Bandolero!

Bandolero! follows Mace Bishop, a seasoned gunslinger who enters a dusty border town disguised as a hangman. His real aim is to rescue a gang of outlaws, including his younger brother Dee, from the gallows by staging a daring jailbreak. Mace struggles with duty toward kin, urging Dee to abandon crime, even as the brothers test their loyalties. The sheriff, July Johnson, pursues them across the landscape, driving the chase toward Mexico. Along the way, the Bishops cross paths with Maria Stoner, a local force of nature, and a wary deputy, Roscoe Bookbinder. When danger peaks, former rivals team up to face a shared threat, changing their fates in the process. There is more at stake than just survival here.

Directed by Andrew V McLaglen, Bandolero! comes from an original screenplay by James Lee Barrett and Stanley Hough, released in 1968. The film leans on a star heavy cast and brisk Western action that embraces frontier grit and dry humor.

The production grossed 12 million dollars worldwide against a budget of about 4.45 million, marking it as a solid performer for its era and helping to solidify McLaglen's reputation with audiences. Its balance of humor and action kept fans entertained.

Reception framed Bandolero! as a brisk ensemble Western that mixes family ties with outlaw ethics. The film foregrounds Mace and Dee's strained bond while highlighting uneasy alliances across lines of law and land, creating tension between loyalty and survival. Stewart's authority and Martin's warmth shape the tone, Welch adds glamour.

Raquel Welch's Maria Stoner injects glamour into a rugged frontier tale, while Stewart and Martin anchor the film with sturdy screen presence. Bandolero! sits squarely in the late 1960s Western wave that mixed humor with grit, helping redefine star power within the genre. It mirrors the era's evolving Western style.