The film Murieta was released in 1965 and was directed by George Sherman. It starred Jeffrey Hunter as Joaquin Murieta, Diana Lorys as his wife Rosita, and Arthur Kennedy as the marshal who befriends him.
The film is loosely based on the historic figure of Joaquin Murieta, a legendary Mexican outlaw who is said to have avenged the murder of his wife and become a Robin Hood-like figure in California during the Gold Rush era.
In the film, Joaquin and Rosita are shown as simple, hardworking peasants who naively believe they will strike it rich in California. They are immediately met with hostility and racism from the white settlers, including the local sheriff who harasses them and steals their gold.
Things take a turn for the worse when a gang of bandits attack Joaquin and Rosita, killing her and leaving him for dead. Joaquin is nursed back to health by a kindly old Mexican man, who tells him of the injustices suffered by their people at the hands of the white settlers.
Filled with rage and determined to avenge his wife, Joaquin rounds up a group of fellow Mexican outcasts and forms a gang. They begin robbing stagecoaches and wealthy ranchers, earning the support and admiration of their fellow Mexicans but the wrath of the white authorities.
The marshal, a former Confederate soldier who has learned to respect and admire Joaquin, tries to reason with him and convince him to give up his life of crime. Joaquin agrees to surrender, but his gang continues their rampage without him, leading to a final, bloody confrontation with the marshal.
The film blends elements of historical fiction, Western genre tropes, and social commentary on race and injustice in America. It was not a commercial success but has been noted for its portrayal of an often-overlooked chapter in American history.
