The Gaucho (film)

by Frank Richard Jones

For works with similar titles, see Gaucho.

"Douglas Fairbanks
As
The Gaucho"

Story by		Elton Thomas
Direction by		F. Richard Jones
Photography by		Tony Gaudio

Copyright 1927 by The Elton Corporation

Manager of Production		Theodore Reed
Scenario Editor		Lotta Woods
Consultants		Wallace Smith Eugene P. Lyle, Jr.
Research Director		Dr. Arthur Woods
Main Title by Courtesy of		Joseph B. Harris

Supervising Art Director		Carl Oscar Borg
Associate Artists		Harry Oliver Jack Holden Francesc Cugat Edward M. Langley Mario Larrinaga

General Manager		Robert Fairbanks
Assistant Directors		William J. Cowen Lewis R. Foster
Associate Photographer		Abe Scholtz
Technician		William Davison
Master of Costumes and Properties		Paul Burns
Film Cutter		William Nolan

The Players

The Mountain Girl		Lupe Velez
The Girl of the Shrine		Geraine Greear Eve Southern
Ruiz, The Usurper		Gustav von Seyffertitz
The Usurper's First Lieutenant		Michael Vavitch
The Gaucho's First Lieutenant		Charles Stevens
The Padre		Nigel de Brulier
The Victim of the Black Doom		Albert MacQuarrie
The Gaucho		Douglas Fairbanks

To this day, the gauchos, those fast-disappearing, picturesque cowboys of the South American plains, tell this story round their camp-fires.

It is the story of one of them who came to be known as The Gaucho, and of the usurper Ruiz, and how these two came together at the City of the Miracle.

In this wise was the beginning of the City of the Miracle-

Upon this holy spot a shrine was built....

....and after the passing of ten years....

From the four corners of the land they came and into the coffers of the church poured their grateful gold.

A discordant note——

A victim of the Black Doom—

The fame of the City of the Miracle spread and the legend of its gold grew.

Far in the North, an outlaw—

"New worlds to conquer!"

"The Gaucho!"

Cantina
de los
Andes

"The Gaucho is over the Andes—look to your town!"

"The Gaucho!"

"The Gaucho! The Gaucho!"

10,000 pesos
de recompensa
a quien capture
El Gaucho
vive o muerto

10,000 pesos
reward
for the capture of
The Gaucho
dead or alive

"I go in alone. You ride down the pass."

"It is a good likeness. Perhaps it flatters me—a very little."

"I have thirst. We shall drink—to The Gaucho."

El Gaucho

"With my compliments."

"El Gaucho!"

"All my life I've dreamed that I should really see you. Always you have been my hero. Gaucho mío!"

"Gaucho mío!"

"I will dance for you."

Soldiers, sent by the usurper, Ruiz, enter the City of the Miracle—

"I act in the name of Ruiz. Give over your quarters, your records, your perquisites."

Take notice!

Ruiz is supreme. There is no one Born who dares oppose Ruiz.

A Counting of the People shall be made. Of every Ten persons, the services of Two belong to Ruiz.

 

All hats must be doffed to Ruiz.

⟨Citizens are forbidden to speak the⟩ [...]

Ruiz

"You have much wealth here. What do you do with it?"

"This belongs to Ruiz."

"But what of the poor?"

"Put them in jail."

[...] in the Street, in places of Entertainment, must be opened in the name of Ruiz.

Citizens are Forbidden to sell Tobacco except through the Agents of Ruiz.

Taxes shall be levied on Christenings, Marriages, Burials, Windows, Bridges, Mate and Eggs.

Church tithes shall be collected only by agents of Ruiz.

It is forbidden to citizens to parade in greater companies than ten.

"He refuses our help. He makes his living out of his affliction."

"Put him in a cell apart. Beware his touch. It means a lingering death."

Night....Back in the North—

"To horse!"

"Adios, chatita. I go for gold to the City of the Miracle."

"I am going with you."

"Come on, then."

"I haven't finished my supper!"

"I suppose you want me to take the house along."

"Throw ropes around the floor-beams. Hitch on a hundred horses. We take this place with us."

The next morning....In the City of the Miracle——

"The Gaucho is headed this way!"

"Throw a guard about the City. Barricade the gates."

Not far from the City—

"Don't do that! It means bad luck tomorrow."

"Yesterday was yesterday. Today is today. There is no tomorrow until it's today."

"I go in alone. Your orders are as usual."

"When you see the flag hoisted over the city, bring on the men."

"Tell your commanding officer the gaucho band is just over the ridge."

"We have captured The Gaucho."

"Hoist the flag."

"Stack arms and retire to the barracks."

"Your teeth are drawn. You're free to come and go—if you behave."

