The Endangered List (Case File #52)

HALF WAY TO HELL (1961)


CAST

Escobar ..................... LYLE FELICE [AL ADAMSON]
Maria ..................... CAROLL MONTOUR
Manuel ..................... SERGIO VIRELL
Joanne ..................... SHIRLEY TEGGE
Jeff Lawton ..................... DAVID LLOYD
El Chato ..................... DON CARLOS
Mr. Wesson ..................... GENE STERLING
Slade ..................... RICK ADAMS
Blackie ..................... MONTE JOE OYLER
Diego ..................... GENE WALKER
Driver ..................... JOE LANE
Guard ..................... AL SHELLY
Guard ..................... BOB REGAS


CREDITS

Directed by
Denver Dixon

Written and Produced by
Al Adamson

Associate Producer
Gene Sterling

Screenplay by
Allan Greedy

Sound by
Harry Smith Prod.

Wardrobe
Winnie Logan

Location & Supervision
Joseph Delgato

Dialogue Director
Rudy Lopez

Technical Advisor
J. Arthur Lane

Makeup by
Gene Henderson

Presented by
Victor Adamson

Filmed at Capitol Reef National Monument, Utah
and Chihuahua, Mexico

B&W, widescreen


PLOT

This is the story of the beautiful Senorita Maria San Carlos, the lovely and only daughter of a wealthy landowner, who was betrothed to Escobar, "The Mexican Self-Styled General" before the revolution. Maria, being a strong minded teenage girl who believes in marriage for love, runs away with her old girl friend from the United States. The American beauty, Joanne, who leads Maria away from Mexico and into the dense desert between the border and Joanne's home in California.

They are intercepted by a gang of American cut-throats working for Escobar, who cannot leave his own fight for Mexican freedom. Also with these men rides Manuel, who was once a servant boy at Maria's hacienda. He was sent along by Escobar to make sure no harm befalls the fair haired senorita.

The two girls are put through Hell to survive to the end of the journey. Being threatened with torture by knives, rape and even pawed in an attempted rape. During the trip,

two of the outlaws are killed and the two girls and Manuel escape with the help of an outsider, Jeff Lawton.

Manuel falls in love with Maria, but knowing of her betrothal to Escobar, stays away until he sees Escobar slap Maria, then he challenges Escobar and they have a thrilling duel with 8 ft. bull whips. Escobar defeats the younger, smaller Manuel but then realizing that forcing Maria to marry him is wrong. He releases them. The thrilling climax is where two of the outlaws capture Maria. Escobar's action to intercept them, and the smashing finish where the combined efforts of Escobar and Jeff Lawton save the beautiful girls. The picture ends with an off beat ending.