Villa Rides

Lee Arnold's biplane makes an emergency landing in a rugged Mexican landscape. A sympathetic local family takes him in and tends to his gear while he tries to understand the mounting tensions around Pancho Villa. He learns that Villa is seen as a hero by some and an outlaw by others.

During a day of unrest, Mexican soldiers brutalize the village, beating the men and shaming the women. Fina is assaulted, and her father is dragged toward the village square to be hanged, despite Captain Ramirez's attempt to control the crowd. Just as the crowd erupts in fear, a Maxim gun bursts from a rooftop and Villa reveals himself, killing the soldiers instead of rescuing the condemned father.

Villa learns that Arnold has been running guns for the soldiers and lashes out by whipping him with his money-belt. The harsh punishment sets a tone of fear and authority within Villa's circle. Arnold becomes a marked man in the rebel ranks.

The junior soldiers, led by Fierro, are subjected to a deadly game that pits them against each other as they attempt to escape a walled area. One by one, those tested are killed as the game proceeds. The brutal exercise hardens the men and tightens Villa's control over his forces.

At night the men taunt Fina, and Arnold explains that she was raped earlier that day. Villa, showing a softer side, asks for a priest and then marries her, attempting to stabilize his precarious position with her family and the community.

The next day Arnold gives a flying demonstration and teaches Villa how to fly. Despite being a two-seater, Villa manages to lift off briefly, giving the rebels a glimpse of air power. The moment elevates Villa's ambition and the potential of the plane in their campaign.

Arnold takes Fierro up in the plane to scout, and they spot a troop train nearby. The following day, with the plane's support, they stage an ambush on the train, using air assistance to disrupt the enemy's movement. The operation demonstrates the strategic value of aviation in the rebellion.

That evening Villa marries another girl, explaining he does it to please the people, asserting that women like to get married. He casually claims he has married 11 times, underscoring his complex relationship with personal vows and public perception. The marriages illustrate how politics and romance intertwine in the revolutionary world.

Don Luis plans a major assault on Conejos, and Villa leads a larger force toward the fortress, crossing a wide river. A barbed wire barrier halts the attack, but Arnold and Fierro prepare the plane to aid the assault. The cavalry charges, the wire is broken, and Villa breaches the outer perimeter before the final push to reach the fortress commander.

After the successful breach, General Huerta orders Villa's arrest and discovers the stolen plane in the rebels' possession. Arnold is also detained as part of the crackdown, and Huerta contemplates maintaining good relations with the United States. The two men are thrust into a shared cell as they confront their morality and loyalties.

Villa is marched out at dawn to be executed, but he demands the shot be carried out by his own men. After a delay, a telegram orders him to Mexico City, a ruse engineered by Fierro to protect the rebel leadership while Huerta investigates. The tense moment foreshadows Villa's continued defiance.

Arnold is escorted toward the border with three officers, but he persuades them to detour so he can say goodbye to Fina. While this detour provides a chance for closure, Arnold remains focused on seizing the rebellious funds stash tied to the movement. The border trip underscored the personal costs of the revolution for him.

In El Paso, a barber shop revelation reveals that Madero was assassinated and Huerta has become president. Villa, meanwhile, has managed to escape from prison, keeping his legend alive as the revolution continues. The shifting political landscape intensifies the stakes for everyone involved.

In a closing scene, Arnold entertains a guest while Villa enters with Fierro and his aide, asking to rejoin the revolution. Villa outlines a bold plan to capture Mexico City, and Arnold joins him as they cross the border together. The encounter sets up the sensational culmination of their struggle.

The epilogue declares Villa's successful capture of Mexico City six months later, leading a revolutionary army of about 50,000. The triumph marks the culmination of Villa's long pursuit of power and his complicity with Arnold's fateful choices. The film ends with the promise—and price—of revolution.