Way of a Gaucho

In 1875 Argentina, a young gaucho named Martin Penalosa Rory Calhoun kills another man in a duel, and his prison sentence is commuted to joining the army. He serves under the tough Major Salinas Richard Boone but soon grows tired of military life and deserts. He adopts the nom de guerre Valverde and leads a band of gauchos to resist the growing encroachment of railroad agents into the Pampas.

Meanwhile, Salinas quits the army and becomes chief of police, determined to continue his vendetta against Martin. After falling in love with an aristocratic woman, Teresa Chavez Gene Tierney, Martin decides to escape with her to Chile, crossing the Andes on horseback. Teresa reveals she is pregnant, so the couple resolves to return and marry, both for the safety of the child and to give them a legitimate last name.

When they reach the cathedral, the police close in and Martin must flee again, leaving Teresa in the care of Father Fernández Enrique Chaico. That night, Martin’s childhood friend Miguel Hugh Marlowe speaks with Teresa about a deal he has struck with the Governor: Martin will voluntarily turn himself in in exchange for a 3-year prison sentence and a clean slate.

Teresa tells Miguel where Martin is hiding, but Salinas pursues, triggering a horse chase through a cattle run that ends with Miguel being trampled to death by the herd. That same night, Martin returns, filled with guilt, to meet Teresa. She suggests escaping to Brazil or Europe, but he declines and asks her to meet him at noon the next day at the cathedral.

The following day, Father Fernández arranges a meeting with Salinas, and Martin agrees to turn himself in, provided he may first marry Teresa as a free man.

Last Updated: October 07, 2025 at 08:58