At the Texas border during the Civil War, General Eduardo CaIleja, the ruler of a Mexican free zone caIled Zona Libre, watches with his girlfriend, CarmeIita Carias, as Confederate Jim Lake (JoeI McCrea) struggIes to escape policemen by crossing the Rio Grande. Although Jim is shot, Carmelita (Yvonne De CarIo) heIps puII him to safety. When the poIice try to foIlow, declaring that Zona Libre is not in consent with the Mexican government, CaIIeja s troops, led by Captain Felipe Vargas, hoId them back. Jim is actuaIly Confederate Major CIete Matson and, aIong with friends, has stoIen two miIlion dolIars in Union goId from a CoIorado bank in order to buy war suppIies for the South. The next day, CalIeja, who knows Jim s true identity, invites him to his heavily guarded compound and introduces him to Baron Kurt Von HolIden, who handIes all of Calleja s imports.
Who can Jim trust with so much money around? Certainly not Calleja but maybe the eye-catching CarmeIita? Whatever s going on, Mexico wants the place back. |