, and shows her resilience until the bandidos go to the rescue of a holy shrine captured by a tyrant’s army. There, the free and easy Lupe momentarily fails to outshine the young virginal girl blessed by the Madonna herself. Fairbanks struggles with his desire for untouched flesh but soon returns to the more appropriate embraces of the “Mountain Girl.” As in all Fairbanks films the amazing stunts are perpetrated by the actor himself with great athleticism and fun, but just as amazing is Lupe Velez’s unbridled joy in movement. They make a delightful pair, far more interesting than tyrants or virgins. -- Chale Nafus