Duncan Renaldo Movies
After being raised in several parts of Europe Duncan Renaldo arrived in the U.S. in the early '20s, having secured his passage as a stoker on a Brazilian coal ship (other sources say it was a Rumanian freighter that caught fire in Baltimore and left its crew stranded). He failed at his attempt to be a portrait painter, then tried to become a producer of short films; soon, however, he took up acting, signing with MGM in 1928. He played Latin lovers in late talkies and early silents. In 1932 he spent almost a year in prison on illegal entry charges filed by immigration authorities; he was later pardoned by President Roosevelt. After his release, he continued playing leads and supporting roles in minor films and serials. In the early '40s he was chosen as one of the Three Mesquiteers in a series of popular western films; within a few years he was starring in his own western series as The Cisco Kid, the role for which he is best known. He played the Cisco Kid in a popular TV series in the '50s, rarely appearing on the big-screen after 1950. ~ All Movie Guide- 1966
Jungle Gold is the 100-minute cutdown version of the 12-episode Republic serial The Tiger Woman. Linda Stirling makes her serial debut as the Tiger Woman, an athletic young lady who aids hero Allan Lane in his efforts to track down criminals in the jungle town of Alta Vista. Lane is a representative of an oil firm whose fields are being sabotaged by persons unknown. The Tiger Woman is blamed for the sabotage, but she is able to expose the real criminals and their motives, and also to discover her own true identity. The thrilling "cliff hanger" climaxes are somewhat blunted by repetition in this reedited feature, but Perils of the Darkest Jungle still proves beyond doubt that Republic was head and shoulders above everyone else in the chapter-play business. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1951
The "bandit" of the title is notorious 18th-century British highwayman Dick Turpin, herein portrayed by Louis Hayward. The lady is the high-born Joyce Greene (Patricia Medina), who becomes Turpin's bride. Motivated by Irish patriotism and revenge against the man who hanged his father, Turpin cuts quite a swath through the British countryside, relieving wealthy passengers of their riches. For his wife's sake, Turpin briefly gives up his life of crime, but not for long. Upon learning that his wife is slated to be hanged as his accomplice, Turpin embarks upon a 200-mile ride from St.Alban's to York, knowing full well that by rescuing his bride, he will forfeit his own life. Well produced (especially for a Columbia costumer of the era), Lady and the Bandit is based on the Alfred Noyes poem Dick Turpin's Ride--and not on Noyes' The Highwayman as claimed by previous sources. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Louis Hayward, Patricia Medina, (more)
- 1950
In their last feature film, the Cisco Kid (Duncan renaldo) and Pancho (Leo Carrillo) come up against a vicious gang who is robbing stagecoaches in their likenesses. But when the latest holdup injures driver Jerry Todd (Bill Lester), the real Cisco and Pancho make sure that the youngster gets medical treatment, much to the surprise and gratitude of his intended, Nora Malloy (Jane Adams), who agrees to help set a trap for the real culprits. Filmed at Pioneertown, a popular movie location just east of Los Angeles, The Girl From San Lorenzo was the last of producer Philip N. Krasne's Cisco Kid feature films for United Artists. It was followed by the 1950-1956 television series, again produced by Krasne and starring Renaldo and Carrillo. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Duncan Renaldo, Leo Carrillo, (more)
Virtually ignored at the time of its release, Capture has built up a small but enthusiastic following since its lapse into public domain. American oil man Lew Ayres kills a coworker whom he suspects of robbery. Thinking it over, Ayres wonders whether or not the man was innocent. He seeks out his victim's widow, played by Teresa Wright. They fall in love and marry, which does nothing to soothe Ayres' guilty conscience. When he discovers who was actually behind the robbery, Ayres goes after the real culprit, who is accidentally killed before justice can be done. Falsely accused of murder, Ayres now fully understands the untenable position of the man he'd killed so long before. The Capture was produced by Niven Busch, the then-husband of Teresa Wright. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lew Ayres, Teresa Wright, (more)
- 1949
The Gay Amigo was the second "Cisco Kid" theatrical entry produced for United Artists release by Philip N. Krasne. Duncan Renaldo, who would go on to portray Cisco in the popular 1950s TV series, stars in this outing, together with Leo Carrillo as his comical sidekick Pancho. Cisco and Pancho are wrongfully identified as bandits by a U.S. Cavalry sergeant (Joe Sawyer). Realizing that no one believes their innocence, the boys decide to pose as criminals in order to get the goods on the real crooks. Pancho has some wonderful moments as he holds up a stagecoach and fends off the amorous advances of a spinsterish passenger (Helen Servis), while Cisco enjoys a brief liaison with barmaid Rosita (Armida), the girl friend of the flustered cavalry sergeant. One of the better Krasne-produced "Cisco Kid" efforts, Gay Amigo tells its story in a brisk 62 minutes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Duncan Renaldo, Leo Carrillo, (more)
- 1949
Daring Cabellero was the third of producer Phil Krasne's Cisco Kid "B" westerns. Duncan Renaldo and Leo Carrillo return as Cisco and Pancho, roles they'd carry over into a popular 1950s TV series. Once more stumbling into a dangerous situation, Cisco and Pancho risk their own necks by saving an innocent man from hanging. Eventually, our heroes learn that a corrupt political machine is behind the killing. Leading lady Kippie Valez is cast as "herself," which must have meant more in 1949 than it does today. Unlike the subsequent TV series, Daring Caballero does not end with the leading actors reciting their standard mantra "Oh, Pancho! Oh, Cisco!" ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Duncan Renaldo, Leo Carrillo, (more)
- 1949
A young boy with problems is assisted by Cisco and Pancho. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1949
Satan's Cradle was the fourth of producer Phil Krasne's "Cisco Kid" programmers for United Artists. Anyone who remembers the Cisco TV series will know without being told that Duncan Renaldo and Leo Carrillo essayed the roles of wandering do-gooders Cisco and Pancho. Unlike previous entries, Satan's Cradle was directed by serial veteran Ford Beebe rather than the unimaginative Wallace Fox; the improvement is immediately noticeable. This time, Cisco takes on a frontier megalomaniac, shyster lawyer Steve Gentry (Douglas Fowley), who has taken over a mining town. Gentry's confederate is dancehall girl Lil (Ann Savage) who is as deadly as she is beautiful. When itinerant preacher Henry Lane (Byron Foulger) is beaten to a pulp by Gentry's goons (an astonishingly brutal sequence), Cisco and Pancho move in for the kill. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Duncan Renaldo, Leo Carrillo, (more)
- 1948
Economically filmed in Mexico, Sword of the Avenger is essentially a Latin-flavored version of The Count of Monte Cristo. During a 19th-century Philippine insurrection, Spanish sailor Roberto Balagtas (Ramon Del Gado) is falsely accused of fomenting the revolt. After a lengthy internment Roberto escapes from prison, obtaining a treasure map along the way. With his new-found wealth, Roberto returns to Manila under an assumed name, determined to destroy his enemies. Sigrid Gurie plays Maria Louisa, Roberto's sweetheart-turned-rebel leader. Throughout the film, analogies are drawn between the despotic rulers of the Philippines and the recently defeated Nazis, bringing a contemporary touch to the proceedings. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sigrid Gurie, Ralph Morgan, (more)
- 1948
The Cisco Kid and Pancho set off to find the missing owner of a devoted little dog in this western adventure. From the vanished man's sister, the heroes learn that her brother disappeared soon after striking a major gold vein in his mine. In the end Cisco accosts the villain, saves the kidnapped miner and reunites him with his dog. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Leo Carrillo, John Litel, (more)
Bells of San Fernando was advertised as a romantic adventure, but it plays more like a Western. Donald Woods plays an Irish immigrant who teams with Mexican gal Gloria Warren to combat land baron Anthony Warde. Whenever the plot lags, Warren sings. Catch the name of "Renault Duncan" in the screenplay credits of Bells of San Fernando. It's really actor Duncan Renaldo, aka "The Cisco Kid" -- which may explain why the film looks like a thinly disguised "Cisco" episode. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Donald Woods, Gloria Warren, (more)
- 1947
On February 17, 1947, two efforts from Paramount's Pine-Thomas productions were tradeshown in tandem. The first was I Cover Big Town; the second was Jungle Flight.The latter film stars Robert Lowery and Douglas Blackley as Kelly Jordan and Andy Melton, troubleshooting freight pilots engaged in shipping mining equipment to a remote Latin-American company. Hoping to make a quick financial turnover, Melton overloads his plane, and as a result dies in a fiery crash. These leaves Jordan to "fly solo" in every sense of the phrase, attempting to rescue the victims of a second plane crash--and to save runaway wife Laurey Roberts (Ann Savage) from her crooked husband Tom Hammond (Douglas Fowley). Barton MacLane glowers his way through the role of the mine's owner. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Lowery, Ann Savage, (more)
- 1946
Based on a famous book by Richard Henry Dana, Jr., this grueling saga of shipboard oppression is set in the mid-19th century. Charles Stewart (Alan Ladd), the wealthy son of a Boston shipowner, is hijacked by Amazeen (William Bendix), the first mate on a ship bound for California. Francis Thompson (Howard Da Silva) is the tyrannical captain of the Pilgrim who was booted out of the U.S. Navy for mistreating his sailors. Now he wants to set a record sailing time, and he and Amazeen mete out severe punishment for the slightest of infractions. They even deny the men permission to go ashore and pick fruit when they stop in California and pick up the beautiful Maria Dominguez (Esther Fitzgerald). Without fruit, the men develop scurvy and begin to mutiny. Stewart allies himself with the author Dana (Brian Donlevy), whose brother died on one of Captain Thompson's previous voyages. Dana wants to write an expose of Thompson. Stewart steals guns and tries to take over the ship, but Amazeen subdues and imprisons him. The film was shot on a Hollywood set, but with devices on the set that simulate rolling waves so effectively that much of the cast got seasick. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alan Ladd, Brian Donlevy, (more)
- 1945
The Kid (Duncan Renaldo) masquerades as a government inspector in this pleasant, and pleasantly tuneful, Cisco Kid series entry. Learning that his old friends have been killed and Manuel Gonzales (Tito Renaldo) wrongly accused of cattle rustling by corrupt district officer Miguel Sanchez (George J. Lewis), the Kid assumes the identity of the murdered government official. In town, Cisco discovers Manuel's sister, Dolores (Lillian Molieri), whom Sanchez is brutally forcing to sing for her supper, but using his usual cunning and with a bit of help from sidekick Pancho (Martin Garralaga) and jealous cantina girl Pepita (Armida), our hero soon gets the goods on the villainous district officer and his chief lieutenant Torres (Francis McDonald). A rather obviously dubbed Renaldo joins Armida, Lillian Molieri and The Guadalajara Trio in warbling "Adios Amor", by Louis Herscher and J. Castelleone), and a couple of standard Spanish ballads. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Duncan Renaldo, Martin Garralaga, (more)