"Now we'll visit the Shrine."

"Canalla! Perro! You strike an old man!"

"What do you want done with him?"

"Forgive him."

"Forgive him. He knows not what he does."

"You can go. You don't know what you do."

"You have strange notions, Padre. Where do you learn them?"

"From that Holy Book."

Decem Decalogi Praecepta

 

I

Ego sum Dominus Deus tuus: non habebis deos alienos.

II

Non assumes nomen Domini Dei tui in vanum.

III

Memento ut diem sabbati sanctifices.

The Ten Commandments

 

I

I am the Lord thy God: thou shalt not have strange gods before me.

II

Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.

III

Remember thou keep holy the [...]

"You're a great judge, Padre. You must come to my feast tonight. Bring your Book."

"Do you mock God and His Holy Book?"

"I neither mock nor pay homage."

"See that the Padre arrives at the feast."

"You see, Padre, I get what I want—without the help of God and His Holy Book."

"Find where she lives. Bring her tonight."

Recompensa

 

¡10,000 Pesos!
por la captura de
el Gaucho

"When you find a dress that's fit to clothe a princess and jewels that outshine the stars, buy them for tonight."

In the Capital, the usurper, Ruiz——

"The Gaucho has taken the City of the Miracle."

"This Gaucho has gone too far! He sets himself too high!"

"Order out all my troops. I'll go up there myself."

"Vainglorious man, swept on to dizzy heights, heeds not the depths below."

"Tonight—while he drinks—I'll take the men to Cañon Diablo."

"Fetch all the prisoners from the jail. The Padre will sit in judgment on them."

The feast——

"More food! More wine! Be merry, my guests! Yesterday was yesterday. Today is today. There is no tomorrow until it's today."

"The prisoners are at the gates."

"We'll hold court for your entertainment. The Padre is an excellent judge."

"What are these charged with?"

"If the señor pleases, they are beggars."

"'Tis not for me to judge."

"I command you. Speak up! What does your Book say?"

"'Give to the poor'."

"What about the money?"

"Ruiz has taken it."

"We'll send for it."

"What has this one done?"

"Good señor, he beat his wife."

"It is just that he be punished."

"Did she hit you first?"

"What's your next case?"

"A victim of the Black Doom."

"He clings to his infirmity. We cannot help him."

"I will pass sentence on him."

"You poison the very air we breathe! Go find some hidden spot and kill yourself."

"I only bid him do what I would do."

"If you're not gone within the hour, I'll do it for you."

"Hola! More wine!"

"You're beautiful tonight. Your eyes have caught the moonbeams...Your lips invite..."

"To horse! We start for Cañon Diablo at once."

"Now you find some lonely spot and kill yourself."

"When you can do this and feel no pain, you'll be what I am."

Infirmos Curate--------
Gratis accepistis, gratis date

S. Matthæas x-8

Heal the sick-------
Freely you have received, freely give.

S. Matthew x

"Señorita, I've loved you as an eagle loves the wings by which he soars!"

"Together we have been so happy."

"But something has happened that has changed my life. I go now on a new adventure."

"Adios."

"'All things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive'."

"Do you believe?"

"I do not know. I do not understand. I do not understand you."

"You're like a beautiful sunset—something I can't embrace, yet I love...."

"You're like one night on the pampas....I was alone....A full moon rose....A bird sang...."

"I believe in you."

"'If ye have faith....nothing shall be impossible unto you.'"

"I have faith in you."

Ruiz, with his army, arrives at the City of the Miracle—

"Where is The Gaucho?"

"Excellency, I do not know....but his men are in Cañon Diablo."

"I'll catch him! I'll have him slashed to ribbons in the Public Square!"

"Teach me to pray."

"The Gaucho is in the Shrine...with that girl."

"Arrest them both. Arrest the Padre, too. I'll make an example of them all!"

"Put the scaffold in the Square. Rouse the townsfolk. I'll give them such a show as they have never seen."

"I lied to you! I lied, I tell you! He's not here!"

"Cañon Diablo!"

"Bed-rock!"

"....to the town! Quick! Your Chief! They will kill him!"

"The gaucho band is approaching the town."

"You coward! They can't get through. The walls are manned. We outnumber them ten to one."

"Fetch out the prisoners. We'll have our show."

"The Gaucho has escaped."

"I'll stampede the great herd of cattle through the town. We'll go in under cover of the dust."

"Let these doors be open for all time."

"Live by these. You need no other law."

"You're not of the earth. Your spirit will live through the ages. I understand now."

"We'll be married tomorrow."

"Yesterday was yesterday. Today is today. There is no tomorrow.....Make it today."

The
End

 

Copyright 1927 by The Elton Corporation