A Movie Review Of The Ballard Gregorio Cortez (1983)

Movie Review: The Ballad Of Gregorio Cortez (1983)

Judging by the number of scholarly critics, Hollywood adaptation (starring Edward James Almos), and more recently, the increase in the number of Mexican music artists such as Ramon Ayala and Los Tigres del Norte  interested in doing music cover on it, The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez (El Corrido de Gregorio Cortez) is arguably the most famous Mexican corrido. The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez is the most authentic Western made ballads ever made. This truly gripping adventure captures the true story of the largest ever manhunt in the history of Texas. In this manhunt, which occurred in 1901 in Gonzales, Texas, six hundred Texas Rangers engaged in an intense manhunt lasting 11 days for Gregorio Cortez, Mexican-American ranch assistance. The sad events of the story leads the viewer to ask themselves whether Gregorio was a cold blooded murderer or simply an innocent man running away from an unjust system (Young).

The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez is based on the work of Americo Paredess, With a Pistol In His Hand: A Boarder Ballard and Its Hero. The ballad is based on the real life story of Gregorio Cortez Lira, who in 1901 shot Sherriff Morris W.T as a response to the Sherriff shooting Cortez's brother Romaldo. The unfortunate events that happened after Gregorio shot the Sherriff were ticked off by an investigation of a horse theft and later an error in communication between the Sherriff and the brothers. While this communication breakdown proved to have played a vital role in shaping the events that followed, it is also a reminder of the language divide that existed at the time between the Anglo Americans and the Mexican Americans (Herrera-Sobek 357). Morris asks Gregorio whether he had bought a horse recently. Morris' translator, Boone Choate, uses the word caballo without realizing that that word meant a stallion when questioning Gregorio. Although Gregorio had bought a yegua (mare), he says no when asked whether he had bought a stallion. The sherrif takes this as a blatant lie. The misunderstanding following this communication breakdown turns into an ugly confrontation and the sheriff pulls out his gun and shoots at the brothers, hitting Romaldo Cortez, Gregorio's brother, first. In his brother and in defense of himself, Gregorio shoots Morris.
Gregorio then flees the scene, running towards Gonzales, Texas-Austin vicinity. His name was soon at the front-page of every newspaper in Texas and Cortez's mother and Leonor and the children, were illegally held when posses tried to catch Gregorio (Young). During his escape, he passes by the ranch of Martin and Refugia Robledo near Belmont where Sherriff Glover and his posse finds him. Shots are exchanged at this site and Glover and Schnabel are both shot death. Gregorio again escapes and goes to his friend's firm where the friend gives him a horse and saddle, which he uses to run towards Laredo (Herrera-Sobek 358).
In the meanwhile, the hunt for Gregorio continues as does the media frenzy with the escaped killer. One of the journalist who shows obvious prejudice is Bill Blakely from the San Antonio Press. This reporter only interview Anglo Americans and favours stories  of prejudice which he runs during the entire period during the manhunt and after. While at Laredo, Gregorio finds it harder to evade the police especially because Tejanos in the region served as officers. Ten days after shooting the Sherriff, Jesus Gonzalez captured Cortez following which a long trial started. During the trial, B.R Abernathy, one of the lawyers working on his case proved the most resourceful and most committed to attaining justice for him (Young). By the time he was sent to jail, he had been taken to eleven jails in eleven counties. While in prison, he enjoyed working as a barber and received empathy from fellow jail mates and even jailors (such as captain Rogers) (Herrera-Sobek 358).
Col. Francisco Chapa, a political publisher, began attempting to pardon Cortez as soon as he was imprisoned. Cortez was pardoned in 1913. He then went to fight in Nueva Laredo where he fought with Victoriano Huerta in the Revolution of Mexico. He died four years later from pneumonia (Young).
In conclusion, The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez is the story of Gregorio Cortez, the most sought at Mexican killer of the 18th century. Thus movie recounts the true story of the shooter, his capture and pardon. Texas police were on a 10 day manhunt for this shooter of Sherriff Morris. When arrested, Gregory was 26 years old. He was taken to eleven different courts. Gregorio was later on sentenced to 50 years in prison for shooting the Sherriff, who died while being treated. He spent 12 but was released after some influencing people, including Francisco Chapa campaigned intensively for his release. After his release from prison, he went to fight for the Mexican revolution and died four years later from pneumonia.
References

Herrera-Sobek, Maria. Celebrating Latino Folklore. Goleta, CA: ABC-CLIO, 2012.
The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez. Dir. Robert M. Young. 1982.